The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes 1969

As Dexter Riley (Kurt Russell) and his fellow students at Medfield College delve into their studies, they confront an unexpected obstacle: the school’s struggle to procure a vital computer. Their solution emerges through the desire to persuade the affluent businessman A. J. Arno (Cesar Romero) to contribute an outdated yet operational computer to their institution. Unbeknownst to the students, this act of charity is cloaked in deception, as Arno covertly orchestrates a vast illegal gambling ring that exploits the very computer he donates.

Amidst a fierce thunderstorm, Riley’s existence transforms when he experiences an electric shock while fixing a computer component. This unexpected jolt grants him remarkable mathematical prowess, enabling him to absorb and recall extensive information with unparalleled speed and precision. The surge of talent thrusts him into the limelight, and the hopes of Medfield College to secure victory in a celebrated televised quiz tournament, complete with a $100,000 prize, rest solely on Riley’s exceptional intellect.

Harnessing his astonishing capabilities, Riley single-handedly propels Medfield’s team through successive victories against competing schools. As the tournament reaches its peak, a simple phrase—“applejack”—unintentionally triggers a flood of knowledge about Arno’s criminal ventures. This inadvertent discovery initiates a series of events that lead to Riley’s capture at the hands of Arno’s henchmen.

In a bold rescue mission, Riley’s friends cleverly don disguises as house painters to infiltrate the captors’ lair and orchestrate a daring escape for their companion. Although Riley suffers a concussion during this intense ordeal, it gradually diminishes his extraordinary abilities, bringing him back to a more ordinary state. Meanwhile, Schuyler (William Schallert) plays a crucial role in accurately answering the final challenge of the tournament: “A small Midwest city is located exactly on an area designated as the geographic center of the United States. For 10 points and $100,000, can you tell us the name of that city?” The correct answer, “Lebanon, Kansas,” secures Medfield College’s victory and the coveted prize.

As Arno and his gang attempt to make a getaway from the TV studio, their plans unravel when they collide with a police vehicle, leading to their eventual capture and the dismantling of their nefarious operations.