Kansas City Bomber-Raquel Welch is K.C. Starr in this film about the roller game(never once is the phrase roller derby uttered).This 1972 camp classic follows Welch as she adds color to the confusing sport by challenging teammates to loser leave town match races.In one of the most chemistry free on-screen couplings I have witnessed she sleeps with the owner of the Portland Loggers(Kevin McCarthy)- I guess to secure her position on the team-although with her look and stunt-doubles skills it seems like an arbitrary and unneeded relationship.She is a single mom trying to earn money for her children(her daughter is portrayed by a young Jodie Foster)and in one of the many unintentionally funny scenes of the movie her son will not speak to her and actually backs away from her- the mix of Raquel's terrible acting and the Don Ellis score(a good score wasted on this schlock) make the scene a memorable howler.Most of the movie is dedicated to the skating and fighting scenes- simply terrible fake fighting and tons of crowd shots with an audience full of people with no dental insurance and thrift store clothing.This movie has tons of odd setups and long takes,mixed with odd montages.We also have an Of Mice and Men pairing as KC pals around with the team enforcer Horrible Hank Hopkins.Of course HHH flips out during the third act trying to add "color" for the boss.This movie was one of the few movies by director Jerold Freeman(who after his next film A Cold Night's Death spent the rest of his career directing for television).So bad it's good- the DVD has the original theatrical trailer.If you like the campy and the ridiculous then give this one a rental. D-
Review of Kansas City Bomber
