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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1970s
    Movies - 1970s Movies - R 2 Mins Read

    Rollercoaster (1977)

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    James Goldstone’s unconventional disaster movie casts George Segal as Harry Calder, a ride inspector on the tail of a serial bomber (Timothy Bottoms), who’s rigging rollercoasters with explosives.

    We first meet our (never named) male antagonist during the opening credits, eyeing his target – The Rocket – through binoculars. This first explosion, which flattens several unsuspecting riders, comes after a nail-biting build-up.

    In a state of relaxation familiar to the psychopath, the villain nibbles his cotton candy and tries his hand at the rifle range, fingering the red button on his radio-controlled detonator – until it’s not so much a question of when as who among the happy, high-coloured public will meet their ugly end.

    rollercoaster_000The strain of tracking the bomber down prevents Calder from quitting smoking and makes Richard Widmark twitch uncontrollably.

    Though a product of its time – a slice of 1970s America – Rollercoaster is unique in using and abusing our love of the loop-de-loop, turning our death-wish gratifications to face us and spinning the thrill-ride into a thriller.

    The film was originally released in ‘Sensurround‘, a short-lived process that made cinema seats shake at appropriate moments.

    Watch out for a 14-year-old Helen Hunt as George Segal’s daughter.

    TRIVIA
    The rollercoaster featured in the climax of the movie is the Great American Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It opened in 1976 and was the first roller coaster to feature a complete 360-degree vertical loop.

    The other amusement Parks featured in the film were Ocean View Park in Norfolk, Virginia, and Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

    Harry Calder
    George Segal
    Hoyt
    Richard Widmark
    Young man
    Timothy Bottoms
    Simon Davenport
    Henry Fonda
    Keefer
    Harry Guardino
    Fran
    Susan Strasberg
    Tracy Calder
    Helen Hunt
    Helen
    Dorothy Tristan
    Benny
    Harry Davis
    Lyons
    Stephen Pearlman
    Wayne Moore
    Gerald Rowe
    Christie
    Wayne Tippit
    Demerest
    Michael Bell
    Quinlan
    William Prince
    Jackie
    Gloria Calomee

    Director
    James Goldstone

    Video

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