Press Release Criterion Press Release: La Bamba (1987) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

The brief but incandescent life of rock-and-roll trailblazer Ritchie Valens is immortalized in this enthralling biopic from another Mexican American icon, Luis Valdez, the father of Chicano cinema. With sweetness and swagger, Lou Diamond Phillips embodies the 1950s California teenager who, forged by his fiercely supportive mother (Rosanna DeSoto) and rebellious brother (Esai Morales), rises from his farm-working roots to chart-topping fame in the early days of rock—until one fateful night that haunts music history. Propelled by a hip-shaking soundtrack featuring Los Lobos and Carlos Santana, La Bamba captures the electric vitality of an artist who bridged cultures to create his own American dream.

FILM INFO​

• United States
• 1987
• 108 minutes
• Color
• 1.85:1
• English
• Spine #1193
  
  

  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
    
    New cover by Eric Skillman
  
  
  September 26, 2023

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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See on Amazon

 

[Robert Crawford]

Wow, one of my favorite music-bio films.

 

[DarkVader]

Great film, but that cover! So much going on, and floating heads, really?!?!

 

[Rodney]

Great news! I missed out on Twilight Time's release. Looks like we get the same commentaries, and are only missing the Isolated Score Track and Julie Kirgo's liner notes.

 

[SD_Brian]

Reminds me that I've still not watched my Twilight Time disc.

 

[darkrock17]

This film is where I first heard Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny. Ever since, I associate the song with the film and sadness.

 

[jayembee]

Great news! I missed out on Twilight Time's release. Looks like we get the same commentaries, and are only missing the Isolated Score Track and Julie Kirgo's liner notes.

Same here. I dragged my feet about ordering it from TT, and it sold out from under me.

 

[JoshZ]

Great film, but that cover! So much going on, and floating heads, really?!?!

It has a very 1950s concert poster vibe, which I'm sure is what they were going for. I don't mind it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Pre-Order link has been added.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Great cast all around, and some solid musical performances from Brian Setzer [as Eddie Cochran], Howard Huntsberry [as Jackie Wilson], Marshall Crenshaw [as Buddy Holly], and of course, Los Lobos.

 

[battlebeast]

PLAY LA BAMBA, BABY!