The original, 1961 version of
The Absent-Minded Professor is bound to be a hundred times funnier than the bland remake,
Flubber. Fred MacMurray is charming as the eccentric college professor who discovers a gooey substance with sustainable energy. Everything about this movie clicks in a way
Flubber didn't, particularly the effort by director Robert Stevenson (a Disney favorite who made
Mary Poppins,
That Darn Cat,
Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and many other hits for the studio) to create comic tension between MacMurray's gentlemanly performance and the slapstick set pieces. The famous basketball scene (in which some of the players don't realize they have flubber on the soles of their shoes) is perfectly choreographed and exceptionally funny for kids.
--Tom Keogh
1 a great funny Disney film
"The Absent Minded Professor," is a truly classic Disney film. I'd highly recommend it too anyone that loves disney films or comedy. It's for kids and adults alike. Personally I think it looks great in color and very good in black and white too. The color version is interesting too see what colors things were. Fred McMurry is really funny and a great comedian in it. It's a really interesting film and full of laughs. With him inventing flubber it has a really neat scientific as well as science fiction theme.
2 A Milestone In Film Making
When this film was made in 1961, a material almost identical to Flubber was being developed by NASA for the Gemini Space Program. To avoid a threat to our national security, the release of "The Absent-Minded Professor" was delayed for six months until Walt Disney agreed to delete two scenes showing Fred MacMurray discussing its applications and uses. The missing scenes have been restored in magnificent color, and the movie seems to have a better flow than the theatrical version.
3 Classic Disney Fun
This movie lacks the special effects of current movies, and it may be hard for today's youth to relate to it, but it's a lovely bit of nostalgia that has stood the test of time. I was born more than 20 years after this movie was made, but I take delight in Fred MacMurray, who always puts his heart into a performance, but does a particularly nice job here as Professor Ned Brainard. He portrays the role spledidly and brings enthusiasm and inoccence to the character.
You can also find stellar performances from the supporting cast. Disney has always had a nack for establishing minor characters so that you get sucked into their world, and all of these people become real.
When watching this movie you have to take into consideration the era it was made in, and the limits they had to work with, if you go into it looking for special effects you will be sorely dissapointed. Instead watch it with a certain degree of imagination at the ready, and have fun rooting for Professor Brainard as he tries to win back his lady-love and displaying his true American Patriotism, and still finding time to outsmart the villains. The rivalry between Ned and Shelby Ashton is highly entertaining, and you'll laugh out loud when watching Alonzo Hawk get his come-upance.
I never had the opportunity to see the black and white version, but I think it would be the better alternative. The colorization in this VHS version is rather obvious and somewhat distracting, but it doesn't detract from the content of the movie itself, and the film is still highly enjoyable.
4 The "flying-rubber-professor" film in its original form.
If ever there were a film that took a silly idea and milked every possible gag out of it, this is it. Four stars as a film, but five stars for being a classic.
The "science-fiction comedy" is a movie genre with few entries. (I'm thinking of films in which an SF premise and its development is the film's focal point. "Back to the Future," for example, doesn't count.) I can think of only two significant others -- "It Happens Every Spring," in which Ray Milland synthesizes a chemical that repels wood (don't ask), and "The Man in the White Suit," the classic-but-not-really-very-good Alec Guinness vehicle in which his invention of an indestructible, never-needs-cleaning fabric threatens to ruin the clothing industry.
Disney continued the genre with "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" and "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes," but none of them is remotely as good as "The Absent Minded Professor." It's a classic of visual humor. Not only is there the famous flying Model T, but the professor's attempts to woo his ex-fiance by dancing in flubber-heeled shoes, and a flubber-enhanced basketball game that's an encylopaedia of "What can you do with flying basketball players?" gags. Style-wise, this classic sequence looks as if it were lifted directly from MAD.
Bill Walsh's smart script has some good satirical jabs ("I hear Medfield's athletes make as much as their teachers") and they hold up. One of the best anticipates Congress's destruction in "Mars Attacks!" And the professor's attempt to prove he's a loyal, patriotic American cuts even more sharply today than it did 40+ years ago.
One of the few good things about Disney comedies is that almost all the secondary roles are populated with talented character actors -- Keenan Wynn (who'd repeat his Alonzo Hawk villain in other Disney flicks), Ed Wynn (his father), Elliott Reid (at his greasy, pompous best). Special kudos go to Belle Montrose (Steve Allen's mother! -- note the resemblance) as the professor's housekeeper.
Nancy Olson -- an Oscar-winner for "Sunset Blvd." -- delivers a smart, heads-up performance that falls apart only when she stops being mad at Fred MacMurry and becomes a bit of a bubble-head.
Robert Stevenson (grandson of Robert Louis Stevenson) had a directorial career ("Jane Eyre") before he became a Disney house director, but I've never thought much of his talent ("Mary Poppins" is slack and sluggish). "The Absent Minded Professor" shows him at his best -- brisk and light, almost as weightless as flubber renders the Model T.
"The Absent Minded Professor" was shot in B&W, because the special effects were too difficult (and too expensive) to do well in color. Had Disney known what a major hit TAMP would be (it played first-run for months), he might have sprung for color. The previous attempt to colorize it was a disaster.
We finally have this little gem in its original form -- an exquisite B&W enhanced-widescreen transfer. (Amazon editor -- please have the negative reviews for the awful colorized version moved or removed. These are fundamentally different releases.) The rich blacks and sharp detail are outstanding -- far superior to even the old LV release. This is close-to-demo-quality B&W.
5 credit where credit is due : IT IS WIDESCREEN !!!!!
Credit where credit is due : IT IS WIDESCREEN !!!!!
Its worth mentioning that disney has honored this film by releasing it in its true format, it is both black and white and widescreen.
Absolute classic disney comedy!! Very nostalgic,the special effects were seamless especially for the time period. Robert Stevenson directed this film, which is worth noting as many of the films he directed for disney were the most outstanding, inc Mary Poppins and The Love Bug. Pure Disney nostalgia.
6 Flubber professor in its B&W glory
Somehow, the people in amazon mixed reviews from the B&W version and the colorized version of this film... this is causing some confusion between some consumers, so, this is a review from the B&W version.
Some time ago, Disney Company releases this movie in Full Screen and colorized... a lot of people complained because nobody (except, perhaps my mom)wants colorized version of movies in B&W; recently, they re-released it in its original form (B&W and Widescreen)
Video: Amazing!! I can't believe that this movie is almost 50th years old!, you can't notice any age related issues (stripes, grain, etc), just look perfect.
Sound: Very good, and with Dolby Surround.
Extras: D'uh!, nothing, nada, zip, zippola! :(
Foreign language support: Not very good... in the audio section, it contains English and Spanish Track... subtitles just in english.
Conclusion: If you like this movie, you'll love the transfer (and at least, there is a Spanish track for those that speak in this language)... if you are looking for this movie because the extras, better wait, because you'll get frustrated by this disc.
7 Yes, it has a Spanish language track
Someone at Disney must be paying attention! The earlier release of a colorized, full-screen version of this film was a big mistake. The color added nothing to the movie, and the cropping of the image spoiled several scenes, particularly those involving the officers from the three armed services. But the new version corrects those defects.
And in answer to the Mexican reviewer's query, this version does have a Spanish language track.
8 Great movie, lacks of information
It's great that Disney released this movie in its original aspect ratio and color, but, somebody knows if this release has Spanish subtitles? (or the Spanish audio track like the colorized version).
I searched in a lot of pages, and i can't find a review of this release.
9 BEST COLORIZED MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN !!!!
This is by far the best colorized movie I have ever seen.....aside from MIRACLE ON 34th STREET. The only complaint I have is that why did Disney make Flubber purple? Many people associate FLUBBER with the gooey GREEN substance found in the 1997 re-make wiht Robin Williams. Disney could re-release this color version with a GREEN flubber.....
10 An excellent version of a classic
The original Absent-Minded Professor is the best, Fred MacMurray is perfect as the inventor of "Flubber". I am writing this review in defence of this the colorized version of a classic, black & white movie. The colors are rich, vibrant and above all natural looking - forget the colorization of the early 80s, this is digital colorization and if you didn't already know the film was originally black & white you wouldn't be able to tell!
The only mistake Disney made was releasing this before the original black & white version, however with dvd technology they should have brought out both versions on a double sided dvd like "A Christmas Carol" was. However, the black & white movie is now available in a widescreen dvd version.
This is a wonderful, color version of a great family movie.
11 I Knew Disney Would Do [This!!!]
Kudos to Walt Disney Studios for releasing this movie in the way it was conceived by Walt Disney himself; in glorious B&W AND in its Original Aspect Ratio. Walt Disney was a hands-on man dedicated to making movies of superior quality and accuracy. Aside, this movie is just a pure delight for all. The earlier Colorized, Full Screen release should have been a later alternative for those who desire such specs. Hopefully this is a sign that the BUYING public has been finally heard. All the of the live action Disney treasures should be treated equally so. Hopefully no future Disney classic will "Natty Ganned" ever again. I guess we'll see.
12 It could have been done so much better.......
I agree whole heartedly with the other reviewers. This movie is a minor classic for the Disney Studios and they treat it like this? Why would you bother to colourize this movie...it is a B&W movie...keep it is such. Please scrap this release and re-do it. A suggestion is a double DVD package with both this movie and its sequel, Son of Flubber. Each DVD should have some archive extras as well as a newly produced retrospective look back at these movies. How about including Donald Duck's "Modern Inventions" short? Disney did brilliant work with, Old Yeller, Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and Swiss Family Robinson DVD releases...but treats this movie in such a second rate manor?
The live Disney pictures are adored by millions around the world. The DVD releases of these movies should be given the greatest respect when it comes to packaging...and pleeeeease...no more colourization.
13 What a SHAME!
I hate colorization. This film is the poster child for not colorizing. Not only should it have been kept original, for all the reasons others have mentioned, but the person who did this should be let go. This has to be the worst colorization (destruction) of a wonderful classic film I have ever witnessed. Try Try again. Only this time dont mess with perfection. If it aint broke, PLEASE DONT FIX IT.
14 What a mess of a DVD release..
I saw this movie upon its theatrical premier. It ran for about three months (!) at my local cinema. It was a comedy masterpiece in its era. So _why_ did Disney mess it up by not presenting it in its original widescreen format, and not in its original (Academy Award-winning) black-&-white photography?
This release is truly a disgrace. The present Disney Company is, in my opinion, likewise a disgrace to Walt Disney and his high standards.
I cannot recommend this film in its present version. I suggest that Disney fans and general buyers wait for a release that is true to the film.
15 Why did they Colorize this movie ?
When I started watching this movie I was struck by the number of people who had beautiful blue eyes and then I realized it wasn't real. There really aren't that many people with beautiful blue eyes without being colorized. This film won a academy award for black and white cinematography. Oh well, it's been colorized now. It's a shame.
16 Walt would not be happy
The screen makes me give it at least one star. This does not even deserve that.
Waste of time and money. Why ? This film was shot in 1.75:1 (widescreen). Please show it in that. This film was an Academy Awardå¨ Nominee (1962) -- Best Art Direction, Set Decoration, Black and White -- Carroll Clark, Hal Gausman, Emile Kuri. Why colorize an Oscar Nominee ?
Try again Mike. Do it the way Walt would have wanted it.
17 WHY DISNEY WHY.... :(
A classic movie completely ruined on DVD. Thanks for nothing, please try again and try and preserve the movie the way it was.
18 Disney should be embarrassed
This movie is almost unwatchable because it is not in widescreen format. There are numerous scenes where two people are talking and you see less than half of each person's face. Every scene is arbitrarily cropped. It's not even pan and scan! The other issue is colorization. I would have much preferred black and white, but I can live with the artificial color. YMMV.
19 DON'T BUY THIS IF YOU DON'T LIKE "COLORIZED" MOVIES
This is the "COLORIZED" version of this Disney film that they butchered by in the 1980's for the Disney TV channel. Disney must think that all their customers are adolescents and kids who don't know the difference, WRONG!
I picked this up to buy in the store, saw that it was colorized, and immediately put it down. I will NOT support butchering of films. If Disney wants to release the COLORIZED version, fine, do it, but release the BLACK AND WHITE one as well for us purists who want them as originally intended.
BAD, BAD, BAD, HOUSE OF MOUSE choice here. Hope they get rid of their head of DVD development. He/she must have been born in the 1980's!!!!
20 How To Ruin A Classic Movie--The Disney Method
I was so excited to buy this DVD. I was expecting widescreen and original black and white. This would have preserved the presentation the film was meant to be seen in. I already own the video release from several years ago (pan and scan but thankfully black and white) and I never expected the new DVD to actually be WORSE than the video. I can only hope that Disney learns something from all of the unhappy customers out there and re-release this DVD in its proper form. Warner Brothers finally did the right thing with WILLIE WONKA, so I think that there is hope. Why own a DVD player or an HDTV if DVDs are released pan and scan?
21 no widescreen, no extras
So much for the wonders that the DVD format (at the dvd price) can do for your viewing pleasure. Disney has taken a wonderful gem of a movie and colorized it, which is bad enough. But they alos cut off the edges and made it into standard vhs fare, no widescreen. Also no extras and Disney has a ton of great goodies in the vault for this movie. What ashame they rushed this into the arket to make a quick buck. So may people bought this and did not know until too late it was not widescreen, so be warned.
The movie itself is a gem and I seperately reviewed the vhs version. I will keep my old vhs copy for now, and boycott buying any films that disney treats like this. They can do good when they try, see some great disney widescreen fils for sale here at Amazon[.com] such as "Old Yeller", "Swiss Family Robinson" Pollyanna", "The Parent Trap", and some animated gems as well. Also the Disney Treasures are a nice collection as well.
22 Colorized and "Pan and Scan" DVD - what was Disney thinking?
I was very excited about purchasing this DVD until I read that it was colorized and "pan and scan" (i.e., not the original theatrical aspect ratio). Disney must think its customers are eight year olds.
Be forwarned: "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit," which came out the same day as A-MP, is also "pan and scan." What a disappointment.
23 A Family Classic Worth Having
I am very glad that Disney has released some more of its family classics on DVD and have included this witty comedy. Fred MacMurray is very good in his role as the absent-minded professor who is so busy with his invention that he forgets to go to his own wedding! The comical results that follow make for an excellent story. The colourizing really adds to the film, but be prepared to overlook a couple of small detail errors in the colourization. It is also disappointing that this one along with the other releases (The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Gus, The Horse in the Gray-Flannel Suit, and The Moon-Spinners) are not widescreen which would have added so much more to their enjoyment. These were apparently low-budget releases by Disney, as this film does not have much in terms of extra features. It does have both English and Spanish language tracks, and English closed captioning and subtitles for the hearing impaired. It's worth buying though and the picture quality is very good as you would expect from DVD. I hope Disney releases more classics like this one.
24 1 Star for this version 5 Star for the memories
Why do they still do it? Colourize movies that is. I remembered this movie from my childhood days and loved it ever since. Occasionally seeing it on TV still gives me pleasure. I bought the DVD and only after getting it home I found out it has been colourized. It went back to the store for a refund immediately mainly for that reason. Another minor reason, it is not widescreen. Poor judgement on Disney's part. I refuse to buy anything colourized. What would you do if they colourized "It's a Wonderful Life or High Noon or Psycho" Would you watch it? No one in their right mind would.
25 1 Star for this version 5 Star for the memories
Why do they still do it? Colorize movies that is. I remembered this movie from my childhood days and loved it ever since. Occasionally seeing it on TV still gives me pleasure. I bought the DVD and only after getting it home I found out it has been colourized. It went back to the store for a refund immediately mainly for that reason. Another minor reason it is not widescreen. Poor judgement on Disney's part. I refuse to buy anything colourized. What would you do if they colourized "It's a Wonderful Life or High Noon or Psycho" Would you watch it? No one in their right mind would.
26 A Disney Classic of High-Flying Fun!
Walt Disney's 1961 live-action comedy "The Absent-Minded Professor" gets the DVD treatment and although the film itself is a gem, the DVD producers were a little "absent-minded" in their execution. To be true to its original theatrical presentation the film needs to be presented in widescreen format and in its original hues of glorious black and white.
Disney Home Video needs to discover a happy balance between targeting the general "kid" audience and the mature film fans. The recent "Back to the Future" DVD accomplishes this task beautifully - - without insulting either audience. It seems to me that Disney doesn't have a great deal of respect for many of its classic live-action films when it comes to DVD. Although "Pollyanna," Swiss Family Robinson" and "The Parent Trap" received very nice treatments, "Babes in Toyland" and "Blackbeard's Ghost" were just downright slapped-together and thrown on the shelf (why wasn't "Babes in Toyland" presented in widescreen and stereo?)
So, par for the course, there are no extras whatsoever on the DVD version of "The Absent-Minded Professor," which is a shame. Disney has plenty of material in the vaults to give this film at least a moderate special treatment. Granted, it's not a masterpiece like "Mary Poppins," but it's at least deserving of equal DVD treatment to modern films like "The Santa Clause" and "The Rookie."
Aside from that, stick any fun-loving child or nostalgic baby-boomer in front of this film and they will be thoroughly entertained. The casting is perfect, the effects still hold-up and the script is charming. For any faults this film might have, it is still far superior to ill-fated and very un-funny "Flubber," starring Robin Williams.
27 What are the Movie Studios thinking!
This DVD is a full framed, colorized version of a black and white film.
Someday when widescreen is the mainstream broadcast available (DTV mandated by FCC by 2007 timeframe) and most of us viewers have switched to new 16:9 televisions; movie watchers will have to be buy another copy of these movies in widescreen format all over again. Boy those movie studios sure know how to keep getting that money out of our pockets. It is sad that the movie studios are slowly destroying the DVD format.
And colorizing the film is silly. Seeing the smooth tones of a black and white film is part of the enjoyment of old films.
We want our DVD movies in there original format!
28 Sad day for DVD.
Not only is this and many of the other live action DVDs released by Disney in January of 2003 being butchered to full frame instead of shown in their original widescreen ratio, but this movie is also being released in a colorized version.
I thought we learned in the 80's just how evil colorization is, but I guess Disney hasn't learned. Avoid this horrible version at all costs and pray Disney learns how to properly release DVDs.
29 Not widescreen
This DVD, along with the other Disney releases this month, (Moon Spinners, Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, etc.) is only being released in fullscreen, *not* anamorphic widescreen...
30 5 stars for the memories and 4 stars for quality
Fred MacMurray plays the likeable, yet absent-minded chemistry professor of a small cash-strapped college. He goes from misadventure to misadventure as he first discovers and then tries to make good on his invention to save the college (a tried and true theme of many of Disney's family films).
Along the way we cheer Fred as he tries to help the home team win, repair his romance with the college president's secretary, and improve the quality of life for everyone on earth! A tall bill to fill? Yes. Does he pull it off...well, watch and see.
If you are looking for clean, fun entertainment for the whole family, give this movie a look. Sure the special effects are outdated, but the storyline is fun. It doesn't have the high-tech FX of Eddie Murphy's version, but you have to love Fred's flying Model T, and the basketball team's surprise performance. Flubber to the rescue!
5 stars for fun and memories, 4 stars for quality. I agree that this was better in B/W, but colorized it is still a fun romp.
31 Colorization Should Be Outlawed!
This film was a touchstone of my childhood, as I'm sure it was for many of my generation. Harmless fun for the whole family and vastly superior to the Robin Williams version. Having said that, I MUST say that colorizing movies is a real travesty. I'm sure most have heard the arguments against it so I won't bore you by getting on my soapbox. Suffice to say, "Leave them alone!" My four stars are for the film, NOT this version. Of course, the colorizing doesn't make it a BAD film; it's just unnecessary.
32 Can't be duplicated
I ordered this because the newer version with Eddie Murphy is funny, but I wanted my children to view the original film. At first they were hesitant, but the charm of McMurray and his co-actors won them over. A must have movie for family night.
