Unholy Rollers (1972)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Vernon Zimmerman

Writers:

Howard R. Cohen (screenplay)
Howard R. Cohen (story)
(more)

Release Date:

10 November 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A locker room look at the toughest broads in the world!

Plot:

Karen wants more action out of life and quits her job at the cannery to become a skater in the roller derby...

Plot Keywords:

Roller Derby | Roller Skating | Female Nudity | Independent Film

Cast

Claudia Jennings	...	Karen Walker
Louis Quinn	...	Mr. Stern
Betty Anne Rees	...	Mickey
Roberta Collins	...	Jennifer
Alan Vint	...	Greg
Candice Roman	...	Donna
Jay Varela	...	Nick
Charlene Jones	...	Beverly Brayton
Joe E. Tata	...	Marshall
Maxine Gates	...	Angie Striker
Kathleen Freeman	...	Karen's Mother
John Harmon	...	Doctor
Karl Rizzo	...	Referee
Mike Miller	...	Referee
John Steadman	...	Guard
John Mitchell	...	Horace McKay
Roxanna Bonilla-Giannini	...	Consuela (as Roxanna Bonilla)
Dan Seymour	...	Used Car Dealer
Eve Bruce	...	Woman in Bar
Alvin Hammer	...	Man in Bar
Victor Argo	...	Vinnie the Trainer
Jack Griffin	...	Poker Player
Dennis Redfield	...	Duane
Ray Galvin	...	Foreman
Louis Pampino	...	Worker
Matt Bennett	...	Worker
Hunter von Leer	...	Larry
Rick Hurst	...	Mover
Ray O'Keefe	...	Mover
Terry Wolfe	...	Grocery Boy
Perry Cook	...	Supermarket Manager
Abbi Henderson	...	Girl in Supermarket
Kres Mersky	...	Girl in Bar
Kathleen Pagel	...	Tina
Cecil Reddick	...	Man in Phone Booth
Margaret Smith	...	Avenger
Betty Mauk	...	Avenger
Judy Raff	...	Avenger
Mia Abbott	...	Avenger
Gloria Clerk	...	Avenger
Lynette Sanchez	...	Avenger
Sparky Blaine	...	Avenger
Richard Raff	...	Avenger
Jerry Petty	...	Avenger
William Mauk	...	Avenger
James Tandoka	...	Avenger
John Taylor	...	Avenger
Daniel Rainor	...	Avenger
James Barbarino	...	Avenger
Baby Roacho	...	Demon
Ginger Barbarino	...	Demon
Gail Franklin	...	Demon
Jean David	...	Demon
Joan Spangehl	...	Demon
Joe Aragon	...	Demon
Eddie Smith	...	Demon
Rudy Calvo	...	Demon
Danny Fuentes	...	Demon
Ronald Jones	...	Demon
Luis Sánchez	...	Demon
Joe Madrid	...	Demon

Directed by
Vernon Zimmerman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Howard R. Cohen		screenplay
Howard R. Cohen		story
Vernon Zimmerman		story

Produced by
Jack Bohrer	....	producer
Roger Corman	....	executive producer
John Prizer	....	producer

Original Music by
Kendall Schmidt

Cinematography by
Michael Shea		(as Mike Shea)

Film Editing by
George Trirogoff
Yeu-Bun Yee

Art Direction by
Spencer Quinn

Costume Design by
Cornelia McNamara

Makeup Department
Louis Lane	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gary Grillo	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mike Brown	....	assistant property master
Harvey Pepper	....	property master
George Ponnay	....	assistant to art director

Sound Department
John DeGrazzio	....	sound recordist

Stunts
George Fisher	....	stunt coordinator
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double
Eddie Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Arthur R. Botham	....	camera operator
Michael Ferris	....	still photographer
Gary Holt	....	gaffer
Scott Lloyd-Davies	....	camera operator
Eric Shiozaki	....	assistant camera
Alis Sofar	....	assistant camera
David Watkins	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Terence Ford	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Tobi Behr	....	assistant editor
Barbara Pokras	....	editorial associate
Martin Scorsese	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Bobby Hart	....	musical director

Transportation Department
Cliff Busch	....	transportation
Alan Falco	....	transportation

Other crew
Sparky Blaine	....	technical advisor
Beach Dickerson	....	production associate
John Matousek	....	production assistant
Bob Roberts	....	skating coach
Nicole Scott	....	production coordinator
David Sheldon	....	production associate
Joan Tucker	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1972) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Leader of the Pack

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Martin Scorsese's first job as an editor.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the gun range, after firing all the rounds Nick, empties the spent rounds, but it is obvious the rounds weren't fired, with the bullet and shell still intact.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Beverly Hills, 90210: Fade In, Fade Out (#6.17)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Stay Away From Karen

Surprisingly dull look at an exploitive sport

This was an attempt by American-International Pictures to cash in on the publicity for the highly publicized KANSAS CITY BOMBER, also released in 1972. Actually, it's more like Roger Corman's attempt to do so, because while A.I.P. footed the bill, it was a Corman show all the way (even though he had already started his own movie company/distribution outfit, New World Pictures, two years earlier.) In fact, it has the same look and sparse production values as New World movies of the earlier '70s, making you wonder if A.I.P. gave Corman little to spend, or if Corman pocketed a lot of the budget.

Whatever the case, the end result is pretty boring to sit though, despite the showcased sport (roller derby) and the presence of B movie queen Claudia Jennings. The first few minutes aren't bad, promising an energetic and wacky look at the behind-the-scenes of roller derby, but then the movie suddenly takes a turn to the deadly serious. Sure, there are catfights, nudity, and clobberings on the roller ring, but there's no feeling of fun to it all. Actually, much of the movie focuses on boring bickering and chattering between the characters. To make matters worse, the print of the movie currently playing on cable eliminates the original music score and substitutes bland muzak that results in the viewing experience becoming more of a slog to get through.