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The Nutty Professor

The Nutty Professor

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jerry's Masterpiece
Review: "The Nutty Professor" (1963) remains one of the comic masterworks of the past 50 years. It's certainly Jerry Lewis' best film -- and perhaps his best performance. Jerry's portrayal of Professor Kelp/Buddy Love is superb. As a director, Lewis shows remarkable style and timing. There are many classic setpieces, but the highlight is the Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation sequence that introduces Buddy Love. Jerry also assembled his finest cast, with memorable contributions from co-star Stella Stevens, Del Moore, Kathleen Freeman, Buddy Lester and Howard Morris. The 1996 Eddie Murphy remake -- though an enjoyable film in its own right -- doesn't come close to the inspired brilliance of the original.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jerry's Masterpiece
Review: "The Nutty Professor" remains one of the comic masterworks of the past 40 years. It's certainly Jerry Lewis' best film -- and perhaps his best performance. Jerry's portrayal of Professor Kelp and Buddy Love is superb. As a director, Lewis shows remarkable style and timing. There are many classic setpieces, but the highlight is the Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation sequence that introduces Buddy Love. "The Nutty Professor" remains a bravura display of Lewis gifts as an actor, writer and filmmaker. Eddie Murphy's remake doesn't even come close to the inspired brilliance of the original.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I Ain't French, But Mebbe Lewis IS A Genius....
Review: ....I love this because of Buddy Love's shoe polish black slicked back oily hair, his on the rocks scthick, the dangling unfiltered cigarette, his cool narcissism and they way the Professor slips into his crooning routines...

This is some funny stuff even today, not to knock Murphy's versions, but, little things make the difference...

Like the scene in which Professor comes into class after a night of being Buddy Rich looking vampirish, wearing dark shades, with red rings around his eyes and every sound is like someone is pounding on his eardrums with a sledgehammer...a woman's gum smacking sound like gunfire....now, that, to me is very funny. 'Cos, we all have a lil Buddy Love in us when we go out to a party or nightclub and then have to face the pain of our overindulgences the next day, or the next...or the next....

Anyway, dig the Buddy Love/Professor dichotomy as presented by the hilarious Jerry Lewis.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'VE GOT A WORLD THAT SWINGS
Review: After I watched the tv movie MARTIN&LEWIS I am into things about the real MARTIN&LEWIS and I found The Nutty Proffesser downstairs in my basement and was in total shock that I actually found a Jerry Lewis movie!

The Nutty Professer is about a loser college treacher who is getting bullied by his students and decides to work out but that doesnt work either!

So he decides to make a potion that turns him into cool cat Buddy
Love who seems to be more popluar with the ladies then the professer ever was!

Buddy Love has his eye on a pretty college student(Stella Purdy)
that the professer also has his eye on.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes Jerry Lewis-or someone who wants to see the other movies he made with Dean Martin.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: great movie..fair dvd
Review: buying the nutty professor was somewhat of a disappointment..the color is great..the sound in 5.1 is okay but not great..but my major complaint is..where is extras that should be here. no deleted scenes or outtakes..this is one of jerry's all time great movies..i know outtakes exist because i've seen them. also where is the directors commentary?...i believe this is his first film to dvd..for us who love it..it would have been so wonderful to know what went through his daily filming and what problems or relationships developed on making this great movie..i have a feeling maybe down the road you'll see a special edition. it would be so nice..so if you can wait, maybe jerry will do justice to his fans on this great film...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: IT'S SO LOW-BROW, IT'S HIGH-BROW
Review: Criminey...a Jerry ("you don't like my pictures, so you don't like me...")Lewis movie in my esteemed classics collection? You betcha! Nothing splits my sides more than the scene with the University Dean doing Hamlet with his pants down, or the Howard Morris schtick at the end of the picture. This is the last of the truly "screwball" comedies, in which the only intent is to make us laugh. No social commentary (phooey on the French!), no political statements, nuthin'--just a smile, and a tickly feeling in the pit of your gut. And that's enought, really, especially when you consider that the whole family can get a charge out of this movie, and all on the same level. This is like reading your favorite edition of MAD Magazine all over again. Sure, it's goofy, but that's what makes it a swell time, and it's a sure-fire way to spend a Saturday afternoon in a good and giddy mood. Incidentally, this picture was filmed on the ASU campus in Tempe, Arizona during the summer of 1963. I was there during that time, and remember all of the huge equipment trailers with the Paramount logo emblazoned on them. But who cares? Just watch the picture! And stop tracking that dirt into my office!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Professor is IN
Review: Here is clear reason why EVERY film featuring Jerry Lewis should be released to DVD. This film is funny, insightful, interesting. In 1963 the poster's made it seem as if it might be a horror movie--Lewis copied Hitchock's policy with "Psycho", asking (on the posters) that the viewers NOT give away the ending--if you don't know what the ending is--I'm not going to tell you (and yes--it's better than the remakes!). Do yourself a favor and see this film, then DEMAND that Paramount release more outstanding Jerry Lewis comedies, musicals, and dramas (yes-he did'em all!).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best of Jerry Lewis as a director and actor
Review: Here is the film that shows what a talented director Lewis could be. It is about time that this film got the full DVD treatment. Lewis had a good eye for color, composition, editing and he was a comedians director. I am happy that this american talent is getting some respect for all of the good work he has done. bravo.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of his best...Actually...
Review: Hollywood legend, Jerry Lewis had great success teaming with Dean Martin in the early years of his career. While partnered with Martin, Lewis's wacky slapstick antics did reach extremes, but he was usually pulled back, before going too far, for too long. After the partnership dissolved, and Lewis began producing and directing his own films, he continued to expand on the same gag based, physical comic style that characterized his earlier work. Like him or not, Jerry is Jerry. The difference now, was that Lewis was primarily responsible for keeping himself from going over the top, and sometimes he did not know when he had gone too far.

The Nutty Professor, one of Jerry's most popular movies, is done in typical Lewis style. Stringing together various comedic episodes, and physical gags, the movie is a comedic variation of the Jekyll and Hyde dual identity story, with Jerry assuming the roles of nerdy, bespectacled college professor "Julius Kelp", and his alter ego, the ultra hip, and cool, mystery man, "Buddy Love".

After being humiliated in class, in an incident with a football player, the mild mannered chemistry professor decides he needs to improve his physical condition. His resolve to do this, is reinforced when his lovely, blue-eyed student Stella Purdy (Stella Stevens), assures him that his slight physical stature really doesn't matter. After trying "normal" means to improve his physical condition by working out at a gym, Kelp turns to chemistry, trying to develop a formula to improve man's physical development. Reaching the crucial testing stage, for the sake of science, and in the quest for knowledge, Kelp tests the formula on himself. Drinking it down, he then undergoes a dramatic and startling transformation into a super slick playboy type, Buddy Love.

Buddy is of course everything that Kelp isn't. Smooth, suave and sophisticated, Love makes his first public splash in an appearance at the "Purple Pit", the local teen hangout, attired in a striking blue suit. There he orders his favorite drink, an "Alaskan polar bear heater", and impresses the teens with his singing ability. Stella, the target of Buddy's attention, is not totally enamored by the narcissistic swinger's charm, but still finds herself strangely drawn to him.

With Lewis more or less under control, the comedic episodes, particularly those with Buddy, are entertaining, and flow together more smoothly and than in most of his other films. Some highlights include a bit where Love gets the head of the college to climb up on top of a table to perform Shakespeare in his underwear, and Kelp's goofy dancing to the song "Leapfrog" (A real "toe-tapper"). Kelp is perplexed by the transformation process, but his scientific objectivity is clouded by the fact when he appears as Buddy Love, he is able to approach his secret heartthrob, not as her teacher, but as a man. Things eventually come to a head, when both Kelp and Love are to appear at the same function, at the same time. Kelp's speech on stage is rather moving,...actually.

Lewis is a filmmaker, much like Clint Eastwood, who enjoys working with those he favors, and has the power to make it happen. This film features Kathleen Freeman, Del Moore, Buddy Lester and Milton Frome. Not the most well known names, but all have worked with Lewis numerous times. Moore is terrific, as Doctor Warfield. Jerry's films sometimes feature some obscure choices as his leading lady, but that is not the case here, as sexy Stella Stevens is perhaps one of the most well known actresses ever to be in one of his solo projects. She more than holds her own, going one on one in verbal jousts with Buddy Love. Stella also makes quite a transformation from pigtailed student, to young lady out on the town.

The Nutty Professor works on most levels. There are excesses to be sure, but the Jekyll and Hyde story at its core, has always had an appeal. Buddy Love, does have a hypnotic attraction, and Professor Kelp is the middle-aged version of the kind of bumbler that Lewis has always played. Released on DVD in 2000, this surprisingly still remains one of the few Jerry Lewis films available on DVD, and the transfer is excellent. Full of vibrant colors, we get a great look at the Edith Head's costumes, and the sets. Orchestra leader, Les Brown and his Band of Renown, make an appearance too. Not much in the way of extras, but if you want to enjoy what many consider one of his finest efforts, The Nutty Professor is classic Jerry Lewis. The high cost is a negative. When will Jerry's other films come to DVD?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: PROFESSOR KELP OR BUDDY LOVE.....YOU DECIDE
Review: HOW ANYONE COULD RATE THIS CLASSIC LESS THAN 5 STARS IS BEYOND ME,BUT WE ALL SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A COMEDY LEGEND,JERRY LEWIS HAS TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE OF ALL TIME.IN THE 70'S THEY USED TO HAVE MOVIE THEME WEEKS ON TV AND AS A 10 YEAR OLD I WOULD RACE HOME AFTER SCHOOL TO WATCH THEM.THE PICTURE IS CLEAR AND CRISP AND THE SOUND IN 5.1 SURROUND IS DYNAMIC,BETTER THAN TV OR VHS.JERRY LEWIS HILARITY ADDS A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION TO THIS JEKYLL&HYDE TALE.IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A MOVIE TO ENTERTAIN THE WHOLE FAMILY THAN THE NUTTY PROFESSOR IS THE ONE.JERRY LEWIS ISN'T GETTING YOUNGER AND MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMMENTARY OR INTERVIEW AS A SPECIAL FEATURE WHILE HE'S STILL AROUND TO DO IT.I SURE HOPE A JERRY LEWIS COLLECTION IS IN THE WORKS.


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