Flubber (franchise)

Last updated

Flubber
Flubber - official franchise logo.jpeg
Official franchise logo, released in 1997
Based onA Situation of Gravity by Samuel W. Taylor
Starring
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date
1961–1997
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$84,000,000
(total of 3 films)
Box office$225,488,045
(total of 3 films) [lower-alpha 1]

The Flubber (also known as The Absent-Minded Professor) franchise consists of American science-fiction-comedy films, with three theatrical releases, and two made-for-television films. The overall story is based on the short story, A Situation of Gravity, written by Samuel W. Taylor in 1943. The plot of the films center around an absent-minded college professor (with differing names and played by various actors depending on the adaptation), who works tirelessly to find the next great invention. The Professor wants to make scientific history, while working to save the school at which he works, the Medfield College.

Contents

The two original films, starring Fred MacMurray, were financially and critically well-received. Years later during the '80s, a made-for-television remake was released as a part of The Magical World of Disney series, with a sequel that followed soon thereafter. By 1997, a theatrical remake, with the story adjusted for then-modern time, was developed with Robin Williams in the starring role.

Though each film was a financial success, not all were critical successes. Critics called the remake "a total dud", [1] while others noted that the studio's attempt at relaunching the franchise resulted in "a cute, well-meaning, but ultimately disappointing movie". [2] Several critics noted the film's overuse of slapstick comedy. In 1999 the Flubber films, along with a number of other Disney film series, were expanded as a franchise into the Walt Disney Parks attraction with elements included from each film.

Films

Theatrical

FilmU.S.
release date
Director(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
The Absent-Minded Professor March 16, 1961 Robert Stevenson Bill Walsh Samuel W. Taylor Bill Walsh
Son of Flubber January 16, 1963Don DaGradi & Bill Walsh Walt Disney, and Bill Walsh
Flubber November 26, 1997 Les Mayfield John Hughes & Bill WalshJohn Hughes, and Ricardo Mestres

The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)

Professor Ned Brainard works endlessly in his lab, looking for the next greatest invention. His fiancée Betsy grows tired of being put second behind his experiments. Brainard forgets about their own wedding for the third time. However, he finds a scientific anomaly when he invents a revolutionary flying rubber, which he names Flubber. This substance proves to have various abilities. While he works to reconnect with Betsy, criminals led by Alonzo Hawk seek to steal his formula. [3]

Son of Flubber (1963)

Professor Ned Brainard, who experienced a series of misfortunes up until his invention of the super-elastic substance called Flubber, works to find the next scientific discovery. He hopes to have a better experience with a gravity-defying derivative he names, Flubbergas. When the government steps in to obstruct his work, his wife Betsy expresses her concern and displeasure with his experiments stating that they need a divorce. After a some alterations to his substance Brainard works to find the solution of his new invention, win back the confidence of his wife, resolve the government's concerns, and defeat the familiar nefarious acts of Alonzo Hawk. [4]

Flubber (1997)

A loose remake of The Absent-Minded Professor, the plot follows a similar outline.

Professor Philip Brainard experiments to find new sources of energy, believing that the project can strengthen the finances of Medfield College. His girlfriend SaraJean works as President of the college and tries to support his tireless work in his laboratory. When his work uncovers a lively, super-stretchy, rubber-like substance that he names Flubber, the professor is so excited he absent-mindedly forgets his own wedding. SaraJean dumps him for his apparent lack of prioritization, so Brainard sets to work in winning her back. In the meantime, he discovers that Flubber has a mind of its own, and has a mischievous nature. All the while, some villainous people seek to steal the newly discovered substance for their own gain. [5]

Television

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer(s)
Disney's The Absent Minded Professor November 27, 1988 Robert Scheerer Richard Chapman & Bill DialRic Rondell
Disney's The Absent Minded Professor:
Trading Places
February 26, 1989Robert Scheerer & Bob Sweeney Richard Chapman & Bill Dial

Disney's The Absent Minded Professor (1988)

Professor Henry Crawford, an absent-minded instructor at a college busily works in laboratory on various experiments. His girlfriend Ellie, grows frustrated when he repeatedly misses their dates and spends more time in his science lab than with her. One day Crawford makes an unprecedented discovery, in the form of rubber that defies gravity. The professor names the substance Flubber and hopes that he can prove he is a notable scientist, while also showing his love to his girlfriend. [6] [7]

Disney's The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places (1989)

Professor Henry Crawford is convinced by an ex-roommate and former colleague named Jack Brooker to switch professions. For the trade, Henry will go to work at the elusive Rhinebloom Labs and Jack will teach Henry's students. What Henry doesn't know is that Jack suspects that the lab may be involved in some illegal activity. When Henry tries investigate the situation through a computer, a virus named Albert is inadvertently released. The colleges discover that the program is a weapons system. Together, and with the help of Flubber, they work to stop the destructive software. [8] [9]

Principal cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

CharacterFilms
TheatricalTelevision
The Absent-Minded Professor Son of Flubber Flubber Disney's The Absent Minded Professor Disney's The Absent Minded Professor:
Trading Places
FlubberAppearedScott Martin Gershin V Appeared
Professor
Ned Brainard
Fred MacMurray
Professor Phillip Brainard Robin Williams
Professor
Henry Crawford
Harry Anderson
Elizabeth "Betsy" Carlisle-Brainard Nancy Olson
Professor
Shelby Ashton
Elliott Reid
Alonzo Hawk Keenan Wynn
A.J. Allen Ed Wynn
Defense Secretary Edward Andrews
Jeffrey Daggett Leon Ames
Sara Jean Reynolds-Brainard Marcia Gay Harden
Weebo Jodi Benson V
Leslie Stefanson
(as Sylvia)
WeebetteJulie Morrison V
Professor Wilson Croft Christopher McDonald
Chester Hoenicker Raymond J. Barry
Bennett Hoenicker Wil Wheaton
Smith Clancy Brown
Wesson Ted Levine
Ellen Whitley-Crawford Mary Page Keller
Dr. Jack Broker Ed Begley, Jr.
The HackerRon Fassler

Additional crew and production details

FilmCrew/Detail
ComposerCinematographerEditor(s)Production
companies
Distributing
companies
Running time
The Absent-Minded Professor George Bruns Edward Colman Cotton Warburton Walt Disney Productions Buena Vista Distribution Company 1hr 32mins
Son of Flubber 1hr 40mins
Disney's The Absent Minded Professor Tom Scott Isidore Mankofsky Tom Stevens & Jerry Temple Walt Disney Television,
Echo Cove Productions
Buena Vista Pictures,
Buena Vista Television
2hrs
Disney's The Absent Minded Professor:
Trading Places
John Massari information unavailableinformation unavailable The Walt Disney Company 1hr
Flubber Danny Elfman Dean Cundey Harvey Rosenstock & Michael A. Stevenson Walt Disney Pictures,
Great Oaks Entertainment
Buena Vista Pictures 1hr 33mins

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingBudgetRef.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll time
North America
All time
worldwide
The Absent-Minded Professor not availablenot available$25,381,407#3,123#4,309$2,000,000 [10] [11]
Son of Flubber not availablenot available$22,129,412#3,400#4,654$2,000,000 [12] [13] [14]
Disney's The Absent Minded Professornot available
Disney's The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Placesnot available
Flubber $92,977,226$85,000,000$177,977,226No. 814#1,111$80,000,000 [15] [16]
Totals≙$92,977,226≙$85,000,000225,488,045~x̄ #2,447 [lower-alpha 2] ~x̄ #3,358 [lower-alpha 3] $84,000,000

Critical and public response

FilmCriticalPublic
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
The Absent-Minded Professor82% (22 reviews) [17] 75 (5 reviews) [18]
Son of Flubber86% (7 reviews) [19]
Disney's The Absent Minded Professor
Disney's The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places
Flubber24% (34 reviews) [1] 37 (19 reviews) [20] B+ [21]

Theme park attraction

In 1999, the theme of Journey into Imagination was changed and re-titled to include Figment. The ride features Dr. Nigel Channing, from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!, who "hosts" an area known as the Imagination Institute. The story states that Channing's grandfather established the institute, while the area features references to Dr. Philip Brainard from Flubber, as well as Wayne Szalinski from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise and Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn's role in the Dexter Riley films). Walt Disney and Thomas Edison also make an appearance. [22] [23]

The Medfield College appears in the Flubber franchise as a primary location of plot events. The fictional college appears in two other Disney film franchises, including The Shaggy Dog, and the Dexter Riley film series, while Alonzo Hawk, the villain of the original Flubber films, appears in the second Herbie film, Herbie Rides Again . Collectively, the four separate film series take place within the same fictional universe. [24] [25] Additionally, the Merlin Jones film series take place at the in-universe sister-school, Midvale College, [26] while The World's Greatest Athlete is set at the related academic school of Merrivale College. [27]

FilmU.S. release dateDirectorScreenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
The Shaggy Dog film series
The Shaggy Dog March 19, 1959 Charles Barton Lillie Hayward & Bill WalshWalt Disney and Bill Walsh
The Shaggy D.A. December 17, 1976Robert StevensonDon Tait Bill Anderson
The Return of the Shaggy Dog November 1, 1987 Stuart Gillard Paul Haggis & Diane WilkHarvey Marks
The Shaggy Dog March 10, 2006 Brian Robbins Cormac Wibberley & Marianne Wibberley
and Geoff Rodkey
and Jack Amiel & Michael Begler
David Hoberman and Tim Allen
Merlin Jones film series
The Missadventures of Merlin Jones February 11, 1964Robert Stevenson Tom August & Helen August Bill WalshWalt Disney and Ron Miller
The Monkey's Uncle August 18, 1965Tom August & Helen August
Dexter Riley film series
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes December 31, 1969 Robert Butler Joseph L. McEveetyBill Anderson
Now You See Him, Now You Don't July 12, 1972Joseph L. McEveetyRobert L. King Ron Miller
The Strongest Man in the World February 6, 1975 Vincent McEveety Joseph L. McEveety & Herman GrovesBill Anderson
Other films
The World's Greatest Athlete February 1, 1973 Robert Scheerer Dee Caruso
and Gerald Gardner
Bill Walsh

Notes

  1. These figures are based on the available numbers for the theatrical films. Though there are a total five movies, there is no financial information publicly available for the made-for-television films.
  2. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.
  3. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.

Related Research Articles

William Crozier Walsh was a film producer, screenwriter and comics writer who primarily worked on live-action films for Walt Disney Productions. He was born in New York City. For his work on Mary Poppins, he shared Academy Award nominations for Best Picture with Walt Disney, and for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium with Don DaGradi. He also wrote the Mickey Mouse comic strip for more than two decades.

<i>Flubber</i> (film) 1997 film by Les Mayfield

Flubber is a 1997 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and written by Hughes and Bill Walsh. A remake of The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), the film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and stars Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald, Ted Levine, Raymond J. Barry, Wil Wheaton, and Clancy Brown with Jodi Benson providing a voice. The film grossed $178 million worldwide and received negative reviews from critics. In selected theaters, the Pepper Ann episode "Old Best Friend" was featured before the film.

<i>The Absent-Minded Professor</i> 1961 film by Robert Stevenson

The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on the 1943 short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor. The title character was based in part on Hubert Alyea, a professor emeritus of chemistry at Princeton University, who was known as "Dr. Boom" for his explosive demonstrations. The film stars Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard, alongside Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid, and Edward Andrews. The plot follows Brainard as he invents a substance that defies gravity, which he later exploits through various means.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Olson</span> American actress

Nancy Ann Olson is an American retired actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Sunset Boulevard (1950). She co-starred with William Holden in four films, and later appeared in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and its sequel, Son of Flubber (1963), as well as the disaster film Airport 1975 (1974). Olson retired from acting in the mid-1980s, although she has made a few rare returns, most recently in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Journey into Imagination with Figment</span> Dark ride attraction

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<i>The Shaggy D.A.</i> 1976 film directed by Robert Stevenson

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Bruns</span> American composer

George Edward Bruns was an American composer of music for film and television. His accolades include four Academy Award nominations and three Grammy Award nominations. He is mainly known for his compositions for numerous Disney films from the 1950s to the 1970s, among them Sleeping Beauty (1959), One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967), The Love Bug (1968), The Aristocats (1970), and Robin Hood (1973).

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Medfield may refer to:

<i>Son of Flubber</i> 1963 film by Robert Stevenson

Son of Flubber is a 1963 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is the sequel to The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and the first sequel to a Disney film. Fred MacMurray reprises his role from the previous film as Ned Brainard, a scientist who has perfected a high-bouncing substance, Flubber, that can levitate an automobile and cause athletes to bounce into the sky. In addition to MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Ed Wynn, Elliott Reid, and Tommy Kirk also co-star, reprising their roles from the previous film.

Flubber may refer to:

<i>Now You See Him, Now You Dont</i> 1972 film by Robert Butler

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<i>The Strongest Man in the World</i> 1975 film by Vincent McEveety

The Strongest Man in the World is a 1975 American science fiction comedy film directed by Vincent McEveety, produced by Walt Disney Productions, and starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn and Eve Arden. It was the third and final film in Dexter Riley series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliott Reid</span> American actor (1920–2013)

Edgeworth Blair "Elliott" Reid was an American actor.

<i>Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</i> (franchise) American media franchise

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<i>The Shaggy Dog</i> (franchise) American media franchise

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<i>Dexter Riley</i> 1969 American film

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The Witch Mountain franchise consists of American science fiction fantasy-action adventure films, produced by The Walt Disney Company. Based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key, the films deal with extraterrestrial children on Earth seeking to return to their home planet, while antagonists attempt to foil their escape. The franchise includes both theatrical and made-for-television releases.

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  21. "CinemaScore". CinemaScore . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
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