The late John Amos starred in one of the most unlikely Disney movie hits ever

As a lifelong gamer who has navigated countless virtual worlds and timelines, I find myself intrigued by the journey of “The World’s Greatest Athlete,” a 1973 Disney film that defied expectations. This movie, much like my first playthrough of Dark Souls, was filled with challenges, unexpected twists, and characters that left an indelible mark.

John Amos‘s demise serves as a nostalgic reminder of his iconic performance in one of Disney’s least anticipated yet successful live-action productions!

The news that John Amos passed away at the age of 84 in August has prompted reflections on his extensive acting career. Known for his breakout role as weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Amos later secured the lead part in the successful comedy series, Good Times. After a disagreement with the producers, Amos departed the show and went on to shine in the Emmy-winning miniseries, Roots.

Following that, I found myself becoming quite recognizable on the small and big screens, gracing shows like “Coming To America,” “Die Hard 2,” “The West Wing,” and even “Men in Trees.” However, amidst all this fame, it’s effortless to overlook my leading role in one of Disney’s quirkier films from an odd era.

The World’s Greatest Athlete.

1973 marked the release of a distinctive film, featuring Amos in his debut leading role – a significant milestone since this was the first time a black actor held the lead in a Disney live-action production since “Song of the South.” During this transitionary era for Disney, they aimed to appeal to families while seeking their own cultural identity amidst societal changes. Consequently, this film presents an unusual blend – it appears dated yet retains classic Disney humor, much like a time capsule from a bygone era.

Initially planned for Godfrey Cambridge, Robert Scheer’s film was intended to feature him as the main star, given his popularity as a comedian and previous experience with Disney. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Cambridge fell ill during the first week of filming and had to withdraw from the project (Cambridge tragically passed away three years later due to a heart attack). As a result, Amos stepped in at the last minute, but his more serious acting style wasn’t quite suitable, which might have made the movie funnier if Cambridge had played the role.

Gladly, when you’re seeking some chuckles, Tim Conway is the go-to guy! This fella could reduce anyone to hysterics just by giving them a glance. Amazingly, he even got top billing over Amos, despite being the sidekick and helping out the film. It’s crucial in today’s world, given the questionable storyline. (As a gamer, I can say it feels like finding that rare, game-changing item in an RPG!)

The World’s Greatest Athlete is a weird film

The movie opens by looking at Merrivale College, where Coach Sam Archer (Amos) coaches pretty much all the sports. Sadly, Archer and assistant Milo (Conway) have to face the fact that Merrville’s athletes are not only bad, they are shockingly bad, inept and Archer is on the verge of being fired and suffering a breakdown. For some reason, he decides to take Milo along for a trip to Zambia. A wince-inducing line has Archer talking about “Going home,” Milo points out he’s from Cincinnati, and Archer brushes off, “Well, my ancestors are from here.”

During their journey, the duo stands aghast as a strikingly good-looking young man (Jan-Michael Vincent) surpasses the speed of a cheetah, despite some exceptionally poor green screen effects. As he performs even more incredible stunts, Archer reluctantly reaches for his wallet, but discovers that the youth, Nanu, prefers to remain with the tribe who raised him after his missionary parents passed away. This tribe includes Gazenga (Roscoe Lee Brown), who fears that forcing Nanu into American sports could have a negative impact on him.

Fortunately, as an adventurer, I stumble upon a timeless custom among these natives: whoever saves someone’s life becomes their debtor. This leads to a series of perilous attempts to rescue people, most of which fail miserably. However, one fateful day, Nanu saves me, thus granting me the power to bring him to America. Once here, I aim to enroll Nanu in college and guide him towards winning every competition he enters.

The comedy is wild, which includes how they sneak Nanu and his pet tiger past the near-sighted landlady (Nancy Walker, in surprisingly her only Disney film) by dressing the tiger like a little kid. Gazenga follows as he’s not truly a villain but trying to “help” Nanu by sabotaging his success, which somehow involves shrinking Milo to a few inches tall. Nanu connects with lovely coed Jane (to sell the Tarzan theme more) and some rival college guys trying to ruin Nanu.

The movie culminates in a track and field meet with Howard Cosell, playing himself, calling the action as Nanu suffers from a voodoo doll-inflicted curse before the day is saved. In the end, Archer decides to let Nanu live his life back in Africa. He and Milo take a trip to China, where Archer sees a kid running past a horse, and Milo sighs, “Here we go again.”

The movie’s surprising success

The majority of the film falls short, with excessive Disney-style humor and subpar special effects. Vincent’s portrayal of Nanu is generally uninteresting, effectively conveying his innocence but lacking depth to make him engaging. However, Conway tries to inject humor into it, and his reactions to the madness are entertaining.

It’s intriguing that two black characters are receiving significant focus in this film during this particular era. While Amos might not be comedic, he effectively portrays Archer’s confusion, arrogance, and initially viewing Nanu as property, but eventually growing fond of the child. Although Cambridge could have added more humor, Amos adds a touch of emotion to the character, making it easier for the audience to cheer for him.

Brown stands out by skillfully transforming what might have been a stereotypical witch doctor role into one of depth and dignity. Cleverly, he employs the tropes associated with the character, leading others to believe him as a simple native, while in reality, he is wiser and more knowledgeable than all others. Brown’s powerful voice and acting ability bring the character to life, making his intentions to protect Nanu crystal clear.

The direction is good, and Marvin Hamlisch is responsible for the tunes. Indeed, he’s one of just two individuals who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize. It might seem unusual, but his contribution to a Disney film fits perfectly.

Initially, one might assume this film was just another forgettable Disney production that quickly flopped at the box office. However, surprisingly, it resonated with viewers, earning $22 million (equivalent to around $150 million today) and ranking as the 12th highest-grossing film of 1973. This unexpected success provided a crucial financial boost for Disney during a challenging time.

It’s worth noting that despite having many impressive roles to his name, Amos never made another Disney film after his debut. The movie, which can only be found on older VHS tapes, is significant because it was his first leading role and also an unusual instance of a Disney hit from that time featuring an African-American protagonist. Although it’s not a masterpiece, the film remains enjoyable in a nostalgic, cheesy sort of way.

2024-10-02 23:27

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