About The Absent-Minded Professor

The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American comic science fiction family film directed by Robert Stevenson. The plot revolves around a brilliant but forgetful professor, Ned Brainard, who invents a substance that can float in the air and defy gravity - he calls this "Flubber".

The professor gets so engrossed in experimenting with Flubber that he misses his own wedding, angering his fiancée, Dr. Sara Reynolds. The film encompasses the hilarity that ensues as he uses Flubber to improve the performance of the college basketball team, attract the attention of the government, and win back Sara's heart.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. It marked Robert Stevenson's first major box office success after joining Disney. Filming took place at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Actors

• Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard - Fred wonderfully embodied the eccentric and befuddled professor who was more interested in his formulas and experiments than anything else.
• Nancy Olson as Dr. Sara Reynolds - Nancy played the patient but disappointed fiancée who still holds a tender spot for the scatter-brained professor.
• Tommy Kirk as Biff Hawk - Tommy perfectly portrayed the college student and basketball team member who becomes an initial test subject for the Flubber experiments.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie inspired two sequels: Son of Flubber (1963) and a 1997 remake titled Flubber, starring Robin Williams.
• The word "Flubber" became so popular that it entered the American vernacular as a term for a gaffe or a blunder.

Awards

The Absent-Minded Professor was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Special Effects.

Quotes

• "Medfield's team lost today... but they'll win tomorrow. I'll stake my life on it!" - Professor Ned Brainard
• "Why, yes. I've, uh, missed you. I've... missed me too!" - Professor Ned Brainard

Music, Soundtrack

• The Absent-Minded Professor features music by George Bruns with orchestrations by Walter Sheets. The film does not have any typical songs, but the orchestral background music adds delightfully to the comedic atmosphere of the film.