The World's Greatest Athlete facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The World's Greatest Athlete |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Robert Scheerer |
| Produced by | Bill Walsh |
| Written by | Dee Caruso Gerald Gardner |
| Starring | John Amos Roscoe Lee Browne Tim Conway Dayle Haddon Jan-Michael Vincent |
| Music by | Marvin Hamlisch |
| Cinematography | Frank V. Phillips |
| Studio | Walt Disney Productions |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release date(s) | February 1, 1973 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $22,583,370 |
The World's Greatest Athlete is a 1973 American film directed by Robert Scheerer and starring John Amos, Roscoe Lee Browne, Tim Conway, Dayle Haddon, and Jan-Michael Vincent. Released by Walt Disney Productions, it is one of the few wide-release Hollywood sports films to look at the world of track and field, as the "World's Greatest Athlete", Nanu, played by Vincent, tries to make history by winning every event at the NCAA Track & Field Championship. The screenplay was by Dee Caruso and Gerald Gardner who also did a novelisation of the film.
Plot
Sam Archer (Amos) and his assistant Milo Jackson (Conway) are coaches at Merrivale College. They have lost every game in every sport which they have coached, raising the concerns of the head of the Alumni Association. With only one year left on his contract, Archer decides that he is in need of a vacation. Together, Archer and Jackson head to Zambia in Southern Africa.
While out on a safari, the pair catch sight with their guide Morumba of the Tarzan-like Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent), who can outrun a cheetah in full bound. Seeing this, the coaching staff quickly whip out their recruitment pen and papers, but soon fall (literally) into the clutches of Nanu's godfather, spiritual leader Gazenga (Roscoe Lee Browne). Because Nanu is an orphan and an innocent child of the bush, Gazenga believes that throwing Nanu into the world of competitive United States college athletics would interfere with his spiritual development.
Despite Gazenga's concerns, the ambitious coaches persuade Nanu to join the Merrivale College program. From this point forward, the plot is driven by a combination of slapstick and suspense, for Nanu's destiny as the World's Greatest Athlete will annoy several powerful people who are used to getting their way.
Nanu's innocence, Archer's scheming, Jackson's ineptitude, Gazenga's outraged wisdom, and the Machiavellian plotting of the villains all play roles in the action as the film heads toward the final track meet. The atmosphere of American competition does indeed threaten Nanu, but he is saved from disintegration by love interest Jane Douglas (Dayle Haddon). Jane and Nanu's budding relationship angers rival Leopold Maxwell (Danny Goldman), whose attempts to sabotage the budding star build toward a crescendo as the ultimate competition approaches. The climactic track meet is peppered with commentary by ABC-TV sportscaster Howard Cosell, playing himself.
The film ends with a framing device in which the hapless coaches are depicted trying to recruit a new athletic phenomenon, this time in China.
Cast
- John Amos as Coach Sam Archer
- Tim Conway as Milo Jackson
- Jan-Michael Vincent as Nanu
- Roscoe Lee Browne as Gazenga
- Dayle Haddon as Jane Douglas
- Billy De Wolfe as Dean Maxwell
- Nancy Walker as Mrs. Petersen
- Danny Goldman as Leopold Maxwell
- Don Pedro Colley as Morumba
- Vito Scotti as Games spectator
- Liam Dunn as Dr. Winslow
- Ivor Francis as Dean Bellamy
- Leon Askin as Dr. Gottlieb
- Joe Kapp as Announcer Buzzer Kozak
- Clarence Muse as Gazenga's Assistant
- Virginia Capers as Native Woman
- Philip Ahn as Old Chinaman
- John Lupton as Race Starter
- Sarah Selby as Woman on Safari
- Russ Conway as Judge with Stopwatch
- Al Checco as Dr. Checco
- Dick Wilson as Customer in bar
The film also features many prolific athletes and sports journalists in small or cameo roles, including Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Jim McKay, Bud Palmer, Joe Kapp, and Bill Toomey.
