THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY.

US, 1978, 113 minutes, Colour.
Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith.
Directed by Steve Rash.

We are still In the throes of rock and roll nostalgia, a glorifying of the seemingly abrupt break with popular tunes for the intense beat for body and imagination that still dominates popular music. Buddy Holly, a victim of untimely accidental death in 1959, has always been a hero.

This typical biopic, Hollywood biography, shows him as a talented young man of drive and presence and ambition who stirred his audiences, The strength of the film is in Gary Busey’s (Straight Time, A Star Is Born) impersonation of Holly, especially hie singing and performance - a shrewd interpretation.

A contemporary appeal for the youth of the late fifties and for the 'Grease’ generation.

1. Buddy Holly’s impact in the fifties, his memory in the sixties, the influence of his music and style and memory in the seventies? The revival of rock ‘n roll?

2, This film as a tribute in the late seventies? With the renewed interest in rock ‘n roll in the fifties? The highlighting of his death as untimely?

3. Buddy Holly's place in popular American music? In the late fifties, the seventies? His popularity, skill and influence?

4. This film as backstage biography? In the conventions of the American style of biography? Different?

5. The impact of rock ‘n roll in the fifties? Its change in musical style, the musicians and their understanding of music, communication, their impact? Personalities, vigorous style? Adult reaction and condemnation? government, the church? The fashion and its sweeping the world? The promotion and the money? Gimmicks, skill? The style lasting so long? What was it saying in the fifties? Later?

6. Audience response to rock ‘n roll as shown in the film; at popular dances. radio stations in 1956, indignant reaction? Buddy Holly and the Crickets as a group? Recording, performances, tours? Buddy Holly's place in this - the songs that he wrote, the way these wore presented and illustrated? Characteristics of his style?

7. How typical were the Crickets of the groups of the time? Ordinary young men. but the fact that they achieved what they did? How does this story represent many others?

8. The background of Lubbock Texas? The initial dance and the sedate attitude, the portrayal of the adolescents sitting around, dancing, the reaction to rock ‘n roll and their lively participation? The radio program and its sponsors? The disc jockey and indignant phone calls? The contrast with Buddy's family, the church sequence and the denunciation? The meal and seeing him at home?

9. His background, Texas, home life, girlfriend and outings with her, friendship with the Crickets? Personality of Jesse and Ray Bob? His skill, leadership of the group, binding them together, hopes, enjoying his music, The disillusioning experience of Nashville and its effect on him?

10. The change with popularity, the record, the contact from the disc-jockey (and his performance and authorities trying to get him?), the going to New York, the experience of the record companies and promotion. Deals, his wish to produce? How well did the film portray the ambitious side of his character, his push, affection, his hopes, his hard dealings with people and rehearsals etc.?

11. The personnel in the record company? Turner and his deals, his push, friendship, persuading him to go on the tour?

12. The portrayal of the recording sessions and their effect, the effect on the group, the violinists and their being employed etc.?

13. The romantic background with Maria, her work In Turner’s office, laughing, the proposal? The humour of Buddy's explaining this to her aunt? Marriage, home life, the baby, decisions about tours? Conventional material? how well presented?

14. The portrait of success? The arrival in New York, the impact on the black audience, concerts? Buddy and his success at the expense of the others? Their drinking and reacting against him, their going back homo, the hope of their return? How well drawn were the characters of Jesse and Ray Bob, with their music, following Buddy, the borrowing of the car?

15. Buddy alone and his success, the impact of the tours, the possibilities?

16. The impact of his life being cut short? The film’s comment that the rest was rock ‘n roll? What had he achieved, what had he contributed?

17. How interesting a portrait of a person of the fifties, America, music? The impact on the American way of life and music?