The World's Greatest Lover (1977)

Director:

Gene Wilder

Writer:

Gene Wilder

Release Date:

15 February 1978 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Go ahead - laugh!

Plot:

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! |

Plot Keywords:

Talent Search | Mistaken Identity | Revolving Door | Screen Test | Film Making

Cast

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
Poncie Ponce	...	Pineapple
Frank O'Brien	...	Yes Man #4
Mews Small	...	Slave Girl #2 (as Marya Small)
Harriet Gibson	...	Pastry Customer
Richard A. Roth	...	Chico (as Richard Roth)
Norbert Schiller	...	Captain
Peter Elbling	...	Robert Drake
Federico Roberto	...	Priest
Charles Knapp	...	Bakery Foreman
George Memmoli	...	Truck Driver
Pat Ast	...	Bakery / Wardrobe Lady
Tracey Cohn	...	Little Girl on Train
John Ponyman	...	Singer with Megaphone
Patrick Regan	...	Assistant Director
Skip E. Lowe	...	First Wardrobe Man
Nora Boland	...	Woman
Elya Baskin	...	Actor with Bad Breath
David Levy	...	Elevator Operator
Bunny Summers	...	Mother on Train
Carson King	...	Guard at Rainbow Studio
Pavla Ustinov	...	Leading Lady
Alvin Hammer	...	Second Wardrobe Man
Vincent Edward Vaccaro	...	Legionnaire
Zooey Hall	...	Gary, Finalist #1 (as David Z. Hall)
Susanna Van Haaren	...	Greta Ga-Ga
Lydia Goya	...	Singer in Jail
Speedy Zapata	...	Mexican Sidekick
Gino Gottarelli	...	Make-up Man
Al Wyatt Sr.	...	Arab Wrangler
Kay Dingle	...	Young Woman on Train
Nick Dimitri	...	Boyfriend on Train
Carol Arthur	...	Woman in Record Store
Candice Azzara	...	Anne Calassandro (as Candy Azzara)
Carl Ballantine	...	Uncle Harry
Stanley Brock	...	Yes Man #2
Warren Burton	...	Drag Queen
Matt Collins	...	Rudolph Valentino
Lou Cutell	...	Mr. Kipper, Bakery Manager
Danny DeVito	...	Assistant Director
Richard Dimitri	...	Tony Lassiter, Finalist #2
Josip Elic	...	Headwaiter
Melissa Fellen	...	Cousin Corrine
Ricky Fellen	...	Cousin Max
James Gleason	...	Room Clerk
Ronny Graham	...	Director Dorsey
James Hong	...	Sven, Yes Man #3
Michael Huddleston	...	Barber
David Huddleston	...	Bakery Owner
Richard Karron	...	Bodyguard
Michael McManus	...	Yes Man #5 (as Mike McManus)
Art Mendelli	...	Jailor
Sidney Miller	...	Man at the Table
Jorge Moreno	...	Mexican Gangster
Jack Riley	...	Projectionist
Billy Sands	...	Guard
Rolfe Sedan	...	Conductor
Florence Sundstrom	...	Aunt Tillie
Sal Viscuso	...	Assistant Director
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur M. Braham	...	Jail Guard (uncredited)
Debra Deliso	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ric Drasin	...	Supporting (uncredited)

Directed by
Gene Wilder

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gene Wilder

Produced by
Frank Baur	....	associate producer
Christopher Greenbury	....	co-producer (as Chris Greenbury)
Terence Marsh	....	co-producer
Gene Wilder	....	producer

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Gerald Hirschfeld

Film Editing by
Anthony A. Pellegrino

Production Design by
Terence Marsh

Art Direction by
Steven P. Sardanis		(as Steve Sardanis)

Set Decoration by
John Franco Jr.

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist (as Bob Tuttle)

Production Management
Frank Baur	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mel Dellar	....	assistant director
Jack Frost Sanders	....	second assistant director (as Jack Sanders)

Art Department
William S. Maxwell III	....	leadman
John Rozman	....	set dresser

Sound Department
William Hartman	....	sound effects editor
Theodore Soderberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Solomon	....	sound production mixer
Richard Sperber	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Logan Frazee	....	special effects
Terry D. Frazee	....	special effects (as Terry Frazee)

Stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Curtis Foster	....	lamp operator
Michael R. Marquette	....	assistant camera
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	electrician
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Christopher Greenbury	....	supervising editor (as Chris Greenbury)

Music Department
Ralph Burns	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	driver: makeup/hair

Other crew
Alan Johnson	....	choreographer
Julia Tucker	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Jouer Limited
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as DeLuxe)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Jouer Limited

Trivia:

Lupe Ontiveros' film debut.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The "audition" record that Rudy listens to is obviously an LP running at 33 1/3 rpm. LPs would not be invented until the late 1940s.

Quotes:

Annie Hickman:Rudy, what are we gonna do? They think you're a famous movie star. We can't pay for this. Oh, my god! Rudy, Rudy, did you see the bathroom? Rudy, there's seven towels in the bathroom. Rudy, Rudy, we can't afford this.
Rudy Valentine:Don't talk about money.
Annie Hickman:But, Rudy, we only have...
Rudy Valentine:My soul is on fire! Don't talk to me about money!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Something to Scream About (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ain't It Kinda Wonderful

Insufferable, unfunny and convoluted. Skip this one!

Title says it all. This movie takes its rightful place on the shelf among the worst of the very worst movies ever made. It's really hard to watch. A root canal is a less painful and more fun experience. First off no one is attractive in this movie which really doesn't help things. Gene Wilder's antics go from unfunny to pathetic. I guess this movie was made for the 5 to 10 year old crowd and perhaps those with mental disabilities (mainly due to laziness)who don't need their intelligence stimulated in order to laugh. On 2nd thought if you're a fan of inane reality shows you'll probably like this. It is just as insipid as I can imagine Jersey Shore or the Kardashians must be. One has to wonder how did this turnip ever get made! Oh well, if you're sick with the flu and it's 4:00am and you can't sleep and this is the only thing on, then go for it. Just know what your eyes have watched, the mind can never unwatch and sometimes will even track you down in your worst nightmares & haunt you.