The AbsentMinded Professor (1961)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

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

Release Date:

16 March 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi | Sport

Tagline:

The funniest discovery since laughter!! [1976 re-release UK]

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Invention | Shoes | Tennis Shoes | Unlikely Hero

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

The Absent-Minded Professor (Australia)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #19680) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1974) | Canada:G (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Three generations of the Wynn family act in this film: Ed Wynn; his son Keenan Wynn; and Keenan Wynn's son, Ned Wynn.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alonzo Hawk is talking to Ned and Betsy about 'merging together', Betsy is putting on his flubberized shoes. Right before Alonzo gets up you clearly see that the soles of the shoes do not have Flubber applied, although he jumps as if he did. He never changes shoes.

Quotes:

Prof. Ned Brainard: Let's see, flying rubber... Flubber!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Hellcats (#3.9)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Medfield Fight Song

An old-fashioned, unsophisticated, excellent family comedy.

My wife and I saw this with our four young sons when it was first released, and we thought it was great. We have seen it several times since, and it is always entertaining. Unlike some critics, I thought Fred MacMurray was perfect in the title role, and the supporting cast was great. The humor may seem a bit unsophisticated and hokey by present day standards, but in my eyes it makes the movie even more enjoyable. Show this film to your unprejudiced younger children and grandchildren and watch them delight in it.