Rollercoaster (1977)

The plot is about a guile young terrorist who is able to blackmail a series of companies by placing home-made radio controlled bombs within the central attraction of amusement parks; roller... See full summary »

Director:

James Goldstone

Writers:

Tommy Cook (story), Sanford Sheldon (screen story),

Stars:

George Segal, Richard Widmark, Timothy Bottoms

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Segal	...	Harry Calder
Richard Widmark	...	Agent Hoyt
Timothy Bottoms	...	Young Man
Henry Fonda	...	Simon Davenport
Harry Guardino	...	Keefer
Susan Strasberg	...	Fran
Helen Hunt	...	Tracy Calder
Dorothy Tristan	...	Helen
Harry Davis	...	Benny Neilson
Stephen Pearlman	...	Bert Lyons
G.F. Rowe	...	Wayne Moore (as Gerald Rowe)
Wayne Tippit	...	Police Captain Christie
Michael Bell	...	Demerest
Charlie Tuna	...	Rock Concert MC
Lonny Stevens	...	Federal Agent #1

Storyline

The plot is about a guile young terrorist who is able to blackmail a series of companies by placing home-made radio controlled bombs within the central attraction of amusement parks; roller coasters. The young man played by Timothy Bottoms gives a hard time to the cops after they give him UV marked money. He then wants revenge and places a bomb in a roller coaster at the most important amusement park event of the year.

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Plot Keywords:

amusement park | blackmail | terrorist | roller coaster | bomb squad | 

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Taglines:

You are in a race against time...and terror. You are pursuing a nameless, faceless man through America's greatest amusement parks...and, for the first time, you are experiencing the most sensational rides of our time, IN SENSURROUND

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Achterbahn

Filming Locations:

13006 Cumpston Street, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Sensurround Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve Guttenberg:  Uncredited, as a messenger who brings the plans for the Revolution Rollercoaster ride to Hoyt and Calder at at Six Flags Magic Mountain Amusement Park.

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Goofs

When Young Man places the bomb in the Revolution car, he is sitting in the left seat. Yet when the next ride occurs, the bomb is under the boy who is sitting in the right seat.

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Quotes

Fran: Harry?
Harry Calder: Mmh?
Fran: If you're trying to kill us, at least let me put on some lip gloss.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Meteor (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Big Boy"
Written by Ron Mael
Performed by Sparks

User Reviews

A white knuckle winner.

Roller-coaster is not a disaster movie. Do not cheapen it by labelling it with this tag. It is a suspense thriller. A lunatic is stalking Americas theme parks and sabotaging the coasters. Cue, Harry Calder(George Segal), a burned out safety inspector who is designated to track the maniac.A tense game of cat and mouse follows with the psycho using Harry as his confidant, calling him regularly, with an almost begrudging respect. This nut is so insane, he actually likes Harry!Timothy Bottoms is excellent, giving a super-creepy performance as the saboteur.Roller-coaster boasts great performances, superb photography and some classic dialogue exchanges. And hey, you've got Richard Widmark AND Henry Fonda thrown in there too! Roller-coaster - a seminal 70's thriller.