The World's Greatest Athlete
“From the JUNGLE to the GYM...He's the Greatest!”
Synopsis
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
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Jan-Michael Vincent
Nanu
Tim Conway
Milo Jackson
John Amos
Coach Sam Archer
Roscoe Lee Browne
Gazenga
Dayle Haddon
Jane
Billy De Wolfe
Dean Maxwell
Nancy Walker
Mrs. Petersen
Vito Scotti
Games spectator
Howard Cosell
Himself - Announcer
Frank Gifford
Himself - Announcer
Jim McKay
Himself - Announcer
Dorothy Shay
Liam Dunn
Dr. Winslow
Clarence Muse
Gazenga's Assistant
Al Checco
Dr. Checco
Danny Goldman
Leopold Maxwell
Don Pedro Colley
Morumba
Leon Askin
Dr. Gottlieb
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 14, 1973
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Scheerer
- Screenplay & Story
- Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso
- Original Score
- Marvin Hamlisch
- Original Title
- The World's Greatest Athlete
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 46m
- Production Studios
- Walt Disney Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Scheerer
Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso
Marvin Hamlisch
Frank V. Phillips
Cotton Warburton
Bill Walsh
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Scheerer
Director
Gerald Gardner
Screenplay
Dee Caruso
Screenplay
Bill Walsh
Producer
Frank V. Phillips
Director of Photography
Cotton Warburton
Editor
Emily Sundby
Costume Design
Chuck Keehne
Costume Design
Marvin Hamlisch
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The World's Greatest Athlete.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The World's Greatest Athlete
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The World's Greatest Athlete about?
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.
Who directed The World's Greatest Athlete?
The World's Greatest Athlete was directed by Robert Scheerer.
Who stars in The World's Greatest Athlete?
The principal cast of The World's Greatest Athlete includes Jan-Michael Vincent, Tim Conway, John Amos, Roscoe Lee Browne, Dayle Haddon.
When was The World's Greatest Athlete released and how long is it?
The World's Greatest Athlete was released in 1973 with a total runtime of 1h 46m.
Who composed the musical score for The World's Greatest Athlete?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The World's Greatest Athlete was composed by Marvin Hamlisch.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The World's Greatest Athlete?
The World's Greatest Athlete holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).