The World's Greatest Lover

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Overview

After writing, directing, and starring in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, Gene Wilder added the producer's hat to his three-headed beast in The World's Greatest Lover. Wilder plays Rudy Valentine, a Milwaukee baker who enters a talent search in the Hollywood of the 1920s, initiated by movie studio mogul Zitz Dom DeLuise, to find a new Rudolph Valentino. He travels to Hollywood with his wife Annie Carol Kane in hopes of taking a screen test, but Annie falls in love with the real Valentino. ...
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Overview

After writing, directing, and starring in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, Gene Wilder added the producer's hat to his three-headed beast in The World's Greatest Lover. Wilder plays Rudy Valentine, a Milwaukee baker who enters a talent search in the Hollywood of the 1920s, initiated by movie studio mogul Zitz Dom DeLuise, to find a new Rudolph Valentino. He travels to Hollywood with his wife Annie Carol Kane in hopes of taking a screen test, but Annie falls in love with the real Valentino. Jealous of the Latin Lover, Rudy disguises himself as a sheik in an attempt to look like Valentino. Rudy then invites Annie to a rendezvous at the studio, where he tries to seduce his own wife.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; Full-length audio commentary by Gene Wilder; Original theatrical trailer
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Under the right circumstances, few cinematic comedians can be as funny as Gene Wilder; unfortunately, circumstances are far from right in The World's Greatest Lover, the 1977 film that finds Wilder wearing far too many hats as star, writer, director and producer. A worthy collaborator in the writing (or, preferably, in the writing and directing) departments would likely have made Lover a quite enjoyable comedy. But left totally to his own devices, Wilder doesn't really know what to do. The screenplay at one moment is obsessed with shuffling in some gags for their own sake and the next with maniacally getting back to the story at hand. This in itself would not be so bad if the stand-alone gags were truly funny. Regrettably, the majority of "bits" in Lover fall flat, making for some fairly dull stretches. Equally problematic is the fact that the "story" sections of Lover are no great shakes either. The premise wears thin rather quickly, and the Annie-Rudy story just isn't compelling enough, despite a very good and at times inspired performance by Carol Kane. As an actor, Wilder is still very watchable here, but he doesn't find the variety in his performance that would it needs. He's too often loud and shrill, which Wilder does very well; but wild and shrill works better when it's contrasted with quieter, calmer moments. The supporting cast is filled with comic talents of a wide range, and they help; also of note is the impressive look of the film, and Wilder the director does do a fine job of capturing the atmosphere of 1920s Hollywood. These assets don't save Lover, but they do deserve recognition.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/4/2006
  • UPC: 024543231479
  • Original Release: 1977

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20th Century Fox
  • Region Code: 1
  • Language: English
  • Time: 1:29:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 17,707

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Gene Wilder Rudy Valentine
Carol Kane Annie
Dom DeLuise Zitz
Fritz Feld Hotel Manager
Carl Ballantine Uncle Harry
Michael Huddleston Barber
Carol Arthur Woman in Record Store
Pat Ast Bakery/Wardrobe Lady
Candice Azzara Anne Calassandro
Robert Ball
Robert E. Ball Jr.
Elya Baskin Actor with Bad Breath
Nora Boland Woman
Teda Bracci Whore #3
Stanley Brock Yes Man #2
Cousin Buddy Himself
Warren Burton Drag Queen
Matt Collins Rudolph Valentino
Rita Conde Whore #1
Lou Cutell Mr. Kipper
Hannah Dean Maid
Danny DeVito Assistant Director
Nick Dimitri Boyfriend on Train
Richard Dimitri Tony Lassiter
Peter Elbing Robert Drake
Josip Elic Headwaiter
Harriet Gibson
James Gleason Room Clerk
Gino Gottarelli Make-up Man
Lydia Goya Singer in Jail
Ronny Graham Director
Zooey Hall Finalist #1
Alvin Hammer Second Wardrobe Man
James Hong Yes Man #3
David Huddleston
Richard Karron Bodyguard
Charles Knapp Bakery Foreman
David Levy Elevator Operator
Mike McManus Yes Man #5
George Memmoli Truck Driver
Sidney Miller Man at the Table
Jorge Moreno Mexican Gangster
Frank O'Brien Yes Man #4
Lupe Ontiveros Whore #2
Poncie Ponce Pineapple
Patrick Regan Assistant Director
Jack Riley Projectionist
Frederico Roberto
Richard Roth Chico
Billy Sands Guard
Norbert Schiller Captain
Rolfe Sedan Conductor
Marya Small Slave Girl #2
Bunny Summers Mother on Train
Florence Sundstrom Aunt Tillie
Gustaf Unger
Pavla Ustinov Leading Lady
Sal Viscuso Assistant Director
Speedy Zapata Mexican Sidekick
Technical Credits
Gene Wilder Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Darryl Athons Costumes/Costume Designer
Mel Dellar Asst. Director
Craig Edgar Set Decoration/Design
John Franco Jr. Set Decoration/Design
Logan R. Frazee Special Effects
Terry Frazee Special Effects
Phyllis Garr Costumes/Costume Designer
Christopher Greenbury Co-producer, Editor
Gerald Hirschfeld Cinematographer
Terence Marsh Production Designer
John Morris Score Composer
Ruth Myers Costumes/Costume Designer
Harry Nilsson Songwriter
Steve Sardanis Art Director
Theodore Soderberg Sound/Sound Designer
Jack Solomon Sound/Sound Designer
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Scene Index

Disc #1, Side A -- Full Screen
1. Contest/Main Titles
2. Tongue Lashing
3. Hardly Unique
4. Lonely at the Top
5. Fame!
6. Number 8
7. "Ain't It Kinda Wonderful"
8. Where's the Baloney?
9. Mrs. Valentino
10. Water, Water Everywhere
11. A Real Lover
12. "Shuffle Off to Buffalo"
13. The Big Moment
14. A Sign From God
15. Mr. Valentino's Tent
16. Lone Voice
17. Get in Line
18. Final Auditions
19. The Greatest
20. Show's Over/End Titles
Disc #1, Side B -- Widescreen
1. Contest/Main Titles
2. Tongue Lashing
3. Hardly Unique
4. Lonely at the Top
5. Fame!
6. Number 8
7. "Ain't It Kinda Wonderful"
8. Where's the Baloney?
9. Mrs. Valentino
10. Water, Water Everywhere
11. A Real Lover
12. "Shuffle Off to Buffalo"
13. The Big Moment
14. A Sign From God
15. Mr. Valentino's Tent
16. Lone Voice
17. Get in Line
18. Final Auditions
19. The Greatest
20. Show's Over/End Titles
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Menu

Disc #1, Side A -- Full Screen
   Play
   Language Selection
      Languages: English Mono
      Languages: English Stereo
      Languages: French Mono
      Languages: Spanish Mono
      Languages: Commentary
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary by Gene Wilder: On
      Commentary by Gene Wilder: Off
      Theatrical Trailer
      The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Trailer
      Silver Streak Trailer
      Young Frankenstein Trailer
Disc #1, Side B -- Widescreen
   Play
   Language Selection
      Languages: English Mono
      Languages: English Stereo
      Languages: French Mono
      Languages: Spanish Mono
      Languages: Commentary
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary by Gene Wilder: On
      Commentary by Gene Wilder: Off
      Theatrical Trailer
      The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Trailer
      Silver Streak Trailer
      Young Frankenstein Trailer
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