History Film / TheWorldsGreatestAthlete

* OverprotectiveDad: Nanu's godfather Chief Gazenga is a bit protective of his godson, not without reason either.

* AccidentalAthlete: Nanu grew up in the wild, which was the perfect setting for training. He doesn't consider athletics until Sam discovers him.

* IOweYouMyLife: An interesting twist, apparently in Nanu's tribe if one man saves the life of another he is then bond to that man for life, basically the rescuer goes wherever the rescue-y goes.

* NotSoAboveItAll: When Gazenga is greeted by Maxwell and doctor Bellamy at the airport, Dr. Bellamy says something like [[InnocentlyInsensitive "We're looking forward to meeting a real witch doctor"]] or something to that effect. Instead of getting upset Gazenga smiles turns around for a moment and once he turns back to face the group again...he has a bone sticking out of his nose.

* SurroundedByIdiots: Seems no matter what team he coached, Archer always got stuck with the most incompetent athletes possible.

* WeirdnessCensor: Everyone except the main characters are often oblivious to the fact that a tiger in a coat and hat happens to be sitting next to them.

''The World's Greatest Athlete'' is a 1973 live-action Creator/{{Disney}} film about two college coaches, Sam Archer (John Amos) and his assistant Milo Jackson (Tim Conway). A series of coincidences sends the pair to Africa, where they catch sight of the Franchise/{{Tarzan}}-like Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent), a man who can outrun a cheetah in full bound.

* HollywoodVoodoo: Gazenga's chief weapon, anything from the standard dolls (which he uses to hurt Nanu at points and make him fall behind on his run) to shrinking potions. Also backfires on him at one point, when Milo makes a Gazenga doll and doesn't thinks it's working but doesn't notices that as he's shaking the doll around he's flinging Gazenga several feet into the air.

* IncredibleShrinkingMan: Poor Milo gets shrink by Gazenga at one point.

* NosyNeighbor: While she's technically the landlady, Ms. Peterson qualifies. First time we see her she keeps glaring at Sam, Milo and Nanu like a scientist examining a petri dish. Admittedly she does have poor eyesight, but that doesn't excuse her creepy stocker like demeanor as they walk by.

* [[ExitPursuedByABear Exit Pursued By A Tiger]]: Leopold is eventually chased down by Harry.
* {{Expy}}: Nanu shares a few obvious traits with {{Tarzan}}.

''The World's Greatest Athlete'' is a 1973 live-action Creator/{{Disney}} film about two college coaches, Sam Archer (John Amos) and his assistant Milo Jackson (Tim Conway). A series of coincidences sends the pair to Africa, where they catch sight of the {{Tarzan}}-like Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent), a man who can outrun a cheetah in full bound.

* HiddenDepths: While Sam initially tricked Nanu into coming to America in order to finally coach an athlete who can win at ''something'' he seems to genuinely care for the young man when [[spoiler: Gazenga keeps interfering.]]

'''The Worlds Greatest Athlete''' is a Disney film about two college coaches Sam Archer and his assistant, Milo Jackson. A series of coincidences sends the pair to Africa, where they catch sight of the Tarzan-like Nanu, a man who can outrun a cheetah in full bound.

Seeing this, the men quickly attempt to recruit the young man for their college team, but are confronted by Nanu's godfather, Gazenga. Gazenga believes that allowing Nanu into the world of competitive United States college athletics might be too much for the young and impressionable man. Disappointed but persistent, Sam and Milo learn that among Nanu and Gazenga's people, when one man saves the life of another, he has to become that man's protectorate for the rest of their lives and must follow the man he saved wherever he goes. After a few failed attempts, Sam and Milo are able to trick Nanu into ''saving'' him, from a stomachache. With the deed done, all three men (plus one stowed away tiger) get on a plane and head back to the U.S.

'''The Worlds Greatest Athlete''' is a Disney film about two college coaches Sam Archer and his assistant Milo Jackson, their teams invariably lose. A coincidences sends the pair to Africa, where they catch sight of the Tarzan-like Nanu, a man who can outrun a cheetah in full bound.

Seeing this, the men quickly attempt to recruit the young man for their college team, but are confronted by Nanu's godfather, Gazenga. Gazenga believes that allowing Nanu into the world of competitive United States college athletics might be to much for the young and impressionable man. Disappointed but persistent, Sam and Milo learn that among Nanu and Gazenga's people. When one man saves the life of another, he has become that man's protectorate for the rest of both their lives and must follow the man he saved wherever he goes. After a few failed attempts, Sam and Milo are able to trick Nanu into ''saving'' him, from a stomach ach. With the deed done all three men (plus one stowed away tiger) get on a plane and head back to the U.S.

* IOweYouMyLife: An interesting case, apparently in Nanu's tribe if one man saves the life of another he is then bond to that man for life, basically the rescuer goes wherever the rescue-y goes.

* ZanyScheme: Archer and Jackson's elaborate plans to force Nanu into saving Archer's life. In the end they only pull it off by the skin of their teeth.

Seeing this, the men quickly attempt to recruit the young man for their college team, but are confronted by Nanu's godfather, Gazenga. Gazenga believes that allowing Nanu into the world of competitive United States college athletics might be to much for the young and impressionable man. disappointed but persistent, Sam and Milo learn that among Nanu and Gazenga's people. When one man saves the life of another, he has become that man's protectorate for the rest of both their lives and must follow the man he saved wherever he goes. After a few failed attempts, Sam and Milo are able to trick Nanu into ''saving'' him, from a stomach ach. With the deed done all three men (plus one stowed away tiger) get on a plane and head back to the U.S.

* RaisedByNatives: Nanu was raised by Gazenga and his tribe.

* NosyNeighbor: While she's technically the landlady, Ms. Peterson qualifies. First time we see her she keeps glaring that Sam, Milo and Nanu like a doctor examining a petri dish. Admittedly she does have poor eyesight, but that doesn't excuse her creepy stocker like demeanor as they walk by.

* HiddenDepths: While Sam initially tricked Nanu into coming to America in order to finally coach an athlete who can win at ''something'' he seems to genuinely for the young man when [[spoiler: Gazenga keeps interfering.]]

* WeirdnessCensor: Everyone except the main characters are often oblivious to the that a tiger in a coat and hat happens to be sitting next to them.

* NotSoAboveItAll: When Gazenga is greeted by Maxwell at the airport, Maxwell says something stupid like [[InnocentlyInsensitive "I thought witch doctors looked different"]] or something to that effect. Instead of getting upset Gazenga smiles turns around for a moment and once he turns back to face Maxwell again...he has a bone sticking out of his nose.

* NotSoAboveItAll: When Gazenga is greeted by Maxwell at the airport, Maxwell says something stupid like "I thought witch doctors looked different" or something to that effect. Instead of getting upset Gazenga smiles turns around for a moment and once he turns back to face Maxwell again...he has a bone sticking out of his nose.

* WitchDoctor: Chief Gazenga

The Worlds Greatest Athlete is a Disney film about two college coaches Sam Archer and his assistant Milo Jackson, their teams invariably lose. A coincidences sends the pair to Africa, where they catch sight of the Tarzan-like Nanu, a man who can outrun a cheetah in full bound.

* ChekhovGun: The voodoo doll Milo comes across.