Search - Rollercoaster on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1977 DVD Release: 10/27/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 59 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Action, Action Thriller, Disaster Film

Rollercoaster was a by-product of the brief "Sensurround" craze of the 1970s. Nutsoid Timothy Bottoms sabotages an amusement-park roller coaster, killing several innocent revelers. After several other acts of terrorism, Bottoms (whose character is credited as Young Man) presents his demands to the authorities via audio tape: one million dollars, or he'll stage five roller-coaster disasters simultaneously in five different parks. Because detective Harry Calder George Segal evinces a grudging respect for the elusive extortionist, Bottoms declares that only Detective Calder will be permitted to deliver the money. Thus the stage is set for an explosive climax, which during the film's original run was accompanied by the Sensurround effect, a gimmick that electronically caused the filmgoer's chairs to begin shaking and vibrating during the "thrill scenes." As with most disaster flicks of the era, Rollercoaster is top-heavy with "guest stars," including Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Harry Guardino, and Susan Strasberg. Watch for 13-year-old Helen Hunt as Detective Calder's spunky daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Segal - Harry Calder
Richard Widmark - Agent Hoyt
Timothy Bottoms - Young Man
Henry Fonda - Simon Davenport
Harry Guardino - Lt. Keefer

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. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide