I first saw Kansas City Bomber, when it was released in 1972. It capitalized on the roller derby craze, that was in full-swing back then. Roller derby's massive popularity, turned out to be a flash-in-the-pan thing. But it was a wild, exhilarating sport, while it lasted. There has been a resurgence of roller derby in recent years. But it just doesn't have the thrilling, visceral excitement, of roller derby in the 70s.
In her meatiest film role ever, Raquel Welch stars as KC Carr, a divorcée and mother of two. KC skates for her local roller derby team, the Kansas City Bombers. KC insists on pursuing her roller derby career, against the wishes of her matronly mother. KC skates, 'cause she 'just wants a piece of the action'. But her mother just doesn't get it. Neither does KC's young son, who even flees from KC, whenever she tries to relate to him.
Burt Henry (played with oily charm by Kevin McCarthy) spots KC, during a skating match. Burt happens to own the Portland Loggers skating team, and recruits KC to join-up. He has more on his mind, than KC's skating talent. Burt pursues a romantic relationship with KC, and she swiftly succumbs. From there, KC's relationships with her teammates deteriorates. First, her house-mate, named Lovey, gets traded to the Denver skating team. She accuses KC of persuading Henry to get rid of her. KC insists she's innocent, but to no avail.
KC also has a volatile relationship, with the Portland Logger's star skater, Jackie Burdett. From the beginning, Jackie shuns KC, and she sees KC as a threat to her position on the team. Particularly since KC is romantically involved, with Burt Henry. Jackie is her own worst enemy though. She drowns her sorrows in liquor, which she constantly swills from a brown paper bag. Jackie is also alienated from her teammates, and can't seem to pull herself out of her snarling, alcoholic apathy.
KC is befriended by a teammate, nicknamed 'horrible' Hank Hopkins. Hank is a dim, yet kindly bear of a man. KC feels protective of Hank, because he's constantly ridiculed by the others on the team, and the roller derby audience. Hank confides his insecurities to KC about being fired, because he's not a young skater anymore. To prove himself fit to compete, Hank goes way overboard and incites a violent brawl, with the opposing team one evening. Burt Henry witnesses this from his office, and fires Hank.
Hank returns to the skating area after the game, expressing his devastation at being canned by Burt Henry. Weeping profusely, Hank begs Henry to give him his job back, while having to be pried loose from Mr. Henry's ankles, by security guards. Hank also screams at KC, (who arrived to help reason with Hank) while being dragged from the scene, that he thinks KC was involved in getting him fired by Mr. Henry. It's the most wrenching scene in the film.
Hank's ouster from the team, is a prime example of the fragile nature of being a roller derby star. Any of them could be replaced in a heartbeat, at the whim of their team owners. Roller derby may have seemed so cool to the fans. But, as the movie shows, the life of a skater is anything but glamorous. The skaters travel via crowded buses, from venue to venue. Along the way, they deal with the instability and loneliness, that is a part of the roller derby life for the skaters.
The performances in this film, are heartfelt, and authentic. The overall ambiance of the movie, deftly reflects the shaky hopes of the skaters who hope to become, or stay, roller derby stars. Even if you're not a big fan of the roller derby, or Raquel Welch, I highly recommend this compelling sports drama.
In her meatiest film role ever, Raquel Welch stars as KC Carr, a divorcée and mother of two. KC skates for her local roller derby team, the Kansas City Bombers. KC insists on pursuing her roller derby career, against the wishes of her matronly mother. KC skates, 'cause she 'just wants a piece of the action'. But her mother just doesn't get it. Neither does KC's young son, who even flees from KC, whenever she tries to relate to him.
Burt Henry (played with oily charm by Kevin McCarthy) spots KC, during a skating match. Burt happens to own the Portland Loggers skating team, and recruits KC to join-up. He has more on his mind, than KC's skating talent. Burt pursues a romantic relationship with KC, and she swiftly succumbs. From there, KC's relationships with her teammates deteriorates. First, her house-mate, named Lovey, gets traded to the Denver skating team. She accuses KC of persuading Henry to get rid of her. KC insists she's innocent, but to no avail.
KC also has a volatile relationship, with the Portland Logger's star skater, Jackie Burdett. From the beginning, Jackie shuns KC, and she sees KC as a threat to her position on the team. Particularly since KC is romantically involved, with Burt Henry. Jackie is her own worst enemy though. She drowns her sorrows in liquor, which she constantly swills from a brown paper bag. Jackie is also alienated from her teammates, and can't seem to pull herself out of her snarling, alcoholic apathy.
KC is befriended by a teammate, nicknamed 'horrible' Hank Hopkins. Hank is a dim, yet kindly bear of a man. KC feels protective of Hank, because he's constantly ridiculed by the others on the team, and the roller derby audience. Hank confides his insecurities to KC about being fired, because he's not a young skater anymore. To prove himself fit to compete, Hank goes way overboard and incites a violent brawl, with the opposing team one evening. Burt Henry witnesses this from his office, and fires Hank.
Hank returns to the skating area after the game, expressing his devastation at being canned by Burt Henry. Weeping profusely, Hank begs Henry to give him his job back, while having to be pried loose from Mr. Henry's ankles, by security guards. Hank also screams at KC, (who arrived to help reason with Hank) while being dragged from the scene, that he thinks KC was involved in getting him fired by Mr. Henry. It's the most wrenching scene in the film.
Hank's ouster from the team, is a prime example of the fragile nature of being a roller derby star. Any of them could be replaced in a heartbeat, at the whim of their team owners. Roller derby may have seemed so cool to the fans. But, as the movie shows, the life of a skater is anything but glamorous. The skaters travel via crowded buses, from venue to venue. Along the way, they deal with the instability and loneliness, that is a part of the roller derby life for the skaters.
The performances in this film, are heartfelt, and authentic. The overall ambiance of the movie, deftly reflects the shaky hopes of the skaters who hope to become, or stay, roller derby stars. Even if you're not a big fan of the roller derby, or Raquel Welch, I highly recommend this compelling sports drama.