After seeing Claudia Jennings in her first scene getting revenge on her pervert boss who constantly groped her, then destroying a huge pyramid of vegetable cans in a grocery store (before rushing out with a full cart she didn't pay for), I decided that this was a 70's version of a PRC film, that studio the lowest of poverty row factories in Hollywood. While she looks feminine on the surface, there's absolutely nothing lady like about her, a screeching harpy who has no issue of going into her roommate's bedroom while she's having sex to say she's quit her job. Jennings is the 70's equivocal of Iris Adrian, a brassy loudmouth character actress of the 40's (still acting when this was made) who made comic actresses like Patsy Kelly and Kathleen Freeman (who plays Jennings' mother in this) seem subtle. An Iris Adrian lookalike (Maxine Gates) is the foul mouthed coach.
Roller derby was a violent sport, probably even more bloody than hockey, and female roller derby players were known for their ruthlessness, so that adds instant exploitation to the plot, Jennings a trashy version of Ruby Keeler's Peggy Sawyer from "42nd Street" who went out a youngster but came back a star, while Jennings goes out there a poisonous viper and turns into a fire breathing dragon lady whom everyone hates. This has its funny moments, all in bad taste, and while it wasn't ever intended to be art, the taste it leaves is very bitter and gag worthy. I can't imagine this getting much attention outside of drive-in theaters or second string lower class movie houses. Plenty of top topless females to add to the upscale gentility of these fragile debutants.
Roller derby was a violent sport, probably even more bloody than hockey, and female roller derby players were known for their ruthlessness, so that adds instant exploitation to the plot, Jennings a trashy version of Ruby Keeler's Peggy Sawyer from "42nd Street" who went out a youngster but came back a star, while Jennings goes out there a poisonous viper and turns into a fire breathing dragon lady whom everyone hates. This has its funny moments, all in bad taste, and while it wasn't ever intended to be art, the taste it leaves is very bitter and gag worthy. I can't imagine this getting much attention outside of drive-in theaters or second string lower class movie houses. Plenty of top topless females to add to the upscale gentility of these fragile debutants.