The AbsentMinded Professor (1961)

A college professor invents an anti-gravity substance which a corrupt businessman wants for himself.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screenplay), Samuel W. Taylor (story)

Stars:

Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fred MacMurray	...	Prof. Ned Brainard
Nancy Olson	...	Betsy Carlisle
Keenan Wynn	...	Alonzo P. Hawk
Tommy Kirk	...	Biff Hawk
Leon Ames	...	President Rufus Daggett
Elliott Reid	...	Prof. Shelby Ashton
Edward Andrews	...	Defense Secretary
David Lewis	...	Gen. Singer
Jack Mullaney	...	Air Force Captain
Belle Montrose	...	Mrs. Chatsworth
Wally Brown	...	Coach Elkins
Wally Boag	...	TV Newsman
Don Ross	...	Lenny
Forrest Lewis	...	Officer Kelley
James Westerfield	...	Officer Hanson

Storyline

A bumbling professor accidently invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible material that gains energy every time it strikes a hard surface. It allows for the invention of shoes that can allow jumps of amazing heights and enables a modified Model-T to fly. Unfortunately, no one is interested in the material except for Alonzo Hawk, a corrupt businessman who wants to steal the material for himself.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | invention | shoes | car | antigravity | 

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Taglines:

Walt Disney's NEW FORMULA FOR FUN... ALL ABOUT THE CRAZY PROFESSOR WHO INVENTED FLUBBER (The Goo that Flew!)

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Disney [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

A szórakozott professzor

Filming Locations:

Renwick Gym, Pomona College - 333 N. College Way, Claremont, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the height of the film's popularity, Time Magazine printed the Disney Special Effects Department's recipe for Flubber, as used in the movie. It read as follows: "To one pound of salt water taffy add one heaping tablespoon polyurethane foam, one cake crumbled yeast. Mix till smooth, allow to rise. Then pour into saucepan over one cup cracked rice with one cup water. Add topping of molasses. Boil till lid lifts and says 'Qurlp'." It is not recorded whether this also carried the standard warning "do not try this at home".

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Goofs

When the professor is explaining to Charlie how flubber will power the Model T, it is obvious that the engine and transmission are missing from the car. He then takes the car out for a test drive/flight. The bottom view of the car clearly shows the engine and transmission in the Model T.

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Quotes

Prof. Ned Brainard: Corners beautifully, doesn't it?

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Connections

Referenced in The Wire: -30- (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Medfield Fight Song"
Written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

User Reviews

a bouncy little film

...and one of the best by Disney.

You can't see this film and not enjoy the time of you life.

It's clever, funny, and inventive.

Please forget Robin Williams' version.

That was a waste of celluloid.

I'm a professor and was just thinking about the "absent-minded " effect yesterday.

Or was I?? anyway, we professors are cool.

and so is this film.

enjoy.