Medfield College
Encyclopedia
Medfield College is a fictitious university used as the setting for several films by The Walt Disney Company
. Among them are the two 'Professor Brainard' movies, The Absent-Minded Professor
(1961) and Son of Flubber
(1963); and the 'Dexter Riley' trilogy: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
(1969), Now You See Him, Now You Don't
(1972), and The Strongest Man in the World
(1975); as well as the The Absent-Minded Professor remake, Flubber (1997).
The town of Medfield, the location for Medfield College, was the setting for another Disney film, The Shaggy D.A.
(1976).
. According to town historians, friends of Walt Disney lived there, and Disney would visit them on occasion, landing his plane on a private airstrip on their property. Portions of the airstrip are still present today. The cornerstone of Medfield Middle School, formerly Medfield High School, has a quote from Walt Disney
inscribed on it: "Our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children."
and Robert B. Sherman
, is heard during the beginning credit sequence of The Absent-Minded Professor.
in Claremont, California
. Some of the football field scenes in Son of Flubber were filmed at Burbank High School, as evidenced by a banner reading Burbank High School seen in the background.
The Medfield College scenes in the three above-mentioned Dexter Riley films were filmed on the Disney Studios backlot
in Burbank, California.
Some Medfield College scenes in the 1997 Flubber remake were shot at San Jose State University
.
, (1964) and its sequel, The Monkey's Uncle
(1965). Merrivale College is the name of the fictitious university that appears in the 1973 Disney film, The World's Greatest Athlete
.
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. Among them are the two 'Professor Brainard' movies, The Absent-Minded Professor
The Absent-Minded Professor
The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 black-and-white Walt Disney Productions film based on the short story A Situation of Gravity, by Samuel W. Taylor....
(1961) and Son of Flubber
Son of Flubber
Son of Flubber is the 1963 black-and-white sequel to the Walt Disney children's movie comedy The Absent-Minded Professor , also starring Fred MacMurray as a scientist who has perfected a high-bouncing substance, Flubber that can levitate an automobile and cause athletes to bounce into the sky...
(1963); and the 'Dexter Riley' trilogy: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a Disney film from 1969, starring Alan Hewitt, Kurt Russell, Frank Webb, and Joe Flynn. It is released by Buena Vista Distribution Company....
(1969), Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Now You See Him, Now You Don't is a 1972 Walt Disney film starring Kurt Russell, a student at the fictional Medfield College. It is the sequel to the 1969 film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes....
(1972), and The Strongest Man in the World
The Strongest Man in the World
The Strongest Man in the World is a 1975 film starring Kurt Russell, still a student in the fictional Medfield College. It is the sequel to the 1972 film Now You See Him, Now You Don't, itself a sequel to the 1969 film, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.-Plot:Medfield College's Dean Higgins is being...
(1975); as well as the The Absent-Minded Professor remake, Flubber (1997).
The town of Medfield, the location for Medfield College, was the setting for another Disney film, The Shaggy D.A.
The Shaggy D.A.
The Shaggy D.A. is a 1976 film sequel to 1959's The Shaggy Dog by Walt Disney Productions. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Don Tait, based on the original film and inspired by the long out-of-print Felix Salten novel, The Hound of Florence.It starred Dean Jones as the adult...
(1976).
Inspiration
Medfield College is named after the town of Medfield, MassachusettsMedfield, Massachusetts
Medfield is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,024 according to the 2010 Census. Medfield is an affluent community about 17 miles southwest of Boston....
. According to town historians, friends of Walt Disney lived there, and Disney would visit them on occasion, landing his plane on a private airstrip on their property. Portions of the airstrip are still present today. The cornerstone of Medfield Middle School, formerly Medfield High School, has a quote from Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
inscribed on it: "Our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children."
Fight Song
The fight song of Medfield College, composed by Richard M. ShermanRichard M. Sherman
Richard Morton Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert Bernard Sherman....
and Robert B. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Robert Bernard Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman...
, is heard during the beginning credit sequence of The Absent-Minded Professor.
Filming locations
The Medfield College scenes in both The Absent-Minded Professor and Son of Flubber were filmed on the campus of Pomona CollegePomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. Some of the football field scenes in Son of Flubber were filmed at Burbank High School, as evidenced by a banner reading Burbank High School seen in the background.
The Medfield College scenes in the three above-mentioned Dexter Riley films were filmed on the Disney Studios backlot
Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)
The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, United States, serve as the international headquarters for media conglomerate The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Studio's house offices for each of the company's divisions along with creative spaces designed for movie production. The Walt Disney...
in Burbank, California.
Some Medfield College scenes in the 1997 Flubber remake were shot at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
.
Similar institutions
Similar to Medfield is Midvale College, a fictitious university used as the setting for the two 'Merlin Jones' films by Walt Disney: The Misadventures of Merlin JonesThe Misadventures of Merlin Jones
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones is a 1964 Walt Disney production starring Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. Kirk plays a college student who experiments with mind-reading and hypnotism, leading to run-ins with a local judge...
, (1964) and its sequel, The Monkey's Uncle
The Monkey's Uncle
The Monkey's Uncle is a 1965 Walt Disney production starring Tommy Kirk as genius college student Merlin Jones and Annette Funicello as his girlfriend, Jennifer. The title refers to a chimpanzee named Stanley, Merlin's legal "nephew" ; Stanley otherwise has little relevance to the plot...
(1965). Merrivale College is the name of the fictitious university that appears in the 1973 Disney film, The World's Greatest Athlete
The World's Greatest Athlete
The World's Greatest Athlete is a 1973 American feature film released by the Walt Disney Company. It starred John Amos, Roscoe Lee Browne, Tim Conway, Dayle Haddon, and Jan-Michael Vincent...
.
External links
- Pomona College Magazine: The Great Sagehen Sports Quiz
- 2719 Hyperion: Addressing the Many Worlds of Disney Entertainment Wednesday, March 31, 2010 "Freeze Frame: Medfield College = The Disney Studios"