Rollercoaster is a summer 1977 disaster-suspense film directed by James Goldstone. It was one of four films created in Sensurround by Universal Studios, along with Midway, Earthquake, and the theatrical version of Battlestar Galactica.
Overview
An unknown terrorist (Timothy Bottoms, credited only as "Young Man" and never referred to by any other name in the film) sneaks into the Ocean View Amusement Park and places a small, radio-controlled bomb on the tracks of "The Rocket" coaster. The bomb detonates, the ride derails, and several people die. Ride inspector Harry Calder (George Segal), who is trying to shrug off his smoking habit, is called over to the park, and determines that there was an unauthorized man on the track, eliminating structural problems as the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the elusive extortionist flies to Pittsburgh and sets a "dark ride" at Wonder World on fire, although everyone escapes without injuries. The heads of the parks meet in a hotel in Chicago, and the criminal, disguised as a bell boy, bugs the room. Calder then unknowingly crosses paths with him on his way to the same room to assist the big wigs. They then play a tape the Young Man sent them, telling them he demands a sum of one million dollars to stop his terrorism.
When Calder, the inspector, returns home, he receives a call from the Young Man persuading him to go to Virginia. The FBI arrive shortly thereafter, led by Agent Hoyt (Richard Widmark). Hoyt clears the vagueness of the message by telling him that the terrorist wants the money delivered by Calder to him at Kings Dominion in Richmond. Although he is reluctant, Calder flies out to Virginia. He is told to wait at a telephone in the park, and is called by the terrorist. The terrorist (who is secretly watching him from the Eiffel Tower replica in the park) tells him that there is a bomb in the park. Calder is told to go on various rides in the park including Rebel Yell, the park's racing wooden coasters by a two-way radio given to him by the extortionist via a messenger's service employee. When he gets on the Skyway, the terrorist tells him, to Calder's horror, that the bomb is in his radio, but he must not throw it away because it will explode on impact, and the park is filled with people. He is ordered to signal that he has made the delivery once leaving the Skyway, thus forcing the authorities' attention away from him. He leaves the money on a bench for the Young Man in Hanna-Barbara Land, and walks away. When the Young Man fails to respond to him afterward, he turns around to see the bench empty. After a heated argument with Hoyt and the discovery that Hoyt marked the money (against the Young Man's condition that he be paid with unmarked bills), Calder demands to be sent home, leaving the bomb squad to take care of the radio/bomb.
Once home, Calder receives a call in the middle of the night from the Young Man. He blames Calder for having the money marked and threatens another attack. Calder highly suspects that the Young Man will strike the Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain--one of the coasters that Calder personally inspected and cleared--as his next target. In this way, the Young Man gets revenge on both the FBI and Calder. Though Hoyt and the other agents struggle to believe him, they decide to go there anyway to investigate. The ride opens on July 4th as the world's first looping coaster. When inspecting the tracks in disguise as park maintenance men, the agents find a bomb attached to the tracks. They are able to cut the bomb's radio signal wire off just moments before the Young Man discovers their meddling and tries to blow them up.
He quickly runs to his car, gets a new bomb, and brings it back to the park right as Revolution is about to open. He pays one of the people holding a first-ride-allowing "Gold Ticket" $100 for it, thus securing a seat. While riding, he places the new bomb under his seat in the back of the car. As the riders get off, Calder recognizes the Young Man's voice when he is interviewed by someone waiting outside the exit. He immediately chases after him, telling the other agents he might have placed something in the car. However, it is too late to stop the car since it has already passed the lift chain on its next ride.
Intrigued by Calder's intelligence, the cornered terrorist threatens to blow up the car, holding the detonator in his hand, while the agents are trying to jam his signal. The Young Man demands a firearm, which Calder takes off an agent that tells the terrorist to "go to hell". Just as the Young Man demands that Calder hand him the gun, they jam the signal and Hoyt tells him to "get that son of a bitch". Calder shoots the extortionist, who then runs away. He hops a fence, running blindly around the field area below the Revolution, not knowing he's going in a circle that leads him right back to Calder. Just as he climbs onto the track of the Revolution and prepares to escape, he sees Calder and freezes. Distracted, he gets hit by the coaster car, killing him. The movie ends with Calder cheerfully accepting a cigarette but deciding not to smoke it as the ride proudly re-opens.
Behind the Scenes
Helen Hunt, in her first feature film role, has the supporting role as Tracy Calder, Harry's teenage daughter and a potential victim of the Young Man.
Steve Guttenberg, also in his first brief film role, plays a messenger at Six Flags Magic Mountain who brings the plans for the Revolution to Calder and Hoyt.
The movie features an appearance by the band Sparks for the roller coaster's opening concert, playing the songs "Fill 'Er Up" and "Big Boy" from their 1975 album Big Beat. This role was rumored to have been offered to Kiss who turned down the part. Sparks later cited their appearance in the movie in answer to a question about the biggest regret of their career. [1]
Well-known radio announcer Charlie Tuna also appears in the film as the MC for the concert and the Revolution coaster launch.
Featured coasters and parks
The coasters seen during the movie are Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion, Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and the demolished Rocket at Ocean View Amusement Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The film has gained postive attention for promoting these rides and theme parks.
References
- ^ Black, Johnny (September 2006). "Sparks Interview". Mojo 154.
External links
