ROLLERBALL

US, 1975, 129 minutes, Colour.
James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, Moses Gunn, Pamela Hensley, Ralph Richardson.
Directed by Norman Jewison.

Rollerball has a vast amount to offer - from its stylish photography of sport action, futuristic sets, Andre Previn score to its science-fiction and political themes, a very carefully-made film (although some have said ‘pretentiously
studied'). A future society (sufficiently close to our own in styles of luxury, selfish ambitions and fascist sport blood-lust) is symbolised in corporate society's masses-fulfilling game, rollerball - designed to show the futility of individual effort. But it produces its rebel, the champion Jonathan E., the threat to society. James Caan and John Houseman as champion and menacing executive are excellent. Superior science-fiction and film-making.

Rollerball was remade, unsuccessfully, by John Mc Tiernan in 2000 with Chris Klein too gentle an actor in the central role.

1. The main impact of this film? It was acclaimed by many critics, condemned by many. Why?

2. The film as one of the 70s in terms of style. content, moral preoccupations?

3. The film as science-fiction? How successful? What impact? Comment on its picture of the future, the picture of society, especially at the party. sport? The world of luxury, the elimination of poverty and wars? The roles of computers? Executive management?

4. Comment on the political implications of the film: the background of the corporate wars, national bankruptcies,, the nature of control, the executives and the visualising of their administration by television and consent? Luxury and decadence to keep people quiet? The amount of mental control? Moral control over peoples lives e.g. Jonathan’s loosing Ella? Ella working for the executives? Rollerball within this context?

5. How satisfactory was the Rollerball game as a symbol of this society? The explanations of the game, its use? Its outlet for people's aggressiveness? The fact that individual effort was futile? The background of Rollerderbys. motorbikes, football etc.?

6. The film's use of the three games for the structure? The presentation of detail, the ingredients? The violence and the cruelty? The inhumanity? The initial impact of the film by seeing a game? The morale-boosting talk with the men? The details of the training and Jonathan’s skill? People looking at the replays? The documentary on Jonathan? The clash at Tokyo (the racist overtones as well?) , the changing of the rules, the growing violence, the audience and the players? The final culmination with the elimination of rules? Validly presented violence? The physical and psychological involvement in the game?

7. The role of the individual in future society? The way he was subdued? Bartholomew interviewing Jonathan, threatening him? The use of the women? Moonpie as a typical subdued individual? The mystique of the game? The temporary mystique of the champion? The role of Moonpie being kept alive as a vegetable indicating Jonathan's stand to preserve the individual? The expendability of all the players?

8. How interesting a hero was Jonathan? His skill and his cruelty in the game, yet his ordinariness, his being praised in the rooms, his talk at Bartholomew’s? His participation in the ways of society for example,, silent meditation, yet his use of luxury? His refusal to resign? His skill at training? His role at the party? His doing deals to see Ella again? His relationship with the mistresses? His friendship for Moonpie? Relationship with Cletus and using his advice? The visit to Geneva and his seeking out more questions? The significance of the re-union with Ella in the rain? The ending and his assertion of his individuality? Of what was Jonathan E. the symbol? The political overtones of Jonathan as hero? The final optimism implied in the presentation of Jonathan as hero? The final climax?

9. The contrast with Bartholomew? The sinister executive, controlling people, the use of drugs, meditative silence, the nature of decisions, his fear when his authority was threatened? The manner of making decisions with the other executives? The final overthrow of Bartholomew?

10. The presentation of women in this future world? As controlled by the executives, even to marriage, sexual relationships, friendship, spying? The various mistresses? Ella's life and her relationship to Jonathan? The women at the party?

11. The role of men in this society? As players, as executive potential, doctors, for instance, administering death?

12. The presentation of future society and the film's moral comment on it, e.g. the clerk at the library, the people at the party, the shooting of the trees?

13. People in general, the screaming crowds, love of violence, the hero worship of the champion?

14. Incidental characters eg. Ralph Richardson's librarian? What did they contribute to the film?

15. Cletus in his friendship and his insight into the workings of the executives? The trainer and his urging the men on, etc.?

16. What were the major political themes, science-fiction themes, humane themes?