Weary, but resilient roller derby queen K.C. Carr (a surprisingly gutsy and credible performance by Raquel Welch) has a difficult time finding a balance between her sports super stardom and her chaotic personal life.
Director Jerrold Freedman relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, grounds the premise in a plausibly sordid workday reality, maintains a gritty and cynical downbeat tone throughout, astutely captures the raw brutality and fierce behind-the scenes scheming and backstabbing of the sport, and stages the exciting rough'n'tumble roller derby games with considerable aplomb. The hard-hitting script by Thomas Brickman and Calvin Clements admirably refuses to either sanitize or romanticize the seamy world of roller derby: Considering how even the star players are deemed expandable by smarmy and manipulative team owner Burt Henry (well played to slimy perfection by Kevin McCarthy) and anyone can be traded to another team at a moment's notice, K.C.'s winning of a grudge match between herself and bitter alcoholic rival Jackie Burdette (a strong and touching portrayal by Helen Kallianiotes) that she's supposed to lose registers as both an act of angry defiance and a bold assertion of independence.
Welch brings a winning steely resolve to the character of K.C. and earns bonus points for performing the bulk of her own stunts. Moreover, there are sturdy supporting contributions from Norman Alden as aging, but amiable jammer Horrible Hank Hopkins, Jeanne Cooper as no-nonsense manager Vivien, Katherine Pass as the sweet Lovey, Martine Bartlett as K.C.'s disapproving mother, and William Gray Espy as sleazy horndog Randy. Jodie Foster has a small part as K.C.'s estranged daughter Rita. Fred Koenekamp's proficient cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. A real solid and satisfying movie.
Director Jerrold Freedman relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, grounds the premise in a plausibly sordid workday reality, maintains a gritty and cynical downbeat tone throughout, astutely captures the raw brutality and fierce behind-the scenes scheming and backstabbing of the sport, and stages the exciting rough'n'tumble roller derby games with considerable aplomb. The hard-hitting script by Thomas Brickman and Calvin Clements admirably refuses to either sanitize or romanticize the seamy world of roller derby: Considering how even the star players are deemed expandable by smarmy and manipulative team owner Burt Henry (well played to slimy perfection by Kevin McCarthy) and anyone can be traded to another team at a moment's notice, K.C.'s winning of a grudge match between herself and bitter alcoholic rival Jackie Burdette (a strong and touching portrayal by Helen Kallianiotes) that she's supposed to lose registers as both an act of angry defiance and a bold assertion of independence.
Welch brings a winning steely resolve to the character of K.C. and earns bonus points for performing the bulk of her own stunts. Moreover, there are sturdy supporting contributions from Norman Alden as aging, but amiable jammer Horrible Hank Hopkins, Jeanne Cooper as no-nonsense manager Vivien, Katherine Pass as the sweet Lovey, Martine Bartlett as K.C.'s disapproving mother, and William Gray Espy as sleazy horndog Randy. Jodie Foster has a small part as K.C.'s estranged daughter Rita. Fred Koenekamp's proficient cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. A real solid and satisfying movie.