MovieChat Forums > La Bamba (1987) Discussion > Why was Ritchie angry

Why was Ritchie angry

posted 11 years ago by Jack2979
8 replies | jump to latest

when he didn't get to sing at the dance? That is a bratty move to assume that just because you are better you should automatically take lead. I don't think it was rude of Rudy Castro to shut him out like that. Then you have Ritchie's mom acting like she was going to kill him because of that.

In fact Ritchie was an a-hole throughout the movie. When he recorded in the big studio for the first time he was acting like a dick because it took a long time. He was always talking down to Bob, and he steals the band from Rudy. He just had an attitude like he was better than everybody. I hope the real Ritchie wasn't like the way the movie portrayed.

I really like your car Mrs. Larusso!

[–] tenantennae 11 years ago

Agreed. I guess we're supposed to dislike Rudy because he's hostile to Ritchie when they first meet, and has no talent to boot. However, he was still the front man, and Ritchie shouldn't have expected to just walk in and be invited to take over, even if he was better.

The movie was made in collaboration with the family, some of whom worked as advisors on the set, so I guess that's as close to the real Ritchie Valens as we're gonna get, but who knows what he was really like.

Btw, what is your avatar from? It's familiar, and creeping the hell out of me.

[–] vastuntitled 11 years ago

'I guess we're supposed to dislike Rudy because he's hostile to Ritchie when they first meet, and has no talent to boot.'

yeah, castro was hilariously awful...'oooooooooooo charlenaaaa-ugh....'...lmfao

[–] otterprods 11 years ago

It was just an abbreviated, movie-friendly way to show a young musician on the brink of stardom without it all just happening with no barriers at all. Besides, he was 16 years old at the time, so it was pretty age appropriate behavior whether factual or not.

Otterprods, to keep those aquatic Mustelidae in line.

[–] wardevil360 11 years ago

rudy was actually a phenomenal talent. his drawback and its a pretty big drawback was that his teeth looked like they were a casualty of d-day. no one would have him signed to their label. it was literally like a pack of half eaten yellow and brown chicklets.

[–] mayracedillom 11 years ago

About Ritchie being mad for not being able to sing at the garage party, I guess anyone would get that kind of attitude if they didn't have the chance to sing at least one song. Wasn't Rudy being kind of selfish for not switching places with Ritchie and letting him sing at least two songs? The movie also makes you see he was jealous of Ritchie's talent, and his performance at the party was just a signal of it, and the other members of band began to sense it too (one of the reasons why they left the band with Ritchie). I have the same argument for Connie's attitude.

I can't see why you think Ritchie was an a-hole. Sure, he wasn't perfect (nobody is it), and one of the hundred reasons this is one of my all-time favorite films is that I find it pretty accurate in several matters (Bob's alcoholism for example). Anyway, wasn't the attitude he showed at the studio pretty human and regular? He was never rude to Bob-o or anything, he was just tired, it was something new for him. Would a regular person stand Rudy's arrogant attitude? He just reacted that waay when he refused to play on the building Connie got them. It's just the way I see it, a pretty real way.

And don't worry, being a huge Ritchie fan, we can be sure he wasn't like he is portrayed on the film. It's just a representation of what his life was, Ritchie is one of a kind.

[–] tenantennae 11 years ago

Wasn't Rudy being kind of selfish for not switching places with Ritchie and letting him sing at least two songs?

I don't think so. Rudy was the singer. They let Richie join the band to play guitar. He wasn't entitled to do any more than that, especially at their first gig together.

As somebody who's been in bands, I feel Richie was acting like a b!tch; getting mad just because they didn't change their normal routine just so that he, the new guy of all people, could be the star. At some meaningless little gig no less. Petty on his part.

He should have had fun and been gracious they even liked him enough as a person to let him play with them, not sullen that they didn't put him on pedestal.

[–] mln-62793 10 years ago

When you're a teenager, you have a phenomenal talent, and you're watching someone with less talent than you be in the spotlight--whether it be his band or not--you're gonna have attitude and feel slighted. Anyone knows that. This applies to anything that can be considered competitive. And to be honest, when you're amazing at something, you usually know that you are and to see someone who's not amazing be in your way, is beyond frustrating. Ritchie knew he was great, and so did his family, how else do you think he became a star so quickly by the age of 17? It wasn't because he sat around in the background waiting for his turn. He was definitely not an a-hole. And for heaven's sake... this is a MOVIE! All movies based on factual events are always dramatized to make it more interesting and to evoke more emotions, good or bad, from the audience.

[–] redban (6776) 3 years ago

When I saw the scene, my understanding is that Ritchie was lead to believe that he was going to sing. So he felt that he got deceived. If he had known he wasn’t going to sing, he wouldn’t have invited his family