Customer Reviews

The Nutty Professor (Special Edition)

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I own this classic now. I watched the extra features on the DVD and all of the coverage on the other work of Jerry's . After about a half an hour, I realized there is also a movie on this disk. I could not believe how much material is on this ONE disk. I strongly reccomend this and when you get it, watch it with the commentary track turned on for Jerry's comments as the show plays. The widescreen DVD format is fabulous. The color and clarity are fantastic, and the big band sound and sound effects are richer than ever.

This Classic film shows the incredible comedic range of Jerry Lewis as a goofy buck tooth professor with an exagerated low self esteem. He finds that one of his gorgeous students Miss Purdy played well by Stella Stevens takes some sort of interest to him. As the professor he stumbles on a potion that can change his genetics into an overly arrogant good looking man who lacks the one thing that would win Purdy over. Sensitivity. The characters name Buddy Love is said by some to have been based on former rat pack partner Dean Martin. Buddy Loves character was an inspiration for comedian Andrew Dice Clay as Dice has said, "Your not here because your Not attracted to me. And you can see I dig you pretty well myself." Eddie Murphys remake although good could never over shadow this classic comedy. Lewis as Professor Kelp at the prom with his goofy dance steps is hilarious. This movie is timeless and I highly reccomend it to everyone. This movies 1963 release gives you some sense of the simple wholesome lifestyle of the early sixties. As a male I can't help but fall for Stella Stevens every time. Jerry Lewis proves in this movie he's a comic genius!

I once was one of those snots who dismissed the solo work of Jerry Lewis. No longer. After long years with classic silent comedy and Thirties screwball stuff I reluctantly went back to "The Nutty Professor" and my jaw dropped. This guy was a genius. This film has its roots, and plenty of them, but much of it is thoroughly unique and, dare I write it, visionary.

This is also a visually beautiful film with astonishing use of color. A real treat on that count alone. It's also a splendid updating of Jekyll and Hyde with real relevance for modern times.

I write this to those who may be captivated by Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, or Tati, but who've avoided Lewis for years. Honestly, give him another try.

Paradox completists eventually must turn to la mystere de Jerry -- why is it that French film masters such as Godard and Truffaut so loved Jerry Lewis? The Franco-Lewis thing has become a well-worn joke -- something to swig down with Freedom Fries -- but it's a safe bet the directors weren't thinking of the braying, pratfalling side of the American comedian.

Instead, the new wavers cited Lewis' work from the early 1960s -- including what arguably are his best films as an actor and director: "The Nutty Professor" and "The Bellboy."

Paramount, Lewis' longtime studio, has released both titles in splendid widescreen versions, along with seven of his other films. Some titles come with full or partial commentaries from Lewis and his pal Steve Lawrence; other modest bonus features are spread about the collection.

"The Nutty Professor," from 1963, looks amazing in widescreen, awash in hot circus colors. Seeing Lewis' film in its original aspect ratio reveals the director's dedication to offbeat and rewarding visuals. The film earns its Special Edition tag with a vivid transfer, feature-length commentary, making-of featurette and a half-hour career survey called "Jerry Lewis at Work." Screen tests, outtakes and promos complete the package. Paramount isn't known for breaking a sweat with catalog-title extras, but this is a solid collection.

The plot -- a buck-toothed college teacher brews up a formula that transforms him into an obnoxious ladies' man -- allowed Lewis to revisit the yin-yang comic dynamic he first developed with smoothy Dean Martin. Lewis played both roles.

Speculation that the professor's swinging chemical creation, Buddy Love, was based on the real-life Martin elicits an emphatic denial. "This could never be Dean," Lewis says. "I loved Dean." Love was "a conglomeration of every unkind, nasty SOB I had seen all of my life."

Lewis gives love interest Stella Stevens a lot of credit for the film's success, saying she made scenes sparkle by listening so intently to his dialogue. "She was about the best actress I had ever worked with." Edith Head's sensual outfits and cinematographer Wally Kelley's close-ups intensified Stevens' already potent sex appeal.

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...

"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.

O.K I'm only 17 but i've seen enough films to know that this is my favourite of all time. I love Jerry Lewis, he's a comic genius and I never get bored of wathching this film in particular. The original Nutty Professor totally overshadows Eddie Murphy's version in my opinion. While the modern adaptation was stuffed with crass, in your face jokes, Lewis' creation has a gentle and innocent humour and you care about what happens to Kelp's character.
The music scenes in particular are brilliant and the scene where the truth comes out is surprisingly touching.
I always had a thing for men in glasses anyway.....

This movie is a top perfomrance of Jerry Lewis' talent. He shows us every side of his coin here. He plays goofy, screwball, helpless romantic nerd, profeesor kelp and his alter ego: The Infamous Buddy Love.

You'll bust a gut laughing at all the awkward moments between professor kelp and his classmates. It'll make you stand up and cheer with delight. Who knows? You may even imitate his impressions to impress your friends. I know I did.

Jerry Lewis, aside from playing three parts (Kelp, Buddy love, and the voice of jennifer the bird) also co-wrote the script. He's a zany director who really knows physical comedy.

Long considered Lewis' finest hour, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR still manages to entertain even though it's pacing is definitely sixtyish, what with Lewis getting to sing so much and make moonie eyes at the lovely Stella Stevens. Lewis plays the clumsy nerdish Professor Julian Kelp, who manages to blow up laboratories as a sideline. His trademark physical comedy is used marvelously and the voice is primo Lewis. His alter ego Buddy Love may be a take on Jerry's former partner Dean Martin, but he is smooth and silky at his best. When looking at what Eddie Murphy did later in his adaptation of this 1963 classic, one can say Murphy's is probably more consistently funny, but one can't deny the impact of watching a comic genius like Lewis at work; he even does a nice job in his big speech at the prom, going smoothly from the self assured Buddy Love to the cocooned Kelp. There hasn't been another Jerry Lewis, and it's nice to see some of his finest work captured on DVD for today's audiences to glean why Lewis is ranked as one of the best.

i'm a 19 year old woman, and I have to say that I like this original Nutty Professor better then the remake one with "Eddie Murphy" Jerry Lewis does a wonderful job has the Professor, this movie has a very good story and great acting, it is so amazing how many good movies there were back then, anyone who hasn't see it yet should =-)