The Absent-Minded Professor
The most amazing discovery since laughter!
1961 • 96 min • Comedy · Family · Science Fiction
Synopsis
Bumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible material that gains energy every time it strikes a hard surface. It allows for the invention of shoes that can allow jumps of amazing heights and enables a modified Model-T to fly. Unfortunately, no one is interested in the material except for Alonzo Hawk, a corrupt businessman who wants to steal the material for himself.
Our family guide
Best from age 6- 100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
- 66 Audience · 203 · 49%
An absent-minded professor invents "Flubber," a gravity-defying material. This leads to hilarious chaos and a battle against a greedy businessman trying to steal the invention for himself. It’s a classic, lighthearted comedy with creative gadgets.
- Violence & peril
- 1/10
- Language
- 0/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 1/10
Heads up
- Some slapstick comedy involving falls and minor tumbles.
- A greedy businessman tries to trick the professor, which could be upsetting to young viewers.
What it models well
- Ingenuity and creativity
- Perseverance in the face of setbacks
- The importance of integrity
Talk about it after
- The difference between right and wrong when someone wants something you have.
- How Professor Brainard uses his intelligence to solve problems.
- What makes Flubber so special and how it defies expectations.
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Absent-Minded Professor. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
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Top billed cast
Director: Robert Stevenson • Crew: Bill Walsh, Samuel W. Taylor
Trailers & clips
The Absent Minded Professor Promo (BYUtv)
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersAn amusing film regarding Professor Brainard, a character I've always associated with Robin Williams having seen the 1997 remake first back when I was younger. Fred MacMurray plays the aforementioned in this, the original. He is pleasing here, giving a more than satisfying performance - even if it is pretty similar to the one he gives in <em>'The Shaggy Dog'</em> back in 1959.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersSubstance X, we dub thee - Flubber! 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.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 6.6/10 (203)
- Age rating
- G
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $2,000,000
- Franchise
- Flubber Collection
- IMDb
- tt0054594
