The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
This was the first in the "Dexter Riley" movies, a trilogy of three high-concept Disney fantasy-comedies starring Kurt Russell as Dexter, with Joe Flynn and Cesar Romero. These films were set in Medfield College where a scientific breakthrough would lead to hijinks. They were The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969) (robotics / human computers), Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) (invisibility) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975) (super-strength).,After being spray painted by the kids and driving through the haystack, Arno's face is red, but his hair isn't. Later, in the studio his hair does have some red paint in it.,Dean Higgins: Don't you worm me, you worm!,Edited into The Magical World of Disney: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes: Part 1 (1972),The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
Written by Robert F. Brunner and Bruce Belland,I went to see this movie when I was ten years old and I loved it. Looking back and watching again as a 60-year old brings back good memories. In a world in flux this was a fun and cool little respite. It was the burgeoning day of the teen heartthrob and Disney wisely chose Kurt Russell. Russell was nigh on perfect as the "near-do-well" college student who suddenly becomes a national intellectual savant. Surrounded by a fine looking group of actors and actress it was kind of a warm hearted look later popularized as it is better to look good than to....well, you get it. As a ten year old I wanted to dress and be cool like these kids.

The story is fun too. Thrust into a spotlight with an encyclopedic all-encompassing computer like knowledge Russell played the role of Dexter making him a kind of photogenic celluloid teen idol right up there with rock stars. OK, the whole thing is rather stupid, but it's what I'd call "stupid good fun". Emminently watchable in spite of everything - and it was a big hit at the time.

Granted today the sophistication of youth and the ubiquitous nature of tech makes this flick quite dated. Even so, as a kind of time capsule of a time I give the film high marks. It was the perfect career turn for child actor Kurt Russell too. His staying power and consequent career speak for itself of course with this movie as a turning point. Disney would mine him for a while of course, but it was in the seventies he fully emerged as a leading man in an assortment of roles to which this film certainly was a springboard. In closing I love the fact that movies could be so simplistic and yet so much fun. A great time capsule of an era gone.,