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
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

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 that receives a computer from its sponsor, the A.J. Arno company. The trade between the company and 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 USD$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 enabled a command that programmed Dexter to speak out loud all of the illegal plans the triads are up to. Although the public didn't really have much clue about what happened, it shocked A.J. Arno.

One night, A.J. and his mafia kidnapped Dexter, but the following day, his school mates managed to rescue him with a house-painting truck and managed to drive him back to the contest. But the triads managed to catch up in a faster vehicle. The pursuit ended when the enemy's car crashed into a pile of hay, giving the truck an opportunity to escape.

Once back to the contest, Dexter managed to answer the questions of the contest, but with extreme difficulties. The last question was answered when Dexter's computer mind was completely drained out and back to the original, his friend managed to answer it for him, winning the contest and the $100,000.

However, A. J. Arno and his henchmen arrive, causing Dexter to flee the studio, and 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, however, the students are listening to a conversation by Dean Higgins, from outside, stating that there should be a class in "Plumbing!! Dexter is normal again, and no longer has the brains of a computer to enter another contest again, as the film ends.

[edit] Cast

* Not credited on-screen.

[edit] Sequels

[edit] TV remake

[edit] Quotes

  • (Dexter and Dean Eugene Higgins as the computer is set up)
Dexter: (casually) Hiya, Dean-o.
Dean Higgins: (bewilderment) Dean-o?
  • (A.J. Arno and Chillie Walsh at the hideout)
Arno: (forcefully) What are all those kids doin' out there?
Chillie: Oh don't worry, boss; they're painters. I checked 'em out; it's okay.
Arno: (angrily) So you checked them out? They're not painters, you idiot! They're a bunch of his school buddies!
  • (Arno and Chillie in a haystack in a cow field)
Cow: MOOOOO!!!
Arno: Aw, shaddup!

[edit] External links

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