MovieChat Forums > The Absent Minded Professor (1961) Discussion > More perfection from MacMurray

More perfection from MacMurray

posted 19 years ago by misspaddylee
5 replies | jump to latest

This well-remembered comedy was on a continuous showing loop on a local channel a couple of years ago and my young son couldn't get enough of it. As I was laid up with a cold I couldn't and didn't object to the many viewings. I realized during this marathon MY GOD, HE'S INVENTED FLUBBER. MacMurray as Neddy the Nut really believed he invented flubber and so did I. So I started thinking about every movie I'd ever seen Fred MacMurray in from "The Egg and I" to "The Apartment" and, by golly, he was always perfect, always the character. Acting without showing us he's acting. That's what the job is all about and Fred MacMurray did his job well.

[–] ijonesiii 19 years ago

I am a big fan of this film as well and, like you, could not get enough of it as a kid. I like what you said about MacMurray...his acting is completely effortless and you never catch him "acting." I don't think he was ever as appealing onscreen as he was in this film. Love it.

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

I agree This movie along with "Follow Me Boys" about the Boy Scouts alway are make me feel good Movies.

[–] virgiltx 16 years ago

This was a fairly silly movie story and couldn't possibly have succeeded without Fred MacMurray's performance. The movie was all his.

[–] w22nuschler 16 years ago

I once heard Leonard Maltin say Fred never made a bad movie and it's true. Son of Flubber is his best Disney movie, followed by Absent Minded Professor & Follow Me Boys. Shaggy Dog was a solid film, but his character was too grouchy. His best film ever is Murder, He Says. It's the best black comedy ever made!

And who could forget 12 years of My 3 Sons. He the the most rounded, moral, straight forward father figure in history. What a positive influence in my life.

[–] jdown-1 14 years ago

Yes, there aren't many actors who could effortlessly play the lead role in both The Absent Minded Professor and Double Endemnity!