The World's Greatest Lover (1977)

A neurotic baker travels to Hollywood to attend a talent search for an actor to rival the great Valentino. Although not an actor, through blind luck he succeeds - to a certain degree!

Director:

Gene Wilder

Writer:

Gene Wilder

Stars:

Gene Wilder, Carol Kane, Dom DeLuise

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Wilder	...	Rudy Valentine / Rudy Hickman
Carol Kane	...	Annie Hickman
Dom DeLuise	...	Adolph Zitz
Fritz Feld	...	Tomaso Abalone, Hotel Manager
Mark Silberman	...	Cousin Buddy
Robert Ball	...	Bald Man (as Robert E. Ball)
Randolph Dobbs	...	Yes Man #1
Sandy Rovetta	...	Woman Dancer
Hannah Dean	...	Maid
Rita Conde	...	Whore #1
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Whore #2
Teda Bracci	...	Whore #3
Elaine Everett	...	Whore #4
Gustaf Unger	...	Producer
Harry Gold	...	Freddie the Runner

Storyline

A neurotic baker travels to Hollywood to attend a talent search for an actor to rival the great Valentino. Although not an actor, through blind luck he succeeds - to a certain degree!

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Plot Keywords:

talent search | barber | audition | tent | written and directed by cast member | 

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Taglines:

Go ahead - laugh!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1978 (France)

Also Known As:

A világ legnagyobb hősszerelmese

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jouer Limited, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gene Wilder performed a number of duties on this picture. Wilder was director, producer, screen-writer, song-writer and lead actor. The picture was Wilder's only ever one as a producer and his second directorial effort after The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother.

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Goofs

This film is supposed to take place in the 1920s silent movie era, yet the movie extras riding in the bus to their location sing-along to "Shuffle Off to Buffalo", a Harry Warren-Al Dubin song written for the 1933 sound film "42nd Street."

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Quotes

Adolph Zitz: Gentlemen, I am not a child and I do not wish to be treated as one. Is that understood?
Group of yes men: Yes, Sir!
Adolph Zitz: Good. Now, here's the question: If you went up to any bum in the street and asked him which is the biggest movie studio in Hollywood, what would he say? Joe?
Yes Man #1: Well, Rainbow Studios, home of the stars.
Adolph Zitz: All right now. All right, I don't want any of that baloney. Wes?
Yes Man #2: I would say Wainbow. Wainbow Studios. It's the wargest and the best.
Adolph Zitz: Save it. Save that yes-man shit. You think I need this kind of ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There is a credit to Frederico Fellini, who was not on the picture, 'for encouragement at the right time'.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't It Kinda Wonderful"
Written by Gene Wilder
Sung by Harry Nilsson

User Reviews

Far more silly than funny

I think you have to be big fan of Gene Wilder to care for this film. I found it so silly and repetitive I turned the last 30 min. of it off. (it was being shown on cable TV.) Gene Wilder's idea of acting is for him and everyone else in the film to constantly bug their eyes out and behave in an immature and hysterical manner.

The idea in regards to this story should have been funny but the execution fell short. The idea revolved around Rainbow Studios wanting to find their own Rudolph Valentino - so they offer a screen test to any man who will show up.

Gene Wilder's character, who is called Rudy Valentine, decides to go to Hollywood, taking his wife, played by Carol Kane,(who unknown to him, is in-love with Rudolph Valentino) along with him. this results in totally unbelievable shenanigans, that unfortunately were not particularly humorous.