Jam

Like all really fine documentaries, there's more to it than just "reportage". I found myself caught up in this film about people whose earlier lives were filled with a modicum of fame and glory were now having to deal with (or avoid) the reality that that era was completely gone forever. Once upon a time, for a brief period in the early days of small screen black and white television, this sport of "Roller Derby" was a headliner and it's participants were the "stars". Like "Uncle Miltie," it was something to faithfully watch and, like Berle, it helped to sell those early 13 "TV sets. It had it's passionate fans and "heroes." Now that this is such a different time and the sport has faded mainly into the collective memories of us gray-haired folk, we can sympathize and even get emotionally caught up in the price to be paid by getting old and out of style. There is a sadness, a melancholy that pervades this excellent documentary. It's a very fine example of what a really good documentary should succeed in doing and that is to not only inform us in a particular subject but touch us as well. "Jam" is an excellent film and should have been nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary category.

to the author of the last comment....this would have been a great documentary if anything about it would have been true. All of the events in the film are out of order as far as the dates of games such as the game at the San Francisco Civic being the farewell game. The promoter in the game had at least five more games before his promoting was over. A true documentary worthy of awards has to be totally truthful and have accurate information in it.....this film doesn't and any derby fan will tell you this....it was more of an untrue drama but did have some good interviews. I would have had high praise for this film since I do have a copy of it if all of the information would have been more accurate and not made up for the sake of making it more interesting. Maybe Tim should have viewed the highly hailed 1971 documentary Derby more closely. That was a true documentary.