The Absent-Minded Professor

1961

The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)

TOMATOMETER

82%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

62%

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Movie Info

Fred MacMurray stars in this Walt Disney comedy hit concerning absent-minded professor Ned Brainard (MacMurray), a science teacher at a small-town college, who is so scatterbrained that he has forgotten to show up at his own wedding. Missing his wedding ceremony twice, he is determined not to do it again. But, when he gets involved in some chemical experiments, he leaves he poor bride-to-be Betsy (Nancy Olsen) stranded at the altar again. Although his weddings plans are not successful, his experiments are --he develops a black and rubbery substance that bounces very high and seems to defy gravity. He calls it "flubber." When he substitutes the formula for the motor in his old Model T Ford, he can fly through the sky in his car. Continuing on with practical uses for the substance, he applies it to the college basketball team's sneakers, permitting them to rocket over the heads of the opposing team and win an easy victory. But when word of Brainard's discovery comes to the attention of nefarious alumnus Alonzo Hawk (Keenan Wynn), Hawk plans to steal Barinard's car and his formula to "flubber."

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Cast

Fred MacMurray
as Ned Brainard
Nancy Olson
as Betsy
Keenan Wynn
as Alonzo
Tommy Kirk
as Biff
Elliott Reid
as Shelby
Leon Ames
as Daggett
Ed Wynn
as Fire Chief
Belle Montrose
as Chatworth
David Lewis
as Singer
Edward Andrews
as Defense Secretary
Wally Brown
as Coach Elkins
Forrest Lewis
as Officer Kelly
James Westerfield
as Officer Hanson
Alan Carney
as Referee
Gage Clarke
as Rev. Bosworth
Alan Hewitt
as Gen. Hotchkiss
Jack Mullaney
as Captain
Raymond Bailey
as Adm. Olmstead
Wendell Holmes
as Gen. Poynter
Don Ross
as Lenny
Charlie Briggs
as Sig
Leon Tyler
Wally Boag
as TV Newsman
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News & Interviews for The Absent-Minded Professor

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Critic Reviews for The Absent-Minded Professor

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (2)

Flubber provides fuel for a very funny piece of hyperbolic humor in the grand American tradition of Paul Bunyan, and Director Robert Stevenson and Scriptwriter Bill Walsh get plenty of bounce out of every ounce.

Mar 9, 2009 | Full Review…
TIME Magazine
Top Critic

MacMurray is ideally cast as the car-hopping prof, and plays the role with warmth and gusto.

Jun 4, 2007 | Full Review…
Variety
Top Critic

An amiable joke that I was sorry I hadn't brought a child to see.

Jul 17, 2018 | Full Review…
The Spectator

Family entertainment at its best.

Jan 2, 2011 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
Common Sense Media

This is a zanily inventive piece of work, with delightful special effects, which set the style for a long series of live-action Disney films.

Jun 4, 2007 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
TV Guide

Disney produces a goofy lightweight Mack Sennett-like family comedy fantasy film that's joyfully directed by Robert Stevenson.

Feb 11, 2007 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
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Audience Reviews for The Absent-Minded Professor

½

Full of charm and hard to dislike.

Marcus Woolcott
Marcus Woolcott

Super Reviewer

I liked this movie a lot compared to the remake with Robin Williams. This movie is cool, funny, and exciting. I really liked it and I recommend it over the new one.

Aj V
Aj V

Super Reviewer

Pretty darn good movie.

Leigh Ryan
Leigh Ryan

Super Reviewer

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