The Nutty Professor (1963)

Intro
The 1963 movie "The Nutty Professor" is a traditional funny directed, co-written, and starred in by Jerry Lewis. The movie, embeded in an academic context, is loosely based on the 1886 novella "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, where a character's personality changes considerably.

Plot Summary
Jerry Lewis plays the character of Julius Kelp, a socially awkward yet fantastic university professor understood for his destructive nature and nerdy temperament. He established a particular interest in a lovely and popular student, Stella Purdy (played by Stella Stevens), however his geekiness made it impossible to approach her.

In a desperate bid to attract her attention, Kelp develops a potion in his lab that has the potential to change him into a captivating, self-confident, however somewhat conceited ladies-man, called Buddy Love. As Love, he mesmerizes Stella, gains popularity, and lands a performance at the regional nightclub.

Character Clash and Transformation
The film's funny twist depends on a severe character clash between the unpopular professor Julius Kelp and his alter ego, suave Buddy Love. Despite Buddy Love's high charisma level, his conceit made him impolite and offending towards Stella and others. Due to the temporality of the potion effects, Kelp faces many uncomfortable circumstances, with his personality altering back to his usual nerdy self unexpectedly. For instance, throughout a performance at the nightclub, Kelp gets changed back from Buddy Love, causing an amusing series and public discovery of his secret identity.

Awareness and Conclusion
However, this improvement makes Kelp introspect and understand that he does not need to pretend to be another person to be liked and appreciated. He admits to Stella about his change and sensations, expecting her to be repulsed. Contrarily, she acknowledges his efforts, and admits, she chose Kelp over Buddy Love, as she appreciated his real, simple qualities instead of Love's arrogance and shallow beauty.

Legacy
"The Nutty Professor" ended up being a major success, not just as a comical classic however likewise for its proactive commentary on specific social standards concerning beauty, appeal, and acceptance. The dual roles of Julius Kelp and Buddy Love allowed Jerry Lewis to display his large acting range and comic timing, making him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor-- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The movie was so popular that it was remade in 1996, with Eddie Murphy playing the lead role, and 2 sequels followed. Through its humorous plot, The Nutty Professor deftly prospers in providing a message that inner beauty goes beyond physical look.

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