Steve Rash’s The Buddy Holly Story, 1978, with Gary Busey received wide acclaim and condemnation alike and the 1987 La Bamba starring Lou Diamond Phillips, was a timely reminder to all of us eighties kids of the wonder of the music that was created by those legends and which affected rock and roll from the 1950’s onwards; from Little Richard, Bob Dylan to The Beatles and beyond.
I believe that films about musicians have a thrall to them unlike that of ordinary stories. Many films and television series have been successful because of their musical scores (I am thinking Dirty Dancing and more recently Glee) and we all recognise that music in film plays a pivotal role. But films about musicians have an extra resonance. My personal favourites include the 1986 film Crossroads, Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991 with Val Kilmer) and Immortal Beloved (1994, starring the inimitable Gary Oldman as Beethoven himself), I also enjoyed What’s Love Got to Do With It which Angel Bassett. There is a strong line of drama in each of these films, and our understanding and appreciation of the music which features is deepened as the story plays out.
There are many films whose musical focus makes them stand out. Immediately to mind springs This is Spinal Tap (1984), The Blues Brothers (1980) and A Hard Day’s Night (1964). These lack the biographical edge for my taste, but I can still enjoy them. I challenge anyone not to love Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles or James Brown in The Blues Brothers, or not tap along to A Hard Day’s Night. It is as though sound and vision have fused together in a wonderful alchemy and bonded forever in our hearts.
Musicals, and Jukebox films (Mama Mia a recent example) also show the continuing love for some of the music used. It is the love of the music that makes these films are so special. In this iPod generation where we can carry with us the soundtrack to our lives, these are films that offer us the opportunity to witness the music being created vividly, often dramatically, if not always accurately. And on a day that has marked such a loss to music it is we should be thankful to the film-makers out there retelling the stories of our musical legends and keeping the music alive.