Kansas City Bomber (1972)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Jerrold Freedman

Writers:

Calvin Clements Sr. (writer)
Thomas Rickman (writer)

Release Date:

2 August 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Hottest Thing On Wheels

Plot:

Roller-derby skater K. C. Carr tries to balance her desire for a happy personal life and her dreams of stardom. |

Plot Keywords:

Roller Derby | Single Mother | Skating | Beautiful Woman | Tour

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Raquel Welch	...	K.C. Carr
Kevin McCarthy	...	Burt Henry
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Jackie Burdette
Norman Alden	...	Horrible Hank Hopkins
Jeanne Cooper	...	Trainer Vivien
Richard Lane	...	TV Spokesman Jen
Jodie Foster	...	Rita
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martine Bartlett	...	Mrs. Carr
Patti 'Moo Moo' Cavin	...	Big Bertha Bogliani
William Gray Espy	...	Randy
Stephen Manley	...	Walt
Russ Marin	...	Dick Wicks
Jimmy Nickerson	...	Fan
Shelly Novack	...	Fan
Mary Kay Pass	...	Lovey
Georgia Schmidt	...	Old Dame
Cornelia Sharpe	...	Tammy O'Brien

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (original rating) | West Germany:18 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Fresno, California, USA

Company:

Artists Entertainment Complex

Trivia:

Phil Ochs, the folksinger-songwriter, was originally approached to write a theme song for the film. His song was rejected, though. Ochs had A&M Records issue it as a single anyway.

Quotes:

Randy: You bunch of female jock-strappers!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The World of Austin Powers (2002) (V)

Soap Opera on Roller Skates

Let me get this out of the way, not only was I a huge roller derby fan, Raquel Welch was my first pubescent crush. I was only six at the time this film was released and I every Saturday afternoon I would sit glued to the set watching my favorite team, the Los Angeles Thunderbirds do battle every week with their rivals. Now when I heard that there was a movie about the roller derby coming out, I was extremely excited. Also, when I saw Raquel Welch on the cover of Life Magazine, I really got excited. However, I had to wait a few years to see this movie on television and when I did, I couldn't see what I made a fuss about. Sure, Ms. Welch was hot in this film and the skating sequences were excellent, but as far as the story goes, you can have it. The story was nothing but pure soap opera. The only thing I really enjoyed about this film was Norman Alden's performance as the aging roller derby star who acted as sort of a big brother to K.C.. Other than that and the skating sequences, this movie fell flat. However, if you want to see what made roller derby big in the 1970's, this film is for you.