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IMDbPro

The World's Greatest Athlete

  • 19731973
  • GG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Romance
A down on his luck coach travels to Africa where he spots the world's greatest athlete - a white Tarzan-type. The coach brings him back to the U.S. of A. to compete.A down on his luck coach travels to Africa where he spots the world's greatest athlete - a white Tarzan-type. The coach brings him back to the U.S. of A. to compete.A down on his luck coach travels to Africa where he spots the world's greatest athlete - a white Tarzan-type. The coach brings him back to the U.S. of A. to compete.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Scheerer
  • Writers
    • Gerald Gardner
    • Dee Caruso
  • Stars
    • John Amos
    • Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Tim Conway
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Scheerer
  • Writers
    • Gerald Gardner
    • Dee Caruso
  • Stars
    • John Amos
    • Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Tim Conway
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent, John Amos, and Dayle Haddon in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent, John Amos, and Tim Conway in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Dayle Haddon and Vito Scotti in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent and John Amos in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent and John Amos in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent, John Amos, and Tim Conway in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Jan-Michael Vincent in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
    Snowball Express (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Amos
    John Amos
    • Coach Sam Archer
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Nanu
    Tim Conway
    Tim Conway
    • Milo Jackson
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    • Gazenga
    Dayle Haddon
    Dayle Haddon
    • Jane
    Billy De Wolfe
    Billy De Wolfe
    • Dean Maxwell
    Nancy Walker
    Nancy Walker
    • Mrs. Petersen
    Danny Goldman
    Danny Goldman
    • Leopold Maxwell
    Don Pedro Colley
    Don Pedro Colley
    • Morumba
    Vito Scotti
    Vito Scotti
    • Games Spectator
    Liam Dunn
    Liam Dunn
    • Dr. Winslow
    Ivor Francis
    Ivor Francis
    • Dean Bellamy
    Leon Askin
    Leon Askin
    • Dr. Gottlieb
    Howard Cosell
    Howard Cosell
    • Announcer
    Frank Gifford
    Frank Gifford
    • Announcer
    Jim McKay
    Jim McKay
    • Announcer
    Bud Palmer
    • Announcer
    Joe Kapp
    Joe Kapp
    • Buzzer Kozak
    • Director
      • Robert Scheerer
    • Writers
      • Gerald Gardner
      • Dee Caruso
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scenes where Milo Jackson (Tim Conway) is shrunk to miniature size were extremely expensive to shoot during the time the film was made due to then big cost of constructing such very enormous props. The gigantic telephone itself cost US $7,900 to make whilst the woman's handbag and its chattels totaled to US $15,000.
    • Goofs
      The film does explain that Harri the tiger IS from India. He is just a house pet that Nanu's parents brought to Africa when the tiger was just a cub.
    • Quotes

      Nanu: [Nanu is smitten on meeting Jane] Me Nanu. You Jane.

      Milo Jackson: Now that doesn't sound quite right...

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Hal Linden/Tim Conway (1986)

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Jan Michael Vincent - cuddling and wrestling with a REAL TIGER!!!!!!
    If you are a fan of Jan Michael Vincent and would like to see him with very little threads on, this is the film for you! Yes, there's also a cute plot about a black football/baseball/basketball coach (John Amos) who travels to Africa on safari with his hopelessly stupid assistant (Tim Conway). While in Africa, they discover Nanu (Jan Michael Vincent)a young white African boy who possesses amazing athletic abilities. Nanu travels to the USA with the coach to excel in sports. Of course his witch-doctor adoptive father disapproves, and all sorts of goofy 70's effects ensue. JMV wouldn't be remembered for his acting in this movie, but his physique certainly got attention! He's slim and muscular, with long blond hair, and he looks perfect in the skimpy Tarzan outfits. But really, the star of this film is the TIGER! You never see this in movies today - a real, live, full-size tiger wrestling with the leading actor! With his teeth around JMV's neck, no less!! Can you imagine? One false move, and CRUNCH! Dead actor! Wow. I was amazed. JMV cuddles and rolls around with this Tiger throughout the movie. It's awesome. Move on over Russell Crowe - Jan Michael Vincent takes on real tigers, not CGI ones!!!
    helpful•4
    1
    • robespierre9
    • Nov 4, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1973 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Disney's Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Big Boy - Der aus dem Dschungel kam
    • Filming locations
      • Lion Country Safari - Laguna Hills, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $125,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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