People Don't Understand Rollerball

This time I look at the 1975 dystopian science fiction movie Rollerball starring James Caan, John Houseman, John Beck and Maude Adams.

It's not the movie many people think it is.

The podcasts are at:

[BatmastersonLawman]

William Harrison, the author of the original short story is actually my grandad and the whole of the game was a repeated topic at home.

In the short story the ending is a lot clearer about the futility because you don’t even see Johnathan die, or emerge triumphantly, his death is simply a forgone conclusion as he readies up for the final game, and he really just sticks with the game for the sake of it. Not to prove some grander point. What else is there for him to do?

I gave a presentation on the movie when I was younger and a teacher kinda took it as the whole triumphant sports kind of movie, rather than the unredeemable dystopia it was and he was MADD when I told him how that went.

Last fun tidbit is, no one in our family has even seen the 2002 remake. We straight up weren’t allowed to watch it. No one has even bothered because it was apparently so garbage during the writing process that when they asked him for his thoughts, he just sold his rights to the story entirely and severed ties.

He died in 2015 I believe, but I got to know him very well before that point and we all really enjoy the legacy he left behind. Fun bragging rights with a couple English teachers.

[deusrex]

As someone who saw it when it came out, I got it. Who didn't get it were the creators of the remake. Caan rocked in this film, his delivery is understated but packed a lot of emotional depth for me at least.

[jiiyl]

My favorite line from the movie was when the hospital administrator told Johnathan E he had to sign the papers to pull the plug on his brain-dead friend because "There are rules!" and Johnathan replied, "No!... There aren't any rules at all!"
That to me was the whole movie in one scene.

[waltermisery]

As someone who's currently 22 years old, and only seeing the film 49 years later, this is one of the BEST sci-fi films I've ever seen.

[michaelthomas]

The line in the movie " Game! This was never meant to be a game!"
It is a deep movie and you may have to watch it a few times to get it

[kelleymcbride]

Not everyone missed it. I was 7 years old when I saw this at the drive in and it changed me forever. I knew there was something deeper being said even then. Still watch this gem every few years it always takes me back.

[BIGM-ggln]

IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A GAME !!!! That one line explains it all.

[kurtmager]

One important aspect of ROLLERBALL is that it could be viewed also as a precursor of what would later become the Cyberpunk genre. It has a lot of the same themes found in cyberpunk stories such as corporations being in control, and worlds that on the surface appear to be paradise, but are actually technological horror stories.

[GreyhawkGrognard]

The names in Rollerball are actually a very neat and subtle indicator of their social status in the depicted society. The Executives are always "Mister" and a surname. The non-executives are always just a first name (or sometimes not even that; just a nickname, as with Moonpie and Blue). Jonathan E. seems to fill a sort of liminal role between the working and executive classes, because he has a first name and a last initial (but not a complete surname). I always thought that was one of the rewards Jonathan had been given by the Energy Corporation, as mentioned by Mr. Bartholomew.

[paulboger]

Johnathan, Johnathan, Johnathan, JOHNATHAN, JOHNATHAN, That last scene always get me.

[kjamison]

Reactions…
Europe: “What a dystopian testimonial to the brutality of contact sports and the public’s thirst for spilt blood.”
America: “USA! USA! USA!”

[writerpatrick]

The nice thing about 70 SF is that it often focused on what society and other aspects like architecture, clothing and furnishings would be like in the future. When the 80s and home computers came along, it was all about technology and computers.

[stevena]

How dare you? Of course, I get it. It's about a ball that rolls.

[splodge]

i always view Rollerball's world as a kind of corporate feudalism/fall of the Roman empire, you have the corporate lords with all their power and privilege lording over the masses who are kept entertained by Gladiatorial games all while the metaphorical barbarians are just over the hill waiting to pounce

[GreyhawkGrognard]

Finally, it's also important to note that in the original short story upon which the film was based, Jonathan does actually lead a revolution against the corporations. I've always interpreted the rule changes for the final game (Houston vs. New York) as being aimed at killing Jonathan, rather than satisfying some ever-rising bloodlust of the fans. He'd be killed by a mass of New York players (they do come out of the gate chanting "Jonathan's DEAD" so it's clear they got the message) and the revolution of individualism against corporatism would be halted.

[winsomehax]

Of course American promoters understood it was meant to condemn brutal contact sport. They just didn't care.

James Caan's performance was great too. A man who plays a brutal sport but begins to question the expectations placed on him. I'm not even sure you can believe what Jonathan E is told about rollerball being about the futility of individual effort.

None of the executives actually believe that. They just use violent spectacle like bread and circuses. They just begin to realise the threat his popularity poses to their power.

But Jonathan has crossed from distraction to being larger than the game itself. From being a mere distraction to being larger than the corporation itself.

Caan's coldness but warmth towards his team is perfect. You see him gradually realising that everything except the simple reality of his team is a lie. His mistress (don't threaten me you don't know how), his former wife. It's all meaningless. Except the guys he 'fights' alongside.

The final game he crosses from teams divided by corporations to everyone yelling for Jonathan. That's the real horror for those corporations.

Something larger than they are that people have allegiance to.

It's a great film. I have never forgotten after seeing it in my teens.

[NoahSpurrier]

The web is like the computer Zero in Rollerball.

Rollerball is in my category of “almost great” films.

[SmartCookie]

You say that the elites not wanting individual popularity doesn't make a lot of sense at 4:38. I have to disagree. It makes perfect sense within the context of the world that the story has built, whereby corporate individualism, or personal autonomy, is frowned upon and corporate collectivism rules supreme.

[willhemmings]

It's all about the protection of the individual within an establishment system that denies individuality. Just look at our present society with the powerful influence of the mass media industry trying to guide us this way or that way; and say that it is not relevant. Rollerball is prescient

[ardiekepoo]

Great movie... and a great actor portraying Jonathan E, who finally opposes the corrupt corporation that made and try to destroy him... RIL, Mr. James Caan.