Kansas City Bomber backdrop

Kansas City Bomber

1972·Drama·1h 39m
7.1
Roller-derby skater K.C. Carr tries to balance her desire for a happy personal life and her dreams of stardom.
Directed by Jerrold Freedman
extreme sports
roller derby
roller skates
female coach

Cast

Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch
K.C. Carr
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy
Burt Henry
Helena Kallianiotes
Helena Kallianiotes
Jackie Burdette
Norman Alden
Norman Alden
Horrible Hank Hopkins
Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper
Vivien
Katherine Pass
Katherine Pass
Lovey
Martine Bartlett
Martine Bartlett
Mrs. Carr
Cornelia Sharpe
Cornelia Sharpe
Tammy O'Brien
Richard Lane
Richard Lane
Len
Russ Marin
Russ Marin
Dick Wicks
Stephen Manley
Stephen Manley
Walt
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Rita

Crew

Jerrold Freedman
Jerrold Freedman
Director
Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Original Music Composer
Fred J. Koenekamp
Fred J. Koenekamp
Director of Photography
Arthur Gardner
Arthur Gardner
Executive Producer

Popular Reviews

1 review
Alfred HitchTOK
Alfred HitchTOK
Kansas City Bomber
Kansas City Bomber, follows the trials and tribulations of single mom KC (an absolutely iconic Raquel Welch) trying to make it big in the competitive realm of Roller Derby, where she must not only compete against fearsome opponents but also the jealously of her team mates and the ‘I guess HR wasn’t really so much of a big deal back then’ attention of the team owner Kevin McCarthy.

Anytime this focuses on the roller derby action it was fucking great and damn this looks like a freakin’ awesome sport like a crazy mix between roller skating, pro-wrestling and ice hockey (but only the bits where they fight). The outside the rink moments are a decent enough snapshot of the external pressure of women with the workplace, contending with a judgemental fam, passive aggressive (and flat out aggressive) co-workers, and the attention of way too many male colleagues.

So I gotta ask. Is Roller Derby…real? Like I know it existed and still does exist, but is it worked like pro wrestling. It just seems such an outlaw rule breaking sport otherwise. Or is that element exaggerated for the movie here?

Also why is this even the Kansas City BOMBER. She plays for Portland! And the Kansas City Team is called the Ramblers?

And while on the topic of Kansas city I really love that song by Sneaky Sound System. Look out for a young Jodie Foster who has a small role as Raquel’s daughter!
Kansas City Bomber, follows the trials and tribulations of single mom KC (an absolutely iconic Raquel Welch) trying to make it big in the competitive realm of Roller Derby, where she must not only compete against fearsome opponents but also the jealously of her team mates and the ‘I guess HR wasn’t really so much of a big deal back then’ attention of the team owner Kevin McCarthy.

Anytime this focuses on the roller derby action it was fucking great and damn this looks like a freakin’ awesome sport like a crazy mix between roller skating, pro-wrestling and ice hockey (but only the bits where they fight). The outside the rink moments are a decent enough snapshot of the external pressure of women with the workplace, contending with a judgemental fam, passive aggressive (and flat out aggressive) co-workers, and the attention of way too many male colleagues.

So I gotta ask. Is Roller Derby…real? Like I know it existed and still does exist, but is it worked like pro wrestling. It just seems such an outlaw rule breaking sport otherwise. Or is that element exaggerated for the movie here?

Also why is this even the Kansas City BOMBER. She plays for Portland! And the Kansas City Team is called the Ramblers?

And while on the topic of Kansas city I really love that song by Sneaky Sound System. Look out for a young Jodie Foster who has a small role as Raquel’s daughter!
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