Talking to a family friend about movies he was after,I got told about a roller derby Drama (!) starring Raquel Welch.Despite having seen photos of her for year I have never got round to seeing a movie featuring Welch,which led to me deciding that it was time to let Welch roll in.
The plot:
Losing a "loser must leave the team" challenge,roller derby player K.C. Carr starts to fear about how she is going to put food on the table for her daughters.Seeing K.C. as one of the stars of the team,sports mogul Burt Henry decides to off Carr a spot on the team.Accepting the offer,K.C. soon finds herself on a whirlwind tour and romance with Henry.As her teammates start to suspect K.C. of gaining her spot from favouritism,Carr begins hearing complains from home about why she is rolling away from them all.
View on the film:
Before I get to the film,I have to mention that whilst the title has some grain,Warner Archives have given the title a very good transfer,with the clear soundtrack allowing for every glide across the track to be swiftly heard.
Filmed in actual roller derby stadiums,director Jerrold Freedman & cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp spin the sports action with a stomping energy,as rapid shot close ups allow the viewer to see every thump and punch that K.C. and her team give and take.Along with scanning the venues for the most "unique" crowd members, Freedman also glides long tracking shots across the pitch,which along with opening up the whole location,also shows K.C. getting deeper into the business.
Waiting weeks for Welch to respond after passing Welch the script at her door,the screenplay by Barry Sandler (with additional work from Calvin Clements Sr. & Thomas Rickman) keeps the film spinning at a warm hearted pace,thanks to Sandler cross training funny slap-stick antics on the track,with a tough,determined thread around single mother K.C. Breaking her wrists whist practising for the title,the very pretty Welch gives a great performance as K.C. Carr,whose sweet nature care towards her kids and her teammates is connected by Welch to a joyfully ruthlessness in ending up ahead of all the doubters,as K.C. junior goes down the (roller derby) track.
The plot:
Losing a "loser must leave the team" challenge,roller derby player K.C. Carr starts to fear about how she is going to put food on the table for her daughters.Seeing K.C. as one of the stars of the team,sports mogul Burt Henry decides to off Carr a spot on the team.Accepting the offer,K.C. soon finds herself on a whirlwind tour and romance with Henry.As her teammates start to suspect K.C. of gaining her spot from favouritism,Carr begins hearing complains from home about why she is rolling away from them all.
View on the film:
Before I get to the film,I have to mention that whilst the title has some grain,Warner Archives have given the title a very good transfer,with the clear soundtrack allowing for every glide across the track to be swiftly heard.
Filmed in actual roller derby stadiums,director Jerrold Freedman & cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp spin the sports action with a stomping energy,as rapid shot close ups allow the viewer to see every thump and punch that K.C. and her team give and take.Along with scanning the venues for the most "unique" crowd members, Freedman also glides long tracking shots across the pitch,which along with opening up the whole location,also shows K.C. getting deeper into the business.
Waiting weeks for Welch to respond after passing Welch the script at her door,the screenplay by Barry Sandler (with additional work from Calvin Clements Sr. & Thomas Rickman) keeps the film spinning at a warm hearted pace,thanks to Sandler cross training funny slap-stick antics on the track,with a tough,determined thread around single mother K.C. Breaking her wrists whist practising for the title,the very pretty Welch gives a great performance as K.C. Carr,whose sweet nature care towards her kids and her teammates is connected by Welch to a joyfully ruthlessness in ending up ahead of all the doubters,as K.C. junior goes down the (roller derby) track.