{"id":40495,"date":"2018-05-07T14:09:21","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T21:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40495"},"modified":"2021-01-24T17:38:45","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T00:38:45","slug":"kansas-city-bomber-1972","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40495","title":{"rendered":"Kansas City Bomber (1972)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We&#8217;re all used &#8212; you, me, anybody on two legs. That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about. That&#8217;s your American pie for you.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Poster-300x236.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-40496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Poster-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Poster-128x101.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Poster.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA single mother (Raquel Welch) working on the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roller_derby\">Roller Derby<\/a> 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&#8217;s reigning alcoholic queen (Helena Kallianiotes).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jodie Foster Films<\/li>\n<li>Kevin McCarthy Films<\/li>\n<li>Raquel Welch Films<\/li>\n<li>Rivalry<\/li>\n<li>Single Mothers<\/li>\n<li>Sports<\/li>\n<li>Strong Females<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;sleeper about the trials and tribulations of a roller-derby queen isn&#8217;t half bad&#8221; and &#8220;does contain what [he thinks] is Raquel Welch&#8217;s one genuinely fine movie performance&#8221;, noting somewhat disparagingly that &#8220;for once, she truly worked at establishing a real character.&#8221; He adds that the &#8220;picture has feminist slant; we get to admire this woman despite sleazy profession, as she stands alone against owner and jealous teammates &#8212; and we sympathize because she&#8217;s a working single mother who is always on the road and away from her child.&#8221; Like Peary, I was very pleasantly surprised by Welch&#8217;s characterization &#8212; 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 &#8212; themes which the imperfect but serviceable script takes ample advantage of. While we don&#8217;t learn quite enough about Welch&#8217;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&#8217;s daughter, and Martine Bartlett as a judgmental parent anyone would want to escape from (who can forget her role as Sally Field&#8217;s abusive mother in <em>Sybil<\/em>?). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Raquel Welch as K.C.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Welch-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>An effectively seedy glimpse at fans and the sport itself<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Rolling-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers1-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kansas-City-Bomber-Onlookers2-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s well worth a look, and probably has a bit of a cult following. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0068795\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/16165\/kansas-city-bomber\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2237&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a>\t<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1972\/08\/03\/archives\/instant-morality-kansas-city-bomber-stars-raquel-welch.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/1793\/kansas-city-bomber#articles-reviews?articleId=78135\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re all used &#8212; you, me, anybody on two legs. That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about. That&#8217;s your American pie for you.&#8221; 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&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40495\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40495"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65686,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40495\/revisions\/65686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}