Release Date: 1987
PG-13|1 hr 48 min
Plot Summary
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend (Danielle von Zerneck) whose parents didn't want her to date a Latino boy. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob (Esai Morales), and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly (Marshall Crenshaw).
Cast: Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Rick Dees, Marshall Crenshaw
Director: Luis Valdez
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, New Visions Pictures
Keywords: Brother, Los Angeles, Emotional, Mother, 1950s, Forbidden love, Transformation, Growing up, Girlfriend