A timid chemistry teacher discovers a magical potion that can transform him into a suave and handsome womanizer.A timid chemistry teacher discovers a magical potion that can transform him into a suave and handsome womanizer.A timid chemistry teacher discovers a magical potion that can transform him into a suave and handsome womanizer.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
- Gym Attendant
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This original "Nutty Professor" is heartwarming and funny without offensive language and double-meaning visuals. It is far superior to its 1990s Eddie Murphy remake. Especially for a juvenile audience, Lewis beats Murphy by a mile!
Enjoyable film with characters genuine and sympathetic , it is plenty of humor , tongue-in-cheek , side-splitting sight gags and amusement . Jerry Lewis is top-notch playing a double role as the timid , meek professor turned into a dashing debonair , slim playboy type with an irresistible attraction . It was widely believed at the time that the Nutty Professor's sleazy alter ego, Buddy Love, was a satirical swipe at Jerry Lewis's longtime partner, Dean Martin . The picture results to be a parody and comic variation based on the classic novel ¨Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde¨ by Robert Louis Stevenson . According to one of the trailers for this film, Jerry Lewis urges you to see this picture from the beginning, on penalty of losing your popcorn privileges , this spoofs Alfred Hitchcock's dictum that Psycho had to be seen from the beginning and his insistence that no latecomers be seated . In the co-starring role stands out Stella Stevens , surely the most gorgeous girl any professor ever had . Furthermore , watch rapidly to Henry Gibson in his film debut , Richard Kiel , Celeste Yarnall , and William Smith . The motion picture was produced by , directed by , and starred by Jerry Lewis , at his best . Colorful and shimmer cinematography in Technicolor by Walter Kelley . Catching musical score by Walter Scharf , including various songs sung by Jerry Lewis and special intervention of Les Brown orchestra directed by Les Brown .
It's remade in 1996 as ¨Nutty professor¨ by Tom Shadyac with Jada Pinkett Smith and Edddie Murphy who takes a swig of his own secret formula and is transformed into the suave buddy ; and its sequel (2000) by Peter Segal again with Eddie Murphy and Janet Jackson .
Having said that, I am a confirmed hater of Jerry Lewis films. I find them sophomoric and excruciatingly bad, and each one has the same basic plot: Jerry Lewis' character is introduced, then he proceeds to stumble through the rest of the movie.
I'll make an exception for this film; it is the one winner out of all of Lewis' losers. The plot has been described in detail here, but it's basically the Jekyll-Hyde plot placed in a college circa 1963, where nerdy chemistry professor Jerry yearns for the love of one of his students (Stella Stevens). Lewis' transformation from Dr. Kelp to ultracool lounge lizard Buddy Love manages to be both campy and fascinating.
Great cinematography and good acting, plus a warm message and the luscious Stella Stevens make for a fine movie experience. As far as I am concerned, you can throw away all of Lewis' other movies and keep this one...it's a winner.
Did you know
- TriviaDuring filming, Jerry Lewis and actress Stella Stevens started an affair that lasted two years.
- GoofsThe professor is supposedly nearsighted, as implied by the scenes from his perspective without glasses at the bowling alley and the final nightclub scene. However, the glasses he wears throughout the movie are designed for reading, not to aid nearsightedness.
- Quotes
Professor Julius Kelp: Learning a lesson in life is - is never - is never really too late. And I think that the - the lesson that I learned came just in time. I don't want to - I don't want to be something that I'm not. I didn't like being someone else. At the same time, I'm very glad I was. 'Cause I found out something that I never knew. You might as well like yourself. Just think about all the time you're going to have to spend with you. And - well, if you don't think much of yourself, how can others? That's what I found out.
- Crazy creditsFalse ending which first displays, "That's all, folks!!" then inserts a NOT in between "that's" and "all," then a 5-minute story epilogue goes to the actual ending, which is credited as "The beginning." The actor credits are done as curtain calls, with each performer bowing behind their name.
- ConnectionsEdited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)
- SoundtracksThat Old Black Magic
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Jerry Lewis as Buddy Love at the Purple Pit student nightclub.
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Details
- Release date
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- Also known as
- The Nutty Professor
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $54
- Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1