Jim Thorpe, The World's Greatest Athlete: Official Trailer

Directed by Tom Weidlinger
(2009, 86 min. U S A)
Jim Thorpe, The Worlds Greatest Athlete is a biography of the Native American athlete who became a sports icon in the first half of the 20th century. Beginning with Thorpes boyhood in Indian territory it chronicles his rise to athletic stardom at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, winning two gold medals at the 1912 Summer Olympics, his fall from grace in the eyes of the amateur athletic establishment, and his rebound in professional baseball and football. Thorpe retired from pro sports at age 41 just before the stock market crash of 29. He worked as a construction laborer before getting work in Hollywood as a bit part player. He became a representative for Indian extras in Hollywood, fighting for equal pay for Native Americans in the movies. In the 1940s he crisscrossed the nation as a public speaker advocating for Indian self-determination.

Jim Thorpe, The Worlds Greatest Athlete is the first feature length documentary to be made about the man. It appeals to sports buffs as well as those interested in Native American issues, especially the tension between assimilation into white society and forging a separate Indian identity in the 20th century.

The film will be playing at the 2009 Rhode Island International Film Festival. on August 6th at the Columbus Theater. 3:15PM Showtime. For more Information on tickets, you can goto: www.rifilmfest.org

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Jim Thorpe
• Trailer

[heavymetalrulz123]

Best athlete on the face of this earth ever.

[hydrolito]

Football the highest revenue generating sport on the planet would be what we Americans call soccer.

[hydrolito]

@nabilion Japan has baseball there I think they have a team called the Tokyo dragons, however not sure american football would make it there what Americans call soccer or what europeans call Football might have a better chance there.

[hydrolito]

He was a great athelete during his time but how could he compete against the best of today that not only use training but also growth hormones and steroids, etc. East German a small country was winning a lot of Olympic medals because of steroid use and how many of todays atheletes now use them? The Olympics banned them and some other drugs.

[TheTHORPEEEE]

He is my Great Great uncle or something :p

[SeraphsSword]

@johnmarstonism ESPN lost all credibility when Jim wasnt the best athlete of all time. he makes todays athletes just look silly.

[MrStrontium90]

The Olympic committee shou;d restore his gold medals as Hockey players today play in the NHL as proffessionals and compete in the Olympics.. That being the case for stripping his gold medals they should re- instate tham if they haven't already. To me it smacks of the predjudices of the times.

[thenicholashuber]

There will never be another jim thorpe ever!

[davegoode100]

@imaplayjason you're right.basketball does combine those three aspects.and on a very high level.i guess the only way to compare Thorpe and Jordan would be by how they competed in individual sports.

[boricua8581]

@johnmarstonism babe ruth??? wtf??? yeah that's crazy!!! babe wasnt even the best baseball player ever

[nabilion]

@andrewr62 but nothing set in stone, quite pitiful for the 2nd biggest media market in america.