The World’s Greatest Athlete
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
In 1973, The World’s Greatest Athlete premiered. It was one of several saccharine films offered by the friendly folks at Disney in the era before the Eisner-Katzenberg regime reinvigorated the film division in the 1980’s and 1990’s with the Touchstone banner and high-quality animation.
The World’s Greatest Athlete uses Tarzan as a basis, with a twist.
When Merrivale College suffers a losing streak in sports -- baseball, basketball, tennis, crew, diving, football (even the marching band is inept) -- Coach Sam Archer journeys to find his roots in Zambia, Africa. John Amos plays Archer.
What Archer finds is the answer to his athletic prayers, a young man named Nanu, played by Jan-Michael Vincent. Nanu is so fast he can outrun a cheetah.
Accompanying Archer is his assistant Milo, played by Tim Conway. They witness Nanu’s prowess causing Archer to believe he can refine Nanu’s ‘jungle gym’ talents and transform him into the world’s greatest athlete.
Unfortunately, Nanu wants to stay in Zambia where village doctor Gazenga raised him. Gazenga was a friend of Nanu’s parents, missionaries who died when Nanu was young. Roscoe Lee Browne plays Gazenga.
However, there is a loophole. Under tribal law, if a man saves another man’s life, the rescued man must follow the rescuer. No exceptions. Archer and Milo get creative. They design several situations where Nanu would believe he’s saving the coach’s life.
Finally, Archer tricks Nanu and Gazenga into thinking Nanu is severely ill and in need of white man’s medicine (aspirin!) Nanu sprints across the landscape to the medical tent. Next stop: Merrivale.
Jane Douglas tutors Nanu. Predictably, they fall in love.
Dayle Haddon plays Jane in her film debut. Nanu also has his pet tiger Harri for companionship.
After Archer reveals he tricked Nanu to get him to Merrivale, the jungle boy wants to go home. Archer appeals to Nanu and the jungle athlete returns to competition. One problem, though. Jane’s jealous suitor Leopold convinces the school to procure Gazenga for a speaking engagement. His real motive is to convince Gazenga that Archer is exploiting Nanu for his own gain. Danny Goldman plays Leopold.
Gazenga determines to interfere with the 50th NCAA Track and Field Championships where Merrivale’s team consists solely of Nanu. Archer wants his prodigy to win every event, a feat never accomplished. Indeed, the feat’s difficulty is strengthened by the competition -- BYU, USC, University of Texas -- El Paso, and Villanova.
Howard Cosell appears as himself, broadcasting the track and field meet. Jim McKay, Frank Gifford, and Bud Palmer also appear as themselves.
Gazenga uses a voodoo doll to prevent Nanu from finishing events, but Milo fights fire with fire. He has a Gazenga voodoo doll and uses it to throw Gazenga out of the stadium.
Nanu wins the track meet and goes down in history. But that’s not enough for him to be happy. He wants to go home and Jane acquiesces, along with Harri.
Thinking there’s nothing for him back at Merrivale, Archer takes another far-away vacation -- to China. Rested, recharged, and relaxed, he and Milo think they’ve got it made. Deja vu occurs when they see a young man outrunning a pony. They chase him, hoping to lure the world’s next greatest athlete.
The World’s Greatest Athlete boasts a terrific link with television because its actors are likely best known for their roles in classic television shows:
John Amos -- Good Times, The West Wing
Jan-Michael Vincent -- Airwolf
Tim Conway -- The Carol Burnett Show, McHale’s Navy