The Absent Minded Professor 1961

Professor Brainard, portrayed by Fred MacMurray, is an absent-minded but brilliant professor of physical chemistry at Medfield College. In a moment of inspiration, he creates a peculiar green substance that surprisingly gains energy upon hitting a hard surface. This remarkable discovery follows some complex calculations involving a minor adjustment to an equation related to enthalpy, which leads him to name his invention ‘Flubber’—a playful blend of “flying rubber.” However, in the midst of his excitement, he heartbreakingly misses his own wedding to Betsy Carlisle, played by Nancy Olson, marking the third time this occurs.

The story unfolds with several engaging subplots. One involves another professor attempting to win over the disheartened Betsy. Meanwhile, Biff Hawk, portrayed by Tommy Kirk, struggles for eligibility in basketball due to failing Brainard’s class. Meanwhile, Alonzo Hawk, played by Keenan Wynn, devises crafty schemes to exploit Flubber for personal gain while the college grapples with financial crises, including debts owed to Mr. Hawk himself. Throughout this rollercoaster of events, Brainard seeks interest from the government and the military regarding potential applications for his miraculous invention.

In a comical twist, Shelby Ashton, portrayed by Elliott Reid, who harbors feelings for Betsy, faces his own light-hearted revenge at the hands of the oblivious Professor. In one hilarious scene, Brainard bounces atop Shelby’s car, leading to an unexpected accident with a police vehicle, where he has to endure a field sobriety test.

As Brainard attempts to attract investors for Flubber, he energetically demonstrates the bouncing properties of his creation. However, his lengthy pitch results in most audience members leaving before they even witness the ball’s impressive bounce. In a more successful exhibition, he astounds onlookers by transforming a Model T automobile into a flying vehicle by subjecting it to Flubber enhanced with radioactive particles.

A string of misadventures follows as Brainard cleverly uses Flubber to enhance the jumping abilities of basketball players during a crucial game and even excels in dance at a school event. Alonzo Hawk soon conspires to humiliate the professor by switching his car with one containing unwieldy animals, intending to prove Flubber is a hoax to government officials. In a dramatic turn, Brainard’s ingenuity leads him to outsmart Hawk, who ends up being tackled by a football team after a testing mishap involving Flubber.

Eventually, the eccentric Professor retrieves his old Model T, only for a series of comedic events to lead to Hawk’s arrest for possession of a firearm after a chaotic encounter with a police vehicle. With persistence, Brainard ultimately demonstrates his groundbreaking invention to the government, overcoming a prior scare from a flying missile. In a heartwarming conclusion, he finally wins back Betsy, culminating in a long-awaited wedding celebration.