The Absent-Minded Professor is directed by Robert Stevenson and adapted to screenplay by Bill Walsh from a story by Samuel W. Taylor. It stars Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olsen, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames and Elliott Reid. Music is by George Bruns and cinematography by Edward Colman.

Out of Disney, we get the kind of wacky family friendly comedy that serves a purpose on a miserable real life day. MacMurray's professor has invented flying - gravity defying - rubber, which he christens Flubber. It can make you bounce up to incredible heights, make the prof's car fly and naturally it draws the attention of evil business man Alonzo Hawk (Wynn). A bunch of nutty scenarios ensue (the basketball match is a pure joy) and the prof has to win back the girl he keeps forgetting to marry (a radiant Olson). It's a creative piece of writing and it saw Disney take note for continued success in live action pictures. 7/10

I saw "The Absent Minded Professor" when I was a kid and enjoyed it. Now, about 40 years later, I decided to watch it again....and find out if as an adult whether or not I'd enjoy this early Disney live-action film. Well, surprisingly, I did!

The film stars Fred MacMurray as a strange professor who's created a strange anti-gravity substance called 'flubber'. But the problem is no one believes him...even after he easily proves it during a basketball game as well at the school dance. Part of the problem is that everyone is stupid. The other is that the evil Mr. Hawk (Keenan Wynn) is out to discredit him so that he can steal the secrets for himself.

This is clearly a film that works best if you can just turn off your brain and enjoy the picture...something I was able to do. But cynics might thing it a bit silly....I sure didn't. I think it also helped that despite advances over the years in technology, the simple Disney special effects work well...even today. Clever and fun...a nice family film for everyone...except for the cynics and teenagers (I am being redundant here).

By the way, if you enjoy this film, try Ray Milland's "It Happens Every Spring"...a film that no doubt inspired "The Absent Minded Professor".

While the film may be a little too short and it occasionally is a little slow, it is still very entertaining. In general, the film does look very nice indeed and the special effects are fun and interesting especially with Flubber and the car. The soundtrack is infectious too, while not consistently hilarious The Absent Minded Professor is always very amusing, with some funny scripting and especially the classic scene at the basketball game. The storyline is interesting too, Fred McMurray is perfect in the lead role and Nancy Olson is appealing. Overall, very entertaining film and much better than the very mediocre 1997 film. 8/10 Bethany Cox