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Where the Buffalo Roam

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Bill Murray in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Play trailer3:19
6 Videos
51 Photos
BiographyComedy

Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

  • Director
    • Art Linson
  • Writers
    • Hunter S. Thompson
    • John Kaye
  • Stars
    • Peter Boyle
    • Bill Murray
    • Bruno Kirby
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Art Linson
    • Writers
      • Hunter S. Thompson
      • John Kaye
    • Stars
      • Peter Boyle
      • Bill Murray
      • Bruno Kirby
    • 60User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos6

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:19
    Official Trailer
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Clip 1:12
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Clip 1:12
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Clip 2:24
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Road Trip
    Clip 2:17
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Road Trip
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Dr. Thompson On Lazlo
    Clip 1:51
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Dr. Thompson On Lazlo
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Dr. Thompson At The Hospital
    Clip 1:05
    Where The Buffalo Roam: Dr. Thompson At The Hospital

    Photos51

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    + 47
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    Top cast79

    Edit
    Peter Boyle
    Peter Boyle
    • Lazlo
    Bill Murray
    Bill Murray
    • Hunter S. Thompson
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Marty Lewis
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Harris
    • (as René Auberjonois)
    R.G. Armstrong
    R.G. Armstrong
    • Judge Simpson
    Danny Goldman
    Danny Goldman
    • Porter
    Rafael Campos
    Rafael Campos
    • Rojas
    Leonard Frey
    Leonard Frey
    • Desk Clerk
    Leonard Gaines
    • Super Fan
    Otis Day
    Otis Day
    • Man #1
    • (as De Wayne Jessie)
    Mark Metcalf
    Mark Metcalf
    • Dooley
    Jon Shear
    • Billy Kramer
    • (as Jon Matthews)
    Joseph Ragno
    Joseph Ragno
    • Willins
    Quinn K. Redeker
    Quinn K. Redeker
    • Pilot
    • (as Quinn Redeker)
    Lisa Taylor
    Lisa Taylor
    • Ruthie
    Danny Tucker
    • Narcotics Agent
    Jon Acevedo
    • Hippie
    Phillip L. Allan
    • Kid #2
    • Director
      • Art Linson
    • Writers
      • Hunter S. Thompson
      • John Kaye
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews60

    6.513K
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    Featured reviews

    8The_Great_Fausto

    "F*** The Doomed", Thompson's Legend Lives On!

    This movie was great; it wasn't really as much a movie about Thompson, but more of a movie about his and Oscar Zeta Acosta's relationship as friends and partners. It gives a nice idea of what Thompson and Oscar Zeta Acosta's friendship was like, turbulences and all. Although "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" captures Thompson's writing, "Where the Buffalo Roam" gives more of a realistic insight on Thompson and Acosta. It also captures different stories from some of Thompson's other work, my favorite being the piece from "Fear and Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72", Thompson's first hand account of Nixon's campaign for office. This movie is perfect for hardcore Thompson fans or just anyone wanting to learn about the legendary journalist. I give it an 8 out of 10.
    10southern_jew

    And I thought Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was great!

    I just happened upon this movie while perusing my "Bill Murray" Favorite Actors Wishlist on my Tivo. I had never heard of it before, but since I enjoy reading Hunter S. Thompson's work and having seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I instructed my faithful DVR to record the movie at 4:30 one Sunday morning. WHAT A GREAT MOVIE!!! I cannot express this sentiment enough. From the dead on impersonation of Dr. Thompson's mannerisms by Bill Murray to the militant antics of 60's radical lawyer Peter Boyle (Lazlo) throughout the movie, these two more than faithfully portrayed the crazy antics well documented in Gonzo journalism. Please, do yourself a favor, if you consider yourself a fan of this genre, or if you just want to see a timeless piece of funny, witty, action filled cinema, find a way to see this woefully under-advertised classic.
    10VideoKidVsTheVoid

    The man vs. the myth.

    Fist of all, as far as the comparison to Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas (1998) goes, these films are completely different beasts. Fear & Loathing is a adaptation of a fictional work based on real events. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro are playing Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, not Hunter S. Thompson and Oscar Zeta Acosta. They are playing caricatures of real people, indirect representations funneled through HST's imagination and exaggeration. Where The Buffalo Roam is more based in reality. Bill Murray is directly playing Hunter S. Thompson as he writes his writings, Johnny Depp played a character from his writings, there is a massive difference. And as such, in my opinion, both films succeed brilliantly. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas is a visually dazzling, imaginative, cinematic adaptation of HST's novel and Where The Buffalo Roam is a quirky, splendidly fun quasi-biographical journey and pure snapshot of life.

    Bill Murray is fantastic in this film. His portrayal of HST is taken from life, more realistic, more from the man rather than from his text or the legend of HST. The whole film itself, mainly because of Murray's characterization and the realistic structured style of the abrupt interconnected randomness of everyday life, is infused with a undying sense of fun and love for words, imagination, writing, and the whole creative process, which seems to me to get more to the core of HST as a man than the various vignettes of Fear & Loathing.

    Where The Buffalo Roam is wildly entertaining, frenziedly hilarious, and immeasurably fun. But when the general viewing audience, who presumably do not have a true passion for HST and his works, views both films and are given the choice between the legend and the man, they more often choose the legend, which is usually the trend in history.

    Whereas Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas has a romance for the stories and the myth, Where The Buffalo has a romance for the man and the process, and both have it for his personal style, politics and priorities.
    tzer0

    Which One?

    The comparison of WTBR and F & L is pointless. Each actor brings something different to their version of HST, his "lawyer" etc . . . Gilliam certainly brought his own style to the more text based project, but enough of that. You'll see plenty of conflicting viewpoints in the other comments. Which WTBR you see will determine how much you like or dislike this film will depend on which version you see. I've seen at least three versions of this movie, and possibly a couple more. And although essentially the same movie, they're all totally different. The adding of a simple 30 second scene changed the entire tone of the film in one version. In another it was just the soundtrack that was changed. It was as though they lost the rights to the original soundtrack -- or just couldn't keep up the payments -- and had to replace the tunes with some second-stringers. It's amazing how much something like changing the songs in the soundtrack effects the feel of the thing as much as anything happening on screen. The original release is the only one really worth seeing. And you're not likely to. As far as I know, it doesn't not exist anymore. I caught it on cable when it was fairly new. All of the versions I've seen since on TV or video were the inferior versions that have the added scenes and or the adulterated soundtrack. So even if you've mat have seen this movie, you probably still haven't.
    7jrabbit-2

    Not true Thompson, but a fun film.

    Whether you like this film or not will depend heavily on how big of a Hunter S. Thompson fan you are.

    On the plus side, this film is wickedly funny. Bill Murray (an actor who has been both great and terrible in his career) does a phenomenal job as the acid-drenched reporter, bringing chaos into the lives of the rigid and pretentious. The plot is peppered with "respectable" places being dragged into mayhem, and "respectable" folks trying (unsuccessfully) to cope behind plastic smiles.

    It even ventures into some higher themes, such as innocent kids being jailed by a heartless criminal system, and Thompson's own struggles between being a practical reporter and a fun-loving idealist (notice how Lazlo repeatedly re-surfaces just when Thompson starts to take on "real" jobs).

    It's biggest fault, however, was that it failed to achieve any of the higher accomplishments of HST's writings. What makes Thompson such a powerful writer (to me, anyway) is the way he'll often turn on a dime and deliver stunningly sober dialogs on the human animal and where he's gone wrong. Nestled in the midst of the wine, women, and song are soliloquies that drive home a more positive message, and none of those made it into this film (in fact, no significant chunks of actual text from HST's books appeared at all). It's like they shaved off the surface 50% of Thompson's work and discarded the rest.

    Compare this to Fear and Loathing, which was darker and more counter-cultural, and contained whole narrations excerpted from the novel. The latter perhaps has less appeal to the average viewer, but I'd think more to a Thompson fan.

    All-in-all, this film is a light-hearted romp into anarchy, and worth watching. But if you've never actually READ Thompson, do so, as this movie doesn't accurately represent him.

    More like this

    Rhum Express
    6.1
    Rhum Express
    Las Vegas Parano
    7.5
    Las Vegas Parano
    Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
    7.6
    Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
    Nice Dreams
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    Blank Generation
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    Arrête de ramer, t'es sur le sable
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    Salinger
    6.7
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To get into character, Bill Murray spent time with Hunter S. Thompson by drinking, shooting and generally having a great time at Thompson's Colorado ranch. After filming ended, Murray continued to act "Gonzo" through the beginning of the next season of Saturday Night Live (1975), to the annoyance and consternation of cast and crew members.
    • Goofs
      During the courtroom scene, 21 minutes and 5 seconds into the film, Thompson sets down his glass which is almost full. A second later, a close-up on the glass shows it sitting on the floor, empty. All further scenes in the courtroom show the glass once again almost full.
    • Quotes

      [Thompson is speaking to a crowd of college students]

      Questioner: I was just wondering if you could tell me, um, if you thought drugs and alcohol would make me a better writer.

      Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: That's a good question. Let me see...

      [the audience cheers as Thompson lights a joint. A few people throw joints onto the stage]

      Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: In my case, you know, I hate to advocate drugs or liquor, violence, insanity to anyone. But in my case it's worked.

    • Alternate versions
      The 2017 Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory restores the original soundtrack. Making this the first home media release since the original VHS release to feature the original unaltered soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: A Small Circle of Friends, Where the Buffalo Roam, Nothing Personal, Foolin' Around, Ffolkes (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Keep on Chooglin
      Written by John Fogerty

      Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival (as Credence Clearwater Revival)

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    FAQ18

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    • How many other movies have been adapted from this authors novels?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 25, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tamo gdje bizoni lutaju
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,659,377
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,750,593
      • Apr 27, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,659,377
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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