Rollover (1981)

Rollover (1981)

Taglines: The most erotic thing in their world was money.

Rollover movie storyline. At Boro National Bank in New York City, executive Roy Lefcourt (Josef Sommer) suddenly orders his traders to sell $100 million in shares, and, in turn, U.S. currency begins to lose value. Responding to the crisis, First New York Bank chairman Maxwell Emery (Hume Cronyn) bails out Boro National with $40 million.

That night, at the World Trade Center, millionaire industrialist Charlie Winters (Garrison Lane) is stabbed to death in his Winterchem Corp. office as he discovers illicit payment instructions to First New York Bank, account 21214, and the murderer steals the revealing documents.

Meanwhile, Winters’ wife, former film actress Lee Winters (Jane Fonda), hosts a charity event at the National History Museum. There, First New York’s Maxwell Emery offers his young protégé, Hubble ‘Hub’ Smith (Kris Kristofferson), a leading role at Boro National, but Hub is reluctant to rescue the bank. When Hub sees Lee Winters learn of her husband’s demise, he reflects upon “the illusion of safety,” and changes his mind about Maxwell’s proposal.

Rollover (1981) - Jane Fonda
Rollover (1981) – Jane Fonda

On his first day of work at Boro National, Hub plans to stabilize business by finding a customer in need of a multi-million dollar loan. Deciding to pursue Boro National’s most lucrative client, Winterchem Corp., Hub attends a restaurant luncheon with Winterchem executives, including Lee Winters, who remains on the company’s board after her husband’s death. There, Winterchem officers announce plans to cut back company investments, but Lee insists on expansion, and proposes buying a petrochemical plant in Spain. Just then, Hub excuses himself and surreptitiously calls Lee from a restaurant telephone, reporting that her plan will never work.

A little later, Lee barges into Hub’s office to counter his assertions and, in return, Hub pays an unsolicited visit to Lee’s townhouse that evening. There, he admits to his mistake and compliments Lee’s business acumen. Hub predicts that Lee will replace her husband as chairman of Winterchem if her deal with the Spanish petrochemical company is a success, and offers her a loan of $500 million through a private agent. Boro will retain a 1% commission and the bank will be rescued.

The next day, Lee realizes that Winterchem executives have secretly resolved to curtail her power, and refuse to purchase the petrochemical plant. Following Hub’s instructions, Lee stages a meeting with a Japanese competitor that wants to overtake Winterchem. Fearing that Lee is selling her company stock, the Winterchem executives finally agree to the deal. Lee and Hub celebrate by making love.

Rollover is a 1981 American political thriller film directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, Kris Kristofferson, Hume Cronyn, Josef Sommer, Bob Gunton, Macon McCalman, Jodi Long, Ira Wheeler, Paul Hecht, Sally Sockwell and Nelly Hoyos. The film was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor for Kristofferson.

Rollover Movie Poster (1981)

Rollover (1981)

Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Jane Fonda, Kris Kristofferson, Hume Cronyn, Josef Sommer, Bob Gunton, Macon McCalman, Jodi Long, Ira Wheeler, Paul Hecht, Sally Sockwell, Nelly Hoyos
Screenplay by: David Shaber
Production Design by: George Jenkins
Cinematography by: Guglielmo Garroni, Giuseppe Rotunno
Film Editing by: Evan A. Lottman
Costume Design by: Ann Roth
Set Decoration by: John Godfrey, Carol Joffe
Art Direction by: John Jay Moore
Music by: Michael Small
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: December 11, 1981

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