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Month: May 2018

Kansas City Bomber (1972)

Kansas City Bomber (1972)

Comments 1 comment

“We’re all used — you, me, anybody on two legs. That’s what it’s all about. That’s your American pie for you.”

Synopsis:
A single mother (Raquel Welch) working on the Roller Derby circuit while her two kids (Jodie Foster and Stephen Manley) live with her mom (Martine Bartlett) is transferred by a new team owner (Kevin McCarthy) from Kansas City to Portland, where she befriends two teammates (Katherine Pass and Norman Alden) but makes an instant rival in the team’s reigning alcoholic queen (Helena Kallianiotes).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Jodie Foster Films
  • Kevin McCarthy Films
  • Raquel Welch Films
  • Rivalry
  • Single Mothers
  • Sports
  • Strong Females

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “sleeper about the trials and tribulations of a roller-derby queen isn’t half bad” and “does contain what [he thinks] is Raquel Welch’s one genuinely fine movie performance”, noting somewhat disparagingly that “for once, she truly worked at establishing a real character.” He adds that the “picture has feminist slant; we get to admire this woman despite sleazy profession, as she stands alone against owner and jealous teammates — and we sympathize because she’s a working single mother who is always on the road and away from her child.” Like Peary, I was very pleasantly surprised by Welch’s characterization — not to mention her obvious skills on the derby rink. This film falls right in line with other movies about women (or men) trying to make a living in high-risk sports such a wrestling or boxing, who are ultimately pawns of those hoping to make a buck off of them at any cost. Both intense rivalry and loyal friendship are prevalant in a world like this — themes which the imperfect but serviceable script takes ample advantage of. While we don’t learn quite enough about Welch’s desire to be a derby girl, it is clear that this is one way she can provide for her family and escape from small-town drudgery. Watch for Jodie Foster in a small role as Welch’s daughter, and Martine Bartlett as a judgmental parent anyone would want to escape from (who can forget her role as Sally Field’s abusive mother in Sybil?).

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Raquel Welch as K.C.
  • An effectively seedy glimpse at fans and the sport itself


Must See?
No, but it’s well worth a look, and probably has a bit of a cult following.

Links:

Dynamite Chicken (1971)

Dynamite Chicken (1971)

Comments 2 comments

“What is obscene?”

Synopsis:
Richard Pryor appears intermittently in this collage of skits, spoofs, and commentary on countercultural topics, including war, sex, feminism, patriotism, politics, and obscenity.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Counterculture
  • Experimental Films
  • Richard Pryor Films
  • Satires and Spoofs

Review:
It’s difficult to know what to make of — or say about — this experimental pastiche of a film, which was surely much more relevant at the time of its release, but now simply comes across as a time capsule worthy of screening at a modern art museum. There’s some amusement to be had in “spot the celebrity” (not only Pryor but Fred Willard, Joan Baez, Andy Warhol, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono show up), and there is a clear attempt to push boundaries and taboos of every kind (viz. a scene of a stripping nun) — but… Feel free to skip this one unless you’re curious.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • A few effectively surreal and/or randomly engaging scenes and moments


Must See?
No; this one is simply an historical curiosity.

Links:

Valley Girl (1983)

Valley Girl (1983)

Comments 1 comment

“Nobody’s going to tell me who I can score with!”

Synopsis:
A popular “valley girl” (Deborah Foreman) breaks up with her boring boyfriend (Michael Bowen) and begins dating a guy (Nicolas Guy) from across town — but soon her friends peer-pressure her into rethinking her romantic choices.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Cross-Class Romance
  • Fredric Forrest Films
  • Nicolas Cage Films
  • Teenagers

Review:
Martha Coolidge directed this insipid teen romance about a blonde (Foreman) with an infectious smile who is suddenly struck with the urge to break free from her usual routine and milieu. Unfortunately, her character and all other members of her clique are either utterly uninteresting or obnoxiously annoying; perhaps this was intentional, to demonstrate why Foreman is so eager for adventure — but since we don’t care much for her either (she’s two-dimensional), it’s hard to put much stock in her wishy-washy romantic foibles. Cage is fine, but essentially wasted in his first starring role; Cameron Dye as his best buddy looks hauntingly like a young Quentin Tarantino in many shots (I was convinced it was him for the longest time).

Fredric Forrest and Colleen Camp are on hand to presumably provide some chuckles as Foreman’s former-hippie parents who run a health food store and are ultra-hip about their daughter’s lifestyle choices — but all the comedic elements of this script pretty much fall flat.

Note: What’s up with the creepy clown Foreman sleeps with?!

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Fun historic shots of 1980s L.A.


  • Frederick Elmes’ cinematography

Must See?
Nope; this one is strictly must-see for nostalgic fans.

Links:

Fire Over England (1937)

Fire Over England (1937)

Comments 1 comment

“I have seen blacker fears turn to hopes. Hope on, until you know there is none.”

Synopsis:
A loyal supporter (Laurence Olivier) of Queen Elizabeth I (Flora Robson) — happily engaged to one of her ladies-in-waiting (Vivien Leigh) — agrees to replace a killed agent (James Mason) as a spy in the courts of King Philip of Spain (Raymond Massey) to learn more about the impending Armada invasion.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Flora Robson Films
  • Historical Drama
  • James Mason Films
  • Laurence Olivier Films
  • Mistaken or Hidden Identities
  • Raymond Massey Films
  • Royalty and Nobility
  • Spies
  • Vivien Leigh Films

Review:
This Alexandar Korda-produced historical drama is best known as the film that first brought Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier together, both on-screen and in real-life as lovers.

It’s a nicely mounted film, grounded by a strong performance by Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth, but otherwise simply straightforward, highly fictionalized fare that will be of most interest to fans of the genre (or of “Viv and Larry”). James Wong Howe’s cinematography is a plus, as are Queen Elizabeth’s over-the-top costumes by Rene Hubert. Be sure to check out the Blu-Ray.com review below for an extensive overview of how this public domain title was painstakingly restored.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth
  • James Wong Howe’s cinematography

  • Fine sets and costumes

Must See?
No; skip this one unless you’re curious (though it is beautifully restored).

Links: