Jan-Michael Vincent was such a huge star in the 70s. Before that, he was on several shows but I think TRIBES (1970) was when he really struck gold. He was to the girls what Farrah Faucet was to the boys. And all natural. World's Greatest Athlete was a book before it was a film. I liked seeing Jan-Michael again at a time when the world was his oyster. He was actually 27 here. John Amos was a last minute replacement for Godfrey Cambridge. And not surprisingly, Dayle Haddon (Jane) never did well in her film career after leaving a successful modeling career. As a kid of 13 when it came out, I enjoyed the film. I loved all Disney films, which were so innocent then. Having just watched it, it was a bit trying at times-- the slap schtick humor was never my thing and Howard Cosell was difficult to endure. But the beautiful setting (Lion Country Safari Park in Los Angeles), the gorgeous JMV, the amazing interactions with the tiger made up for the bad humor. I was disappointed by the ending as if someone else might ever be as great as Nanu.
Review of The World's Greatest Athlete
