Strongest Man in the World, The (film) Medfield College science student Dexter Riley eats a bowl of cereal accidentally containing a chemical compound he has been working on. He develops superhuman strength, which he mistakenly attributes to a vitamin formula devised by a fellow student. Two cereal companies compete for ownership of the secret ingredient and back a weight-lifting contest between Medfield and rival State College. Medfield is losing badly when Dexter realizes his compound, not the other student’s, is the secret of his strength, and he leads his team to victory. Released on February 6, 1975. Directed by Vincent McEveety. 92 min. Stars Kurt Russell (Dexter), Joe Flynn (Dean Higgins), Eve Arden (Harriet), Cesar Romero (A.J. Arno), Phil Silvers (Krinkle), Dick Van Patten (Harry), Harold Gould (Dietz). The main building of Medfield College, the setting for numerous Disney movies, including The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Now You See Him, Now You Don’t, was, in fact, the Animation Building on the Disney Studio lot in Burbank. Location shooting was done on this film in New Chinatown, Griffith Park, Echo Park, and the federal penitentiary, all in Los Angeles. Robert F. Brunner composed the music score, which included a running theme, called “Instant Muscle,” featuring jazz and Oriental themes, as well as two school marching band songs.
