Kansas City Bomber

Racquel in spandex and on wheels is a wow. I had the pleasure of working on this film on location in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I am not giving this film five stars because I appear in it. Kansas City Bomber was a very special film for Racquel. The script by Barry Sandler was written expressly for Ms. Welch. This was also the first film for Jodie Foster who played Racquels daughter. Vetran character actor Norm Alden gave the best performance of his life as Horrible Hank Hopkins.

Racquel plays KC Carr, a roller derby diva who's life is in turmoil. Her relationship with her children is strained as she tours the country with her derby team. Her team mates are at odds with her believing that she is sleeping her way to the top with the owner of the team (Kevin McCarthy). KC must come to grips with life and what she really wants to achieve.

You'll find yourself rooting for KC to find herself, and she does. The film ends with an exciting skate off between KC and Jackie Burdett. The skate off is set up for KC to take a fall so that she can be traded off to another team, but at the last minute KC and Jackie decide to "keep it real". The climatic skate off is filled with thrills as KC wins the title, and resolves to be the roller derby diva she is.

There are not many films on roller derby, however, this is clearly the best.

This is the quintessential Welch vehicle. She is down to earth, physical, sympathetic, reviled and ultimately triumphant. She had to find this project herself because Hollywood had no idea how to use her. Instead of the glamour sex symbol roles, she was really cut out for the everyday woman role. If there is one regret, it is that Raquel did not take the part of Honey Bruce in "Lenny", that she was offered.

This movie, entertaining from beginning to end, showed Raquel in her finest hour, sure it is corny, but in the classic, All-American way that no one can argue...by all means get this one.

I've been waiting since 1972 for this. I had to get a copy the first day it was available.

Although it's corny, it is well worth the price to get a copy if you're a Roller Games / Roller Derby fan...and even if you're not!