If you were around my age in the early summer of '75, you probably remember quite well being literally terrified as you sat through 'Jaws' for the first time. I was 11 and it shook me up pretty good - so much so that I went back and saw it again.Five days after the premier of Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster, another iconic 70's film began its run in theaters: John McTiernan's dystopian future action-drama Rollerball. As a kid enamored with sci-fi, and about to be transported to a galaxy far, far away a mere two summers later, I was too young to see Rollerball, no matter how cool the previews on TV looked, as it was rated R.
Event posters used at the Rollerball venues in the film.As always, click any image for a larger view.
So Rollerball got filed away in that part of my memory already filled with other cool stuff that I would have access to once I was old enough - like Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, driving a car and Playboy magazine.
My first experience seeing Clockwork Orange was a midnight screening at our little Ramsey, New Jersey town theater while I was in high school, but I don't recall the first time I finally did see Rollerball. Most likely on TV sometime in the 80's. I remember coming away somewhat disappointed, as, outside of the action sequences, the film was slow paced and talky, and I wasn't old enough to process much of the political subtext. Oh but those action sequences - the actual playing of the fictional game of rollerball - are flat-out fantastic even by today's standards. The game as conceived and presented in the film is an entirely legitimate sport, and in fact there were rumors that an actual rollerball league was once under consideration.
A decade or so ago I picked up a DVD release of the original Rollerball - let us just agree that the hideously aweful 2002 remake with LL Cool J never happened - that had the widescreen version on one side and full screen on the other. Unfortunately, the widescreen side refused to play - and I refuse to watch widescreen movies in full screen mode - so, no Rollerball for Austin.
Recently I'd been thinking about Rollerball again, and wondering when the film was slated to be released on Blu-Ray. So I did a little searching about on the interwebs and while there seems to be no information as to when Rollerball will be released in hi-def, I did discover some pretty cool poster art used for the film.
Concept sketch, painting and final poster by Bob Peak.Legendary illustrator-artist Bob Peak did the artwork for the official Rollerball poster, featuring the iconic spiked glove of helmeted player 'Johnathan E', played in the film by James Caan. How could you not want to watch the film after seeing this poster?
Hey as soon as Rollerball finally comes out on Blu-Ray, I will!
Some international market posters for the film.Late Addition: Just found this at the swap meet on Saturday. Rollerball on LaserDisc:
