Director: Luis Valdez
Screenplay: Luis Valdez
Starring: Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano
Country: USA
Running time: 108 min
Year: 1987
BBFC certificate: 15
Rock and roll pioneer Richard Steven Valenzuela (best known by his stage name, Ritchie Valens) was only 17 when he died in a plane crash, along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson in 1959. The plane crash has become known as “The Day the Music Died”. Despite his tender age, Ritchie had already become a music sensation – his eight-month career leading to several hits, including La Bamba, his rock and roll version of a Mexican folk song.
In 1987 movie biopic La Bamba was released, vividly bringing to life southern California in the late 1950s and wonderfully telling the story of Ritchie (Lou Diamond Phillips), his family, and his short but memorable career. It’s an American Dream tale as Ritchie longs to be a musician and succeeds, albeit briefly thanks to the tragedy that took his life at such a young age.
After a prophetic nightmare (which Ritchie repeatedly has about a plane crash over his school), the film opens in California in the summer of 1957 with Ritchie working as a farmhand. We meet his family and can already see his love of music, as he plays his guitar around a campfire.
We’re also introduced to Ritchie’s half-brother Bob (Esai Morales), a deeply troubled character who turns up out of the blue after being released from prison. Fast forward three months and we find Ritchie enthralled by rock and roll music, falling in love with Donna (Danielle von Zerneck), a classmate at school, and auditioning for a band, The Silhouettes, while Bob has a rocky relationship with Rosie (Elizabeth Peña) which leads to a child.
La Bamba charts Ritchie’s eventual rise to stardom, becoming a sensation in the early days of rock, in a dual narrative which shows how Bob is abusive to Rosie, drinks heavily and becomes increasingly embittered and jealous as his brother’s star rises. It’s this Cain and Abel-esque narrative which director Valdez, in one of the well curated on-disc extras, describes as being the reason the film feels fresh today. It’s certainly an engrossing dynamic; when the brothers share the screen you can’t look away and are waiting for what will play out next.
The quality of the acting throughout is first rate. Phillips is simply astonishing as Ritchie, as is Morales as Bob, but there are equally fine performances from the rest of the cast, particularly Rosanna DeSoto as Ritchie and Bob’s mother Connie, Peña as Rosie and von Zerneck as Donna, whose bond with Ritchie is set against a backdrop of racism from her father who doesn’t approve of their relationship. There’s also a fine turn from Joe Pantoliano as Bob Keane, the producer and manager who signed Ritchie to his record label Del-Fi Records.
The cinematography, production and costume design is brilliant, creating a rich atmosphere and evocation of the late 1950s; from the clothing to the vehicles, it all feels authentic. It probably goes without saying, given the subject, but the music is sensational, with the band Los Lobos (who appear in a scene in the film playing traditional Mexican songs, including La Bamba) bringing the sounds of Ritchie Valens to life. Ritchie’s version of La Bamba reached 22 in the US charts, but in the 1980s Los Lobos’ cover reached number one. This is testament to both the song itself – Ritchie’s version was ahead of its time coming in the early days of rock – and the quality of the Los Lobos covers of the late singer’s songs for the movie.
La Bamba is a richly evocative and deeply entertaining biopic about a Mexican American icon who died so young but left such a legacy. Performances, cinematography, production and costume design and, of course, the soundtrack are all excellent and gel together to create an enthralling portrait of Ritchie Valens, which I very much enjoyed.
Film: 
La Bamba is released by the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray in the UK on 15th January 2024. The new 4K transfer, approved by director Valdez, is gorgeous; the rich colours of the southern California landscape shine through, with incredible detail throughout and wonderful clarity. The 5.1 surround audio is equally as strong, particularly showcasing the music, whilst sound effects and dialogue are crystal clear.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
- New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Luis Valdez, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Audio commentaries featuring Valdez, actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales, and producers Stuart Benjamin, Taylor Hackford, and Daniel Valdez
- New interview with Luis Valdez
- Conversation between Valdez and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez from El Rey Network’s The Director’s Chair
- Making-of program featuring cast and crew
- Audition footage
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, and Spanish subtitles
- PLUS: An essay by critic Yolanda Machado
The first commentary, from 1998, features director Valdez, actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales, and executive producer Stuart Benjamin. There are some great anecdotes and memories and it’s an easy listen.
The second commentary features producer Taylor Hackford and associate producer Daniel Valdez and also dates from 1998. I enjoyed this commentary more than the first, there’s so much rich detail about the production of the film. You also get a fascinating insight into Hackford and Daniel Valdez.
The new interview with director Luis Valdez runs for 27 minutes and is excellent. Valdez shares how he used his life experiences to shape his career and tell the stories he told. He reveals how he got into the movie business, his memories of his directorial debut Zoot Suit, his recollections of filming La Bamba and memories of Ritchie Valens. It really gives you a feel for Valdez, his motivations and personality. A strong extra.
The Director’s Chair conversation between director Valdez and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez is outstanding. It is 43 minutes long and dates from 2015 when it was made for Rodriguez’s El Rey Network. There’s some wonderful archival footage and the two directors play well off each other.
The archival making-of is from the time of the film’s release. The 20-minute feature contains lots of scenes from the movie and behind the scenes footage, together with some insights, though it’s mostly promotional fare. The behind the scenes footage makes it worthwhile, though.
The two audition tapes are a welcome addition, featuring the leads performing several scenes. One features Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales and runs for 13 minutes, and the other is six minutes long and features Elizabeth Peña and Rosana Desoto.
Rounding out the on-disc extras is a 90-second trailer, which gives a decent overview of the story in its brief time.
I wasn’t provided with the liner notes, but the essay by critic Yolanda Machado can be found on the Criterion website. It’s well worth a read, covering a lot of ground about the history of Chicano (an identifier for people of Mexican descent born in the United States) cinema, Ritchie Valens and the film itself.
La Bamba is an excellent music biopic filled with fantastic performances and a phenomenal soundtrack, which really gives an evocative feel for the incredibly talented musician whose life was cut far too short but who left a indelible legacy. The Criterion Collection Blu-ray is the definitive edition of the film, packing a brilliant new 4K digital restoration and an insightful array of extra features.
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