ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies and Serials from 1950 to 1969
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17020
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:17 pm    Post subject: The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) Reply with quote

_____

One of Disney's most fondly remembered films still delivers a good time.



Professor Brainard (Fred MacMurray) invents Flubber (what else would you call flying rubber?). He uses its incredible properties to power a flying Tin Lizzy and turn a mediocre basketball team into the "Harlem Globetrotters From Krypton".



One of the film's many treats is the sight of MacMurray driving his Tin Lizzy along the side of a building. And you'll love what he does to villain Keenan Wynn when he pastes a pair of Flubber patches to the souls of Wynn's shoes!



Also starring the immortal Tommy Kirk ("Mars Needs Women"). Directed by Robert Stevenson. The film was successful enough to inspire a likable sequel ("Son of Flubber") two years later, which featured ground-breaking FX that equaled those of the original film.



_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:19 pm; edited 6 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Robert (Butch) Day
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1437
Location: Arlington, WA USA

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the best from Fred's Disney years.
_________________
Common Sense ISN'T Common
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rocky Jones
Astral Engineer


Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 225
Location: North Texas

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And, of course, Keenan Wynne was the only actor to play the same character in two very different Disney comedy properties, both with fantastic cars, come to think of it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Robert (Butch) Day
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1437
Location: Arlington, WA USA

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually THREE semi-related series.

The Absent Minded Professor (1961) and Son of Flubber (1963). Only in the first.

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) and The Monkey's Uncle (1964). Uncredited cameo in the second.

Of the Love Bug series, — The Love Bug (1968), Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) only Herbie Rides Again featured Keenan Wynn.

Herbie The Love Bug (CBS 1982) was a five episode TV series without Keenan Wynn.

_________________
Common Sense ISN'T Common
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rocky Jones
Astral Engineer


Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 225
Location: North Texas

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was gonna say Merlin Jones, but it doesn't come up in IMDB under the character name. Thanks for the complete list, Butch.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Bogmeister
Galactic Fleet Vice Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 574

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

____________
____________________

__________The Absent Minded Professor Promo


__________


The first of the Disney comedies to revolve around characters at Medfield College, a place where all sorts of scientific mishaps occur.

Fred MacMurray stars as the brainy Professor Brainard, a genius so absent-minded that he has forgotten to attend his own wedding twice — 3rd time may not be the charm.

He engages in his own experimenting in his own little lab, set up in his garage. This time, an explosion konks him out and he misses his appointment with his bride-to-be (Nancy Olson) yet again.

However, when he wakes up, he finds that he has created the new substance he dubs "Flubber" — short for flying rubber. This stuff creates its own energy — if you roll it up in a ball and bounce it, it bounces higher each time. Of course, his amazing invention does not square things with his fiancee.

In the meantime, the town's rich citizen, Mr. Hawk (Keenan Wynn), makes plans on his threat to tear down Medfield over a past due loan. His son (Tommy Kirk) is the basketball star but is failing Brainard's class. Without this son, the Medfield team are hopeless, especially up against the lean giants of rival Rutland.

Brainard, having already converted his old Model-T car into a flying vehicle (using Gamma Rays to regulate the substance), gets his next bright idea — ironing the Flubber onto the soles of the shoes of the Medfield players.

In the 2nd half of the game, they bounce all over the place and beat Rutland!

Unfortunately, Hawk spots Brainard in his flying automobile and presses him to sell the stuff to the government. When Brainard rebuffs him, Hawk and his son pull the old switcheroo.


______________ The Absent-Minded Professor


__________


As with all the films revolving around Medfield, this stressed the absurd and even the nonsensical — based on Brainard's own involved explanations on how Flubber works, the way it's used on the basketball team doesn't make sense. The players should have been bouncing higher & higher with each bounce.

And, they don't start bouncing until they enter the court. But, we let it go, caught up in the whacky and spectacular sight of the game.

The story veers into thriller territory in the final act, with Brainard teaming up with his wife-to-be to reclaim his automobile and then winging away towards Washington D.C.

MacMurray was just right as the professor, also displaying a mean playful side when he feels he's been wronged. This was mainly for kids, but adults could get something out of it too, relating to Brainard's problems. This was a huge hit for Disney and there was the sequel Son of Flubber in 1963.



___________ The Absent Minded Professor (clip)


__________


BoG's Score: 7 out of 10


BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus


Last edited by Bogmeister on Sun May 19, 2019 2:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3401
Location: New York

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keenan also got involved with 2 other nifty looking autos in the epic comedy film "The Great Race.''

Wynn was an avid motorcyclist in real life.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3401
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keep Watching the Skies! by Bill Warren.

Strangely enough, one of the major virtues of this film is that it is good science fiction. That is, the scientific premise is still fantasy, but everything in it works logically from the premise.

Within the bounds of the story, the scientific jabber by Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard sounds logical, realistic and accurate.

It is also a fairly funny if conventional comedy, having a good performance by MacMurray, some excellent special effects, and some amusing comedy situations.

However, it's broad. The characters are stereotypes, and it takes place in one of those typical Disney small towns. The film clearly imitates The Shaggy Dog, the Disney fantasy of the year before which was a stunning surprise to the studio: an inexpensive black-and-white comedy that far out-grossed their big-deal animated feature, Sleeping Beauty.

The joke for the basketball game with the Medfield players wearing Flubber on their sneakers stays funny for a while, but soon wears thin as the game seems to go on forever.

I find it interesting that we are supposed to admire Ned, though we've seen him cheat to win a basketball game, and seriously endanger the life of a man who's never really done him any wrong. Yet Fred MacMurray remains charming enough that we never take Ned as anything but the likable hero.

Though generally entertaining, the major problem with the film is that the plot is thin. Furthermore, Robert Stevenson directs films dully, by and large. Generally he shows no style and little creativity. The film is pleasant, lightweight entertainment. The special effects in Professor are outstanding, adding to the acceptability of the concept. The dialogue is not broadly comic or witty; in fact, the dialogue lacks jokes almost completely. It's straightforward and not too juvenile; no one acts silly (until the climax), although they are all comic characters. It is truly a family film.

One of the best reasons to watch the film is the performance of Fred MacMurray.

However, nothing much could help the very lame climax in the Washington D.C. skies, and the reasonableness of Ned's previous behavior evaporates as he behaves like a dunderhead.

Technically, the movie can't be faulted. The special effects are outstanding, the photography is excellent, even the music, often overdone in Disney comedies, is modest and to the point. The science fiction aspect is impeccable, MacMurray is fine. All and all, it is about as good a film as one could expect from the Disney studio in this period.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17020
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

______________________________________________

Well damn, I can't figure out if Warren really liked this movie or not!

The things he criticizes the most are the things I liked the best. For example, he says the basketball game "went on too long".

I feel that every moment was pure gold! Shocked

He criticizes Professor Brainard for using flubber to help the grossly outmatched Medfield players compete against the much taller team in a game that was blatantly unfair!

Warren also says that Brainard "seriously endanger the life of a man who's never really done him any wrong", when he simply uses the flying car to spook a man who is trying to steal away the love is Fred's life!

Hell's Bells, all's fair and love and war! Shocked

And then Warren states that, "The dialogue is not broadly comic or witty; in fact, the dialogue lacks jokes almost completely."

Sorry, Bill, but you're wrong. The movie is packed with witty dialog. Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3401
Location: New York

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think Warren did like the movie even amidst his criticisms. He found the special effects "outstanding," & MacMurray's performance wonderful. It was a family-friendly Disney comedy, so what else did he expect?

Yes, the Rutland basketball team players are bigger than the Medfield team. It was a contrivance by the script to make Medfield truly look like the underdogs and gain our sympathy. Plus, it made their Flubber win all the more exciting and fun. However, assuming that the Rutland team were all legitimate college age individuals with no ringers, it would not be consider an unfair advantage under the rules & regulations.

Warren was incorrect when he writes that Professor Shelby Ashton (Elliot Reid) "never did him (Ned Brainard) any wrong." Aside from being an insufferable & arrogant snob, Ashton was more than willing to break up Ned's engagement to Betsy, right up to the wedding ceremony. Still, we can't say that Ned doing the "Shelby Stomp" with his Model-T on Ashton's car roof was not extremely dangerous to Ashton. In fact, there was a serious accident with the Medfield police car. The scene strictly went for laughs, of course, but in real life there could have been severe injuries, or even death. You can say the exact same thing about any comedy movie featuring car chases & crashes. I'm looking at you It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, my favorite epic comedy movie. Maybe Bill was warning us all never to do such a thing in our flying cars, which I keep reading are just around the corner.

I think I read somewhere that due to the success of Disney's Shaggy Dog & Flubber films, Walt saw that he could produce comedies with reasonable budgets that would then garner his studio enormous profits. In turn, this resulted in him not following up his fabulous 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea feature film with similar epic science fiction movies. 20,000 Leagues produced a handsome profit for Disney; it was also hugely expensive for his company and a large risk. He decided to shy away from such efforts and create projects with lower budgets that still might be able to result in big profits for his studio. He still did venture into big budgeted projects now and then such as Babes in Toyland, In Search of the Castaways, and Mary Poppins. He just did so infrequently with his live action productions. He still was always willing to spend a great sum on his first love, his animated films.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17020
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

______________________________________________

Mike, thanks for your wonderful review of this great movie! You skillfully analyzed the story elements from both a realistic and comedic point of view. I have nothing to add except praise for your comments. Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3401
Location: New York

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin.

The Absent Minded Professor cannot really be called one of Disney's best films, but it surely is one of his biggest-audience pleasers. Everything is tailored toward getting laughs on the broadest possible basis, and one cannot argue with success.

The key effects sequences are quite well done. The car footage is done with a combination of live action wires (such as shots of the car taking off, and bouncing on other cars), miniatures (which are the least convincing), matte and process work. By intercutting these various types of shots, the overall effect is rather good.

The basketball game goes on at some length, and, although the shots of the kids bouncing high in the air really are amazing, they start to wear thin. The scene with Keenan Wynn, as Alonzo Hawk bouncing on the flubberized shoes is one of the most impressive in the film, because it is shot outdoors, where you realize trickery is at a minimum.

The script itself is really rather obvious, with few surprises; indeed, the film's major laughs come from the anticipation of what is about to happen.

The most important casting of all, however, was that of Fred MacMurray, and he is inspired in the lead role. He plays his part with such utter conviction that you believe him completely----his naivete, his absent-mindedness, his determination, and even his occasional stupidity.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17020
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin.

The basketball game goes on at some length, and, although the shots of the kids bouncing high in the air really are amazing, they start to wear thin.

I disagree. There's a great deal of variety to the humorous moments. That scene still cracks me up, and I've lost count of the number of times I've seen it.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies and Serials from 1950 to 1969 All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group