Kansas City Bomber

As a kid I lived and breathed the Roller Derby. When this movie came out and it was so seedy, it was interesting only as a B-movie, with a big star, and nothing more. It has too many scenes of poor K.C. Carr (Raquel) moaning and groaning over something. No one gives the girl a break - her mother (Martine Bartlett, who played another monster mother to Sally Field in TV's "Sybil"), is tired of watching her kid (Jodie Foster!) and does not understand why the woman is doing what she is doing for a living. Her teammates and the opposition all dislike her, for some reason - all so that in the final scenes K.C. finally does what she wants and says to hell with anything and anyone else. Its not exactly the finest moment of liberation you've ever seen, but it'll do. Raquel also rarely appeared in skates - her double is seen more than she is. Maybe the double should have done the acting as well.

I saw "Kansas City Bomber" in the theater when I was 8 years old. I'm not sure how that happened. I've seen it quite a few times since. It's a solid sports movie. The story is fine and the action is well staged. The cast is also very good, especially Raquel Welch. Welch not only gives a strong performance but she is stunningly dreamy. I can't take my eyes off her. I've been a fan of "Kansas City Bomber" for many years. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Honorable mention: Norman Alden.

Not bad. Raquel Welch gives it her all living through the trial & tribulations of a professional roller derby queen. Exiled from Kansas City, she's drafted by sleazy derby owner Kevin McCarthy to play in Portland. She runs afoul of most of her team-mates (particularly star player Helena Kallianiotes). Welch is fine, giving a surprisingly good performance and Kallianiotes is dynamite. McCarthy is suitably nasty. Jeanne Cooper is excellent as a tough as nails coach. It's unfortunate that Jerrold Freedman's direction is so lackluster, the only real excitement occurs on the derby rink. Most of the dramatic interplay off the rink is further stymied by silly dialog. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining film. The cinematography is by Fred J. Koenekamp, who shot four other features in 1972! Jodie Foster plays Welch's daughter.

Raquel Welch in one of her best movies: a gritty look at roller derby with an unusual point of view, the protagonist being a sexy woman in #11 track uniforms. Film casts a jaundiced eye at roller derby audiences (seen at certain points are children, mentally-challenged twins, and older folks cheering the violent brawls and making obscene gestures, and a little old lady who spends all her money on roller derby games). Yet it's also a tough and sometimes sad character-study about one woman trying to do her best with what she's got. Raquel ends up dating the team's owner, but gets on the wrong side of her teammates (all of them!) and has to fight for her dignity and self-worth. No-nonsense script, a direction with few frills, solid supporting cast (including Jodie Foster in a bit), and Don Ellis' jazzy background score make "Kansas City Bomber" a drive-in classic. ***1/2 from ****