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About
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.
Theatrical
Jul 24, 1987
Box Office
$54.2M
Budget
$6.5M
Return
8.3x
Theaters
1
Director
Luis Valdez
Producers
Bill Borden, Taylor Hackford, Daniel Valdez
Music
Miles Goodman
Studio
New Visions Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Latest
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Quotes
See all →Talent and Fate: The Ritchie Valens Story
Taglines
Talent made him a star, fate made him a legend. The true story of Ritchie Valens.
From Poverty to Stardom: The American Dream
Taglines
Born to poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American Dream.
Sky Belongs to the Stars
Buddy Holly
Hey, Ritchie, relax, man. Everything's cool. Besides, the sky belongs to the stars, right?
A Christmas Dress Dispute Between Brothers
Ritchie Valens
Bob. Where's mom's new dress?
Bob Morales
What new dress?
Ritchie Valens
The one I asked you to buy her for Christmas.
Bob Morales
Hey, you're the asshole with all the money, why don't you buy it yourself?
Cast
Full credits →L
Lou Diamond Phillips
Ritchie Valens
D
Danielle von Zerneck
Donna Ludwig
E
Elizabeth Peña
Rosie Morales
R
Rosanna DeSoto
Connie Valenzuela
E
Esai Morales
Bob Morales
J
Joe Pantoliano
Bob Keane
M
Marshall Crenshaw
Buddy Holly
B
Brian Setzer
Eddie Cochran
D
Daniel Valdez
Lelo
E
Eddie Frias
Chino
M
Mike Moroff
Mexican Ed
G
Geoffrey Rivas
Rudy
S
Sam Anderson
Mr. Ludwig
M
Maggie Gwinn
Mrs. Ludwig
J
Jeffrey Alan Chandler
Alan Freed
S
Stephen Lee
Big Bopper
J
John Quade
Bartender
D
Diane Rodriguez
Ernestine
E
Ernesto Hernández
Garbage Man
N
Noble Willingham
Howard
