The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
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- G
- 1h 33min
- Comedy, Family
- 14 Feb 1973 (USA)
- Movie
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Tim Conway | ... |
Milo Jackson
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| Jan-Michael Vincent | ... |
Nanu
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| John Amos | ... |
Coach Sam Archer
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| Roscoe Lee Browne | ... |
Gazenga
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| Dayle Haddon | ... |
Jane
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| Billy De Wolfe | ... |
Dean Maxwell
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| Nancy Walker | ... |
Mrs. Petersen
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| Danny Goldman | ... |
Leopold Maxwell
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| Don Pedro Colley | ... |
Morumba
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| Vito Scotti | ... |
Games Spectator
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| Liam Dunn | ... |
Dr. Winslow
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| Ivor Francis | ... |
Dean Bellamy
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| Leon Askin | ... |
Dr. Gottlieb
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| Howard Cosell | ... |
Announcer
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| Frank Gifford | ... |
Announcer
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| Jim McKay | ... |
Announcer
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Bud Palmer | ... |
Announcer
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| Joe Kapp | ... |
Buzzer Kozak
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Bill Toomey | ... |
Announcer
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| Clarence Muse | ... |
Gazenga's Assistant
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| Leigh Christian | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role
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| Virginia Capers | ... |
Native Woman
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| Philip Ahn | ... |
Old Chinaman
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| John Lupton | ... |
Race Starter
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| Sarah Selby | ... |
Woman on Safari
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| Russ Conway | ... |
Judge with Stopwatch
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| Al Checco | ... |
Dr. Checco
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| Dick Wilson | ... |
Drunk in Bar
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| Dorothy Shay | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role
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| Jack Griffin | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role
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| David Mooney | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role
(as David Manzy)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Don Ames | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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David Armstrong | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Pete Carroll | ... |
Running Back (uncredited)
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| Spencer Chan | ... |
Commuter (uncredited)
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Edward Coch Jr. | ... |
Spectator (uncredited)
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Robert Cole | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Peter Eastman | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Bob Harks | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Eugene Jackson | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Marlene Kisker | ... |
Clerk (uncredited)
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| Hans Moebus | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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John Pedrini | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Al Roberts | ... |
Coach (uncredited)
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| Hank Robinson | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Owen Song | ... |
Spectator (uncredited)
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Brian Sullivan | ... |
Football Player #31 (uncredited)
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Don Terwilliger | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Scheerer | ||
Written by
| Gerald Gardner | ... | (written by) and |
| Dee Caruso | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Bill Walsh | ... | producer |
Music by
| Marvin Hamlisch | ||
Cinematography by
| Frank V. Phillips | ... | director of photography (as Frank Phillips) |
Editing by
| Cotton Warburton | ||
Art Direction by
| John B. Mansbridge | ||
| Walter H. Tyler | ... | (as Walter Tyler) |
Set Decoration by
| Hal Gausman | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Chuck Keehne | ||
| Emily Sundby | ||
Makeup Department
| La Rue Matheron | ... | hair stylist |
| Robert J. Schiffer | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Michael J. Dmytryk | ... | assistant director (as Michael Dmytryk) |
| Arthur J. Vitarelli | ... | second unit director |
Sound Department
| Herb Taylor | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Art Cruickshank | ... | special effects |
| Danny Lee | ... | special effects |
| Eustace Lycett | ... | special effects |
| Hans Metz | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Alan Maley | ... | matte artist |
Stunts
| Dick Warlock | ... | stunt double: Tim Conway (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Stan Reed | ... | key grip (uncredited) |
| John R. Shannon | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Evelyn Kennedy | ... | music editor |
Additional Crew
| Bob Holter | ... | animal supervisor |
| Gene Holter | ... | animal supervisor |
| Bill Toomey | ... | athletic technical advisor |
| Ralph Helfer | ... | animal supervisor: Gentle Jungle [us] (uncredited) |
| Frank Lamping | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Leonard Shannon | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Buena Vista Distribution Company (1973) (United States) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.)
- CFM Filmverhuur (1973) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Triangel Produksjon A/S (1973) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Walt Disney Productions (1973) (France) (theatrical)
- British Empire Films Australia (1974) (Australia) (theatrical)
- CBS (1983) (United States) (tv)
- Walt Disney Home Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Walt Disney Home Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Walt Disney Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Gentle Jungle (animals supplied by)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
- R C A Photophone System (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sam Archer is the beleaguered head coach of Merrivale College's many hapless sports teams and individual sports athletes, their poor performance placing his job on the line. Taking a break in Zambia with his assistant Milo Jackson to get in touch with his African roots, Sam believes he sees the answer to all his professional problems in the form of Nanu, arguably the fastest, strongest, and most agile person who he has ever come across, Nanu who also has pinpoint accuracy in his aim. After the death of his missionary parents, Nanu was raised as a jungle boy by Gazenga, an African witch doctor. As Nanu is reluctant to leave his African home, Sam and Milo have to manipulate a way for Nanu to want to attend Merrivale. Gazenga may have his own thoughts of what he wants for his son. Eventually, Nanu does go to Merrivale with Sam and Milo, with the one condition that he bring his best friend, Harri, who he's known since he was a child. Beyond adjusting to western life, Nanu finds that his stay at Merrivale is not always a smooth or happy one as some constituents don't want to see Nanu compete for Merrivale and as Nanu discovers the deception that brought him to Merrivale in the first place. As Nanu may come to his own conclusions of what he himself wants to do which may take into account his tutor Jane, everything in his athletic life at Merrivale may come to a head as Coach Archer has entered him into every event at an upcoming NCAA track and field meet. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | From the Jungle to the Gym...He's the Greatest! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Hal Linden/Tim Conway (1986). See more » |
| Quotes |
Nanu:
[Nanu is smitten on meeting Jane]
Me Nanu. You Jane. Milo Jackson: Now that doesn't sound quite right... See more » |