The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

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The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

1969 movie poster
Directed by Robert Butler
Produced by Bill Anderson
Written by Joseph L. McEveety
Starring Kurt Russell
Cesar Romero
Joe Flynn
William Schallert
Alan Hewitt
Music by Robert F. Brunner
Cinematography Frank Phillips
Distributed by Buena Vista
Release date(s) December 31, 1969
Running time 91 min.
Country U.S.
Language English
Followed by Now You See Him, Now You Don't

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a Walt Disney film from 1969, starring Alan Hewitt, Kurt Russell, Frank Webb, and Joe Flynn.

It was the first in a trilogy of films made by Disney using the setting of Medfield College.

Contents

[edit] Plot and synopsis

The film is about a student, Dexter Riley (Kurt Russell), as well as his alma mater, Medfield College, a struggling private college. Dean Higgins resists Professor Quigley's request for a computer like State has; the students go to the A.J. Arno company, a sponsor of the college, which in lieu of an annual operating grant, instead gives its old computer to Medfield, to Higgins' anger. The gift by the company to Medfield seems harmless, until we find out that the A.J. Arno company's namesake and founder (Cesar Romero) is really the boss of a gambling ring with illegal operations all over the state. The computer that the company has given to the school is loaded with illegal information, which is put into Dexter Riley's head after he receives a huge shock while installing a new part into the computer.

Dexter is now a human computer, able to complete the toughest exams in a minute, capable of speaking in other languages, and answering the hardest questions from highly trained and educated professors. He is so good that he and three other students from Medfield are put in a televised quiz tournament against other colleges for a grand prize of $100,000.

Unfortunately in one part of the televised quiz tournament, while A. J. Arno company's boss is watching the show on his TV live, a question asked by the host accidentally enables a command that programmed Dexter to speak out loud all of Arno's illegal plans. Although the public doesn't understand the coded messages, it shocks A.J. Arno.

One night, Arno and his henchmen kidnap Dexter, but the following day, his school mates manage to find out where he is, using the guise of being a house-painting crew to spy on the place. Dexter is put into a box that will be dumped in the sea. His friends rescue him, but in the attempt, the box falls to the ground, giving Dexter a head-ringing collision. They abandon the painting equipment to drive Dexter back to the contest, leaving Arno's men with a gas tank full of paint. Arno and his men catch up in Dexter's own faster vehicle. The pursuit ends when Arno's car crashes into a pile of hay, giving the truck an opportunity to escape.

Once back to the contest, Dexter answers the questions of the contest, but with extreme difficulties because of the blow he took to his head. The last question is asked when Dexter's "computer" mind is completely gone and he is back to his normal self - a ne'er-do-well student answers for him, winning the contest and the $100,000.

A. J. Arno and his henchmen arrive, causing Dexter to flee the studio. The crooks try to go after him, however, the henchman's car crashes head on into a police car entering the parking lot, where A.J. Arno and his henchmen are arrested.

Things go back to normal at Medfield College. Dexter is normal again, and no longer has the brains of a computer, as the film ends.

[edit] Cast

* Not credited on-screen.

[edit] Sequels

[edit] TV remake

[edit] Notes

Though this film was the first in a trilogy set in Medfield College, the same school name was used the 1961 The Absent-Minded Professor and its sequel Son of Flubber.

This is one of the extremely rare on screen appearances of voice actor Frank Welker.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Computer_Wore_Tennis_Shoes"
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