Kansas City Bomber

Kansas City Bomber
by Jerrold Freedman

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Actor: Helena Kallianiotes, Jeanne Cooper, Kevin McCarthy, Norman Alden, Raquel Welch
Director: Jerrold Freedman
Brand: WELCH,RAQUEL
Cinematographer: Fred J. Koenekamp
Producer: Arthur Gardner
Producer: Jules V. Levy
Producer: Martin Elfand
Writer: Barry Sandler
Writer: Calvin Clements Sr.
Writer: Thomas Rickman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 99 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-05-31
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Reviews of Kansas City Bomber

DVD Review: Compelling 70s sports drama.
Summary: 5 Stars

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 divorc?e 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.

DVD Review: Well worth waiting for
Summary: 5 Stars

Like many others, I've been waiting for this film to go to dvd for the longest time. I hadn't even seen it in years, as it seems like it was rarely shown on television, and I don't know if I ever saw it available on vhs.

This is one of Raquel's best pictures, great action and locations. The final scene of the match race between K.C. Carr and her rival is a thrill a minute.

Some people have stated that Ms. Welch is too pretty and much too petite to have played a roller derby queen. (She really does appear much smaller and slimmer in person then she does on screen) But of course, us fans of hers, and those of us who grew up with her posters on our bedroom walls can disregard that.

DVD Review: Only Room For One
Summary: 4 Stars

K.C. Carr is on the fast track to becoming a star in Roller Derby. A divorcee with two children, she has what pop culture would call the "it" factor; but her goal may ultimately prove to be impossible.

Raquel Welch does an outstanding job in portraying the many sides of Carr, in a script which highlights the personal and professional drama in the main character's life. Helena Kallianiotes (Jackie Burdette) received a 1973 Golden Glode nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Movie, as the veteran team leader who refuses to share center stage with Carr.

Team owner Burt Henry - Kevin McCarthy - plays on the drive of Carr to achieve success in the sport and have a lasting, loving relationship.

Directed by Jerrold Freedman and initially released in August 1972, the skating sequences are fantastic and the parallel plot involving Carr's personal life is believable. The tension between Carr, Burdette and Henry spills onto the track, with a match-race to determine who is the best, with the dreams of the loser being crushed in front of fans and teammates.

Kansas City Bomber is a winner, as it depicts the game within the game of life and the steepness in the banked turns to truly find happiness.

DVD Review: Sometimes its not fun to get what you wish for.
Summary: 3 Stars

I've been hounding MGM and Welch's agent to get this film re-released as it was one of my childhood favorites. Everyone else has covered the good points of the plot, but I suspect this version was cut for TV and has lost a certain amount of sex appeal. I do recall longer scenes in the shower and before Raquel goes to the rink to outskate her rival, a few less underthings worn in the locker room. But, it's been thirty five years, maybe I'm mistaken.

DVD Review: Kansaa City Bomber
Summary: 4 Stars

Excellent movie that is on DVD for anyone who loves the sport of roller derby.

Description of Kansas City Bomber

Baseball has its Bull Durham. Basketball has Hoosiers. Football has Rudy. And the mad sport of the roller game has Kansas City Bomber. Step aside, boys, she's coming through. Disco was in, polyester was cool and the roller game was the hottest thing on wheels when this smash-mouth spinfest elbowed its way onto screens. Raquel Welch plays K.C., a single mom (Jodie Foster plays her daughter) who laces up to earn a living for her family. Real competition venues provide settings. Some true-life roller-game players appear in the film. And Welch adds to the authenticity, navigating the banked oval like a rocket-powered bumper car. Round and round she goes. Where she stops may be the top of the roller world.

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