Customer Reviews

Kansas City Bomber

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Racquel in spandex and on wheels is a wow. I had the pleasure of working on this film on location in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I am not giving this film five stars because I appear in it. Kansas City Bomber was a very special film for Racquel. The script by Barry Sandler was written expressly for Ms. Welch. This was also the first film for Jodie Foster who played Racquels daughter. Vetran character actor Norm Alden gave the best performance of his life as Horrible Hank Hopkins.
Racquel plays KC Carr, a roller derby diva who's life is in turmoil. Her relationship with her children is strained as she tours the country with her derby team. Her team mates are at odds with her believing that she is sleeping her way to the top with the owner of the team (Kevin McCarthy). KC must come to grips with life and what she really wants to achieve.
You'll find yourself rooting for KC to find herself, and she does. The film ends with an exciting skate off between KC and Jackie Burdett. The skate off is set up for KC to take a fall so that she can be traded off to another team, but at the last minute KC and Jackie decide to "keep it real". The climatic skate off is filled with thrills as KC wins the title, and resolves to be the roller derby diva she is.
There are not many films on roller derby, however, this is clearly the best.

This is the quintessential Welch vehicle. She is down to earth, physical, sympathetic, reviled and ultimately triumphant. She had to find this project herself because Hollywood had no idea how to use her. Instead of the glamour sex symbol roles, she was really cut out for the everyday woman role. If there is one regret, it is that Raquel did not take the part of Honey Bruce in "Lenny", that she was offered.
This movie, entertaining from beginning to end, showed Raquel in her finest hour, sure it is corny, but in the classic, All-American way that no one can argue...by all means get this one.

I've been waiting since 1972 for this. I had to get a copy the first day it was available.

Although it's corny, it is well worth the price to get a copy if you're a Roller Games / Roller Derby fan...and even if you're not!

I remember seeing this movie at a drive-in theatre when I was young and I was hooked. If you're a roller derby fan, a Raquel Welch fan, and like movies about the underdog fighting to the finish, then you're especially in for a treat.
I especially liked the casting of Jeanne Cooper as the team coach, and Helen K. as the sympathized, yet despised enemy,
I'll admit seeing her in one of the film's highlights, a catfight with her rolling across the railroad tracks with Raquel with a train coming?? Like I said, escapism fun at it's best!!
The final battle between Raquel and Helen K. was especially entertaining given the slow motion scenes, I remember actually yelling at the drive-in screen from the front of my father's car while sitting on a blanket, "Go, Raquel, Win!"
I even learned things about the Roller Derby biz from this entertaining flick.
I know there are those of you out there who have also been waiting for this title to come out on DVD. Our day is here!
For those of you who didn't enjoy the movie, you have a right to your opinion, but I know I'm going to enjoy getting a copy on release day.
Go Raquel, thanks for entertaining us so!

It's probably too easy to dismiss this movie as a scrappy, dated foray in 1970's sludge, but in '72 it was considered highly unusual and intriguing for a celebrity diva like Raquel Welch to appear in a roller derby drama, and the film was a pretty big hit and generated lots of publicity(Welch even made the cover of LIFE magazine, wearing her No. 11 jersey). I liked the deep-in-thought driving montage of Welch on her way to see her kids(with super-cool jazz music by Don Ellis)and I loved the skating-on-the-street scene with KC and her daughter(wow! Jodie Foster). The track sequences deliver exactly what we want: hard-driving action with some good editing and camera angles, and the satiric behind-the-scenes bits are quite funny(one little old lady spends all her money on roller games). The romantic melodrama with team owner Kevin McCarthy is draggy, but it's interesting how the other skaters react and make Welch the outcast, leading her to fight for self-respect and dignity on the track. The stunt doubles are obvious, and the film isn't a big-budget offering, but it is highly entertaining and has some great moments. Aside from "Hannie Caulder", it gives Raquel her best starring vehicle.

When I bought the movie I thought I was buying the full length feature from the movies. It wasn't. This was the condensed version that has been shortened several times for TV. Love the movie and love the sport even more.

Raquel, the name alone sends shockwaves to any man who is a fan of this goddess from Mt Olympus!!. This film deals with a sport that was very popular back in the 1970's. Raquel is awesome, feisty, caring and above all just plain HOT in spandex!!. This woman can give me skating lesson's anytime. And with her, one on one, roller derby heaven!!. Raquel, keep on rolling!!.

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.

This came out in the early 1970's. Must have seen this entertaining flick about 8 times over the years--and never tire of it. The one and only Raquel Welch--one of the most beautiful women I ever laid eyes on--was perfectly cast here. She does a wonderful job, possibly the best of her long career, if not the best, at least one of her best performances.
Having said that, I should add that the mother seems miscast in this film. I found it hard to believe that the actress they got to portray Raquel's mother was the best choice.

Anyway, hey, check out the rough and tumble world of the roller derby and re-visit Kansas City Bomber--and if you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat, especially if you're a Raquel Welch fan.

Glad it's out on DVD.

Raquel Welch rules in this superb story of the trials and tribulations of being a professional roller rink lady.It's a must see and finally on DVD!!!!!!!