Rollercoaster

Director: James Goldstone James Goldstone

Overview

"The thriller Rollercoaster comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include biographies of the cast and crew, and the trailer. This is a fine release from Universal that will please genre enthusiasts."

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/1998
UPC:	0025192043925
Original Release:	1977
Rating:	PG
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:59:00
Sales rank:	33,353

Special Features

Production notes; Cast & filmmakers' bios; Film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Web links

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

George Segal	Harry Calder
Richard Widmark	agent Hoyt
Timothy Bottoms	Young Man
Henry Fonda	Simon Davenport
Harry Guardino	Keefer
Susan Strasberg	Fran
Helen Hunt	Tracy Calder
Dorothy Tristan	Helen
Harry Davis	Benny
Stephen Pearlman	Park Manager Lyons
Gerald Rowe	Wayne Moore
Wayne Tippit	Police Captain Christie
Michael Bell	Demerest
Charlie Tuna	Rock Concert MC
Lonny Stevens	Federal Agent
Tom Baker	Federal Agent
Ava Readdy	Hippy
Craig Wasson	Hippy
William Prince	Quinlan
Dick McGarvin	Owner
Quinn Redeker	Owner,Owner #2
Harry Basch	Owner
Arthur Peterson	Owner
Richard Altman	Mandell
Gloria Calomee	Jackie
Robert Quarry	Mayor
Jean Rasey	Girl in Line
Greg Elliot	Boy in Line
Bruce Kimball	Bomb Squad
Bruce French	Bomb Squad
Stephen Mendillo	Bomb Squad
Charles W. Bennett Jr.	Bomb Squad
Larry Holt	Bomb Squad
Gene Tyburn	Bomb Squad
Bill Sorrells	Selby
Monica Lewis	Tourist Mother
Dick Wesson	Tourist Father
Joe George	Guard
Gary Franklin	Radio Reporter
David Milton	Man in Robe
David Byrd	Pet Store Owner
Henry Olek	Smoking Technician
Dennis Speigel	Pierce
Bill Saito	Oriental
Takayo Doran	Oriental
Roger Steffens	Radio Technician
Dianne T. Murray	Pregnant Agent
Mark Hulcher	Delivery Boy
John F. Swanson	Lansing
Denice Harlow	Hertz Girl
Mark Thomas	Agent
J. Michael Hunter	Shooting Gallery Attendant
Tara Buckman	Coaster Attendant
Louis Weisberg	Coaster Attendant
Michael Patrick Bell	Damerest
Dave Milton	Man in Robe
Wayne Tippet	Police Captain Christie
Lalo Schifrin	Composer

Technical Credits

Richard Levinson

William Link

James Goldstone	Director,Executive Producer
Richard Levinson	Screenwriter,Executive Producer
William Link	Screenwriter,Executive Producer
Jennings Lang	Producer
John Daheim	Stunts
Howard Kazanjian	Executive Producer
Jesse Wayne	Stunts
Jim Alexander	Sound/Sound Designer
Robert L. Hoyt	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Although it is often lumped in with the disaster films of the 1970s, this film is more of a suspense thriller with a bit of disaster-style spectacle thrown in to up the ante. As a result, Rollercoaster has aged better than other films with the "disaster movie" tag and is likely to entertain viewers who don't normally like such fare. The key to its appeal lies in an excellent script by veteran Columbo scribes Richard A. Levinson and William Link that takes the time to give some dimension to its characters and builds to a memorably tense cat-and-mouse finale. Rollercoaster's appeal is further aided by skillful acting from a cast of old pros: George Segal's warm, low-key performance as Harry makes him a believable, appealingly down-to-earth variation on the usual detective hero and Timothy Bottoms avoids the usual psycho clichés in his villainous role, instead creating someone whose is scary because of his devious intellect. James Goldstone's direction doesn't lend the film the kind of flair a more style-conscious director would have brought to the proceedings, but his solid craftsmanship keeps the film moving along smoothly and he achieves some truly effective set pieces, especially the nerve-jangling roller-coaster bombing near the beginning and the tense chase finale at Magic Mountain. It's also worth noting that the film boasts an impressive Lalo Schifrin score that ranges from Herrmann-esque strings for the suspense scenes to mellow jazz for the more tranquil moments. In the end, Rollercoaster doesn't boast the high-octane thrills or epic-scale carnage of a film like The Poseidon Adventure, but it's quite involving on its own modest terms and well worth a look to fans of 1970s thrillers.