The Nutty Professor: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

Posted February 27, 2014 12:38 PM by


As part of its 600+ title distribution deal with Paramount, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced the 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray release of Jerry Lewis' The Nutty Professor, starring Lewis as the titular professor, Stella Stevens, Del Moore, Kathleen Freeman, Howard Morris, Elvia Allman and Milton Frome. The celebrated 1963 comedy makes its Blu-ray debut on June 3rd. Film Synopsis: The title's eponymous professor is Julius F. Kelp (Lewis), a shy, bumbling chemistry teacher who has a mad crush on his student Stella Purdy (Stella Stevens). When he tires of being made fun of, Kelp develops a magic potion that turns him into smooth and smarmy nightclub singer Buddy Love. Stella is drawn to Buddy but unfortunately, the potion's formula is unstable and Buddy keeps slipping back into Julius at the most embarrassing moments. In the end the professor's ploy is revealed, but not before he delivers a speech calling for everyone to learn to love themselves first before others can return the favor. Stella realizes she loves him for who he is and, needless to say, the ending is a happy one. Warner is releasing the 4-disc Collector's Edition with personal input from Lewis, who helped compile the entertaining extras exclusive to this release. Highlights include a new featurette, "Jerry Lewis: No Apologies," an intimate look at "The King of Comedy"; a 48-page book of the film's original story boards; a 44-page book of excerpts from Jerry's cutting script with personal notes; and a recreated "Being a Person" book, written by Jerry exclusively for the film's crew. Adding to the offering is the CD collection, "Phoney Phone Calls, 1959-1972," with private prank calls secretly recorded by Lewis over the course of thirteen years. Rounding out the set is two feature films on standard DVD: Cinderfella (1960) and The Errand Boy (1961). In a personal letter included with the new Blu-ray, Lewis notes, "[This] is a very special film with a lot of heart and soul. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, directing, acting, editing, scoring and extensive promotion of the film. It is what I always dreamed of doing when I was growing up, watching Charlie Chaplin on the big screen. I am so happy to offer the unique elements of this collection for the first time, and I'm thankful to Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures for the opportunity to collaborate on this great release of The Nutty Professor, my very special child." The Nutty Professor is presented in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround. (The film's original mono track is included as well.) Cinderfella and The Errand Boy are spread across two standard DVDs. Special features and Anniversary Edition content include: 50th Anniversary Edition Box Set Contents Recreated "Being A Person" book – 96-pages made up of drawings and quotes inspired/written by Jerry Lewis and drawn by his personal illustrator. 250 copies of this book were originally made and distributed to members of the cast and crew of The Nutty Professor after the director heard of general conflicts among them. CD: Phoney Phone calls 1959-1972: Years before the Jerky Boys were harassing unwitting shop clerks, housewives and businessmen, Lewis perfected the art, as these recordings show. Released in 2001 on the Sin-Drome label, this is a collection of private prank calls secretly recorded by Jerry Lewis over the years. 48-Page Storyboard Book 44-Page Cutting Script with Jerry's notes Directors Letter – A letter specially written by Jerry to present this new collection The Nutty Professor Blu-ray: Special Features Jerry Lewis: No Apologies – An intimate look at the artist who has entertained and educated audiences for more than eight decades Audio Commentary by Jerry Lewis and Steve Lawrence The Nutty Professor: Perfecting The Formula Behind-The-Scenes Footage Deleted Scenes Screen Tests Jerry Lewis at Work Jerry at Movieland Wax Museum, with commentary by son Chris Lewis Jerry and Stella Promos Bloopers Outtakes Original Mono Track Trailers Cinderfella DVD: Special Features Commentary by Jerry Lewis and Steve Lawrence Bloopers The Errand Boy DVD: Special Features Select Scene Commentary by Jerry Lewis and Steve Lawrence Bloopers Promo Spots Theatrical Trailer A consummate entertainer and world-renowned humanitarian, Lewis is a cultural icon in the U.S. and France. He's also the only entertainer ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. With worldwide box-office receipts in excess of $800 million (when most tickets were sold for 25-50 cents), Jerry was the top box-office star from 1952-56 with Dean Martin, and from 1957-64 solo. Jerry's groundbreaking brand of physical comedy has influenced generations. The comedian has appeared in more than 50 films, directed a dozen movies, helmed 13 television specials, three television series, an NBC radio show, recorded numerous records and albums, been the hero of a comic book series, authored four books (and been the subject of many more), and made thousands of additional appearances on TV, the stage (including a hit Broadway and tour run in Damn Yankees from 1994-97) and in nightclubs all over the world. Additionally, Jerry Lewis was a major innovator in motion pictures. Director Francis Ford Coppola once noted, "Jerry's invention of putting a video camera next to the motion picture camera (the Video Assist) so he could play it back and direct himself, has been used for decades by every director in the movie industry." Lewis has been honored with numerous awards including two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Governor's Award at the Emmy® Awards; a Career Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy at the American Comedy Awards and many more. Enormously popular in Europe, particularly France, Jerry was awarded that country's two most distinguished honors in 1984, making him a Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters and inducting him into the Legion of Honor by the Decree of President Francois Mitterrand. Jerry has also long been a tireless and dedicated philanthropist. For more than 60 years, he has been the driving force behind the fight against muscular dystrophy. As national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jerry raised more than $2 billion for patient care and research and made the term "Jerry's Kids" a part of the modern American lexicon. His creation, the MDA Labor Day Telethon, is the most successful fundraising program in the history of television and established a new benchmark in charitable giving. Jerry has received numerous awards for his charitable endeavors, including: the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (2009); the American Medical Association's Lifetime Achievement Award (1996), the U.S. Defense Department's highest civilian award; and the Medal for Distinguished Public Service (1985), among many others.
Source: Blu-ray.com \| Permalink \|

News comments (20 comments)

4Dblu

Feb 27, 2014

yes, I want I want but why the long box. favorite CLASSIC!!!!

someonesinthewolf

Feb 27, 2014

I'm assuming it will come (later) but it would be nice to have a disc with all the extras but without the swag.

Top contributor

kemcha

Feb 27, 2014

Jerry Lewis has always been one of my favorite actors. Nice to see his films starting to be released to Blu-ray. I simply cannot stand that Eddie Murphy remake.

Bustermann

Feb 27, 2014

I'm betting the oversized box is due to the three books inside it.

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Arkadin

Feb 27, 2014

cool news, but what happened to Around the World in 80 Days?

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Top contributor

I kind of agree, for me to justify that amount of shelf-space there needs to be more than one movie inside - probably at least 6 for that matter. I can't imagine this film still having the kind of following that would warrant this kind of effort, but I'm very glad WB doesn't see it that way. Hope it does well, but I'll wait for the BD-only edition too, unless this box gets cleared out for ten or fifteen bucks before then.

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mrjohnnyb

Feb 27, 2014

I love the fact that The Nutty Professor (1963) is coming to blu-ray, but why do they have to have Cinderfella and The Errand Boy on DVD?

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Atreyu

Feb 27, 2014

This will look terrific on blu, provide it is mastered for hi-def correctly. it is sooo colorful and am sure they will pop off the screen.

robocop35

Feb 27, 2014

Sweet now how about Which up to the front? I love that movie please Fox!

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Tom Servo

Feb 27, 2014

Hmm...the inclusion of the two extra films on DVD probably assures that there will be no future blu-ray releases of them. The same principal that applied to the 1923 version of The Ten Commandments and the 1925 version of Ben Hur.

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noirjunkie

Feb 27, 2014

If WB's track record holds, this will be the first of eight different blu-ray releases for this film.

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Rhylliam

Feb 27, 2014

Finally Warner Bros doesn't waste our time on pointless rereleases today! Sold on this set!

jl1rp

Feb 27, 2014

One more to added to the list.

paustin

Feb 27, 2014

Why the DVD?

CandyStalker

Feb 27, 2014

This would be great news if I was French.

Jimmy W

Feb 28, 2014

Oh yeah!!! Long overdue .... 1963 - 2013 is 50 years!!!
Day uno!!!

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repete66211

Feb 28, 2014

Jerry Lewis humor is as dated as slipping on a banana peel.

He stayed long term at a hotel I worked at in the 90s and during his stay he demonstrated himself to be a rude, humorless, self-important, prima donna. Total a-hole, even to the bellboys.

dmarvin

Feb 28, 2014

I don't know of anyone willing to invest a cubic foot of their home to a single Jerry Lewis movie, as good as it may be. How about just a nice digibook?

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Baron Brain

Feb 28, 2014

The Errand Boy… on standard DVD. Again? Isn't this supposed to be a Blu-Ray set? BASTARDS!!!!!

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wvl

Feb 28, 2014

Damn, I love Jerry Lewis. Grew up watching this guy make the best wacky movies. I'm in... ordered.

Now, when do you suppose they'll start producing Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movies on blus?