Movie Cosmos - The World's Greatest Athlete

Description:

Stuck with a feeble sports department, college coach Sam Archer (John Amos) faces the ax unless he can reverse the school's athletic fortunes. An African vacation with his assistant (Tim Conway) answers Archer's prayers when he spots the athletically gifted Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent). Sam counts on Nanu's remarkable abilities to put the team back on the winning track. This upbeat farce boasts an impressive cast of comedians.

Top Cast >

Jan-Michael Vincent

As Nanu

Tim Conway

As Milo Jackson

John Amos

As Coach Sam Archer

Roscoe Lee Browne

As Gazenga

Dayle Haddon

As Jane

Billy De Wolfe

As Dean Maxwell

Nancy Walker

As Mrs. Petersen

Vito Scotti

As Games spectator

Howard Cosell

As Himself - Announcer

Frank Gifford

As Himself - Announcer

Jim McKay

As Himself - Announcer

Dorothy Shay

Liam Dunn

As Dr. Winslow

Clarence Muse

As Gazenga's Assistant

Al Checco

As Dr. Checco

Danny Goldman

As Leopold Maxwell

Don Pedro Colley

As Morumba

Leon Askin

As Dr. Gottlieb

Joe Kapp

As Buzzer Kozak

Leigh Christian

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

Dick Wilson

As Drunk in Bar

Jack Griffin

David Mooney

Don Ames

As Party Guest (uncredited)

David Armstrong

As Judge (uncredited)

Pete Carroll

As Running Back (uncredited)

Spencer Chan

As Commuter (uncredited)

Edward Coch Jr.

As Spectator (uncredited)

Robert Cole

As Judge (uncredited)

Peter Eastman

As Party Guest (uncredited)

Bob Harks

As Party Guest (uncredited)

Eugene Jackson

As Party Guest (uncredited)

Marlene Kisker

As Clerk (uncredited)

Hans Moebus

As Party Guest (uncredited)

John Pedrini

As Party Guest (uncredited)

Al Roberts

As Coach (uncredited)

Hank Robinson

As Reporter (uncredited)

Owen Song

As Spectator (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Robert Scheerer

Director

Gerald Gardner

Screenplay

Dee Caruso

Screenplay

Bill Walsh

Producer

Marvin Hamlisch

Original Music Composer

Frank V. Phillips

Director of Photography

Cotton Warburton

Editor

John B. Mansbridge

Art Direction

Walter H. Tyler

Art Direction

Hal Gausman

Set Decoration

Chuck Keehne

Costume Design

Emily Sundby

Costume Design

La Rue Matheron

Hairstylist

Robert J. Schiffer

Makeup Artist

Michael J. Dmytryk

Assistant Director

Arthur J. Vitarelli

Second Unit Director

Herb Taylor

Sound

Art Cruickshank

Special Effects

Danny Lee

Special Effects

Eustace Lycett

Special Effects

Hans Metz

Special Effects

Alan Maley

Matte Painter

Dick Warlock

Stunt Double, Stunts

John R. Shannon

Still Photographer

Evelyn Kennedy

Music Editor

Reviews:

r96sk (6/10)

Bang average.

'The World’s Greatest Athlete' feels like a mixture of stuff we've seen before in this era of Disney. It doesn't do enough to make an impact on me, not helped by silliness of the story and meh casting.

John Amos is the best part of this, I enjoyed what he brings to the table here. Away from him I'm struggling to remember any others already, Roscoe Lee Browne - who is in one of my favourite films, 'Treasure Planet' - is alright but I found his character boring.

I think there's actually potential there with the overall premise, but as usual with this studio's early decades they choose to make it dumb and silly rather than meaningful - it would take a load of tweaking, but I reckon this would make a better coming-of-age/underdog story with a more proper tone. That would make it a completely different film, admittedly.

Lastly, the score is surprisingly solid while the end scene is its most amusing moment. Those two things and Amos aside, this is a bland one.

2020-08-08