In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game.
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Title: Rollerball (1975)
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Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| James Caan | ... | Jonathan E. | |
| John Houseman | ... | Bartholomew | |
| Maud Adams | ... | Ella | |
| John Beck | ... | Moonpie | |
| Moses Gunn | ... | Cletus | |
| Pamela Hensley | ... | Mackie | |
| Barbara Trentham | ... | Daphne | |
| John Normington | ... | Executive | |
| Shane Rimmer | ... | Rusty, Team Executive | |
| Burt Kwouk | ... | Japanese Doctor | |
| Nancy Bleier | ... | Girl in Library | |
| Richard LeParmentier | ... | Bartholomew's Aide (as Rick LeParmentier) | |
| Robert Ito | ... | Strategy Coach for Houston Team | |
| Ralph Richardson | ... | Librarian | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
In a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries, the violent game of Rollerball is used to control the populace by demonstrating the futility of individuality. However, one player, Jonathan E., rises to the top, fights for his personal freedom, and threatens the corporate control. Written by Jeff Hansen <jmh@umich.edu>
Taglines:
It's More Than Just a Game! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 June 1975 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Роллербол See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$30,000,000Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Pregame announcer: Good evening everyone! And welcome to Houston, the energy city, home of the defending Rollerball World Champions. This key international battle pits the divisional champions, visiting Madrid, against powerful Houston. - - And here they come to a standing ovation. On the track comes Houston! Houston, lead by captain Jonathan E, again their leading scorer this year.
See more »
(BWV 565) (uncredited)
Performed by Simon Preston
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
(at around 30 mins) Jonathan E. is instructing other players. The rear shot of one particular player shows him leaning back resting on his elbows while the front shot shows him leaning back on the palms of his hands. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Pregame announcer: Good evening everyone! And welcome to Houston, the energy city, home of the defending Rollerball World Champions. This key international battle pits the divisional champions, visiting Madrid, against powerful Houston. - - And here they come to a standing ovation. On the track comes Houston! Houston, lead by captain Jonathan E, again their leading scorer this year.
See more »
Soundtracks
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor(BWV 565) (uncredited)
Performed by Simon Preston
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
See more »
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This is a film that demands repeat viewing. When I was a kid, my brothers and I used to just fast-forward all the slow, `talkie' scenes to get to the action. We couldn't understand why the whole film wasn't just composed of game sequences (a criticism also leveled by at least one reviewer on this site).
Now, having just watched the movie twice in a night, the second time with the director's commentary, I have finally got to grips with the scenes between the action, and discovered that I like it more than ever. The view of the future is not highly original; tipping its hat to the stratified societies foreseen by Orwell and Huxley, amongst others; but nevertheless the portrayal is engaging. Jewison astutely realised that only by filling in the image of the future society, the characters, and the political background against which the tournament unfolds, would the game be seen as truly REAL for the characters. In the meanwhile, he also has the chance to build suspense, upping the stakes for both the heroic gladiator/combateur Jonathon, and his would-be puppet master Bartholemew. In this way, when we come to watch the actual contests, our enthusiasm is whetted, and by making the rules progressively more dangerous with each passing game, the stakes grow ever higher.
The central themes of the movie are (i) loss-of-soul/nihilism/sensual-vs-spiritual-happiness, and (ii) individuality vs state control. Perhaps the best scenes elucidating these themes are the famous `tree killing' scene, and the conversation between Jonathon and Ella in the forest. The use of imagery and metaphor is widespread; I will mention only the terrific concept of the roulette wheel as game arena, with the players INSIDE, instead of outside; and the Circus Maximus parallel. You may draw many interesting conclusions from this about the director's and writer's intent.
My final word is: watch it once, soak up the action, and be bored by the rest. Then view it again, feel yourself in Jonathon's dilemma, experience his wrenching disappointment with the people in his life who betray him, and try to tear yourself away if you can as he is pushed inexorably to his fate in the arena of ROLLERBALL.