Professor Popper's Problem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Professor Popper's Problem |
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Post-1989 title frame
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| Directed by | Gerry O'Hara |
| Produced by | Roy Simpson |
| Screenplay by | Leo Maguire |
| Story by | Richard Loncraine |
| Starring | Charlie Drake Adam Richens Debra Collins Philip da Costa |
| Music by | Kenneth V. Jones |
| Cinematography | Ken Hodges |
| Editing by | James Needs |
| Studio | Mersey Film Productions Children's Film Foundation |
| Distributed by | BBC (1984) Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1989) MCA Home Video (1989) |
| Release date(s) | [[Category:Expression error: Unrecognized word "january". movies]]1 January 1975 |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £250,000 |
Professor Popper's Problem is a fun British science fiction comedy film from 1975. It was made for children and directed by Gerry O'Hara. The main star is Charlie Drake, who plays the quirky Professor P. Popper.
The movie also features many talented child actors, including Todd Carty. Other well-known actors like Milo O'Shea and Sydney Bromley also appear. The film was created by the Children's Film Foundation (CFF).
The story is about Professor Popper, a very unusual science teacher. He accidentally shrinks himself and a group of his students after they take some special pills. Another student, Liz, avoids shrinking and tries to help them.
A colleague of the Professor also joins the search for an antidote. As the tiny group tries to get back to normal size, they face many dangers. They also have to stop some bad guys who want to steal the Professor's shrinking formula.
The film was shot at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. It was later shown on TV as six shorter episodes. Even with a small budget, the movie is known for its cool props and special effects.
Contents
What is Professor Popper's Problem About?
In a quiet British town, a school is getting ready to open after the holidays. Professor P. Popper is a small, glasses-wearing science teacher who is very eccentric. His lab is full of bubbling potions and messy chalkboards.
He has a talking bird and a friendly dog with him. Professor Popper often forgets names and sings a little song about Napoleon. He invents a shrinking powder to help solve world hunger.
This powder could make huge amounts of food tiny enough to be carried by one airplane. Then, an antidote would make the food big again when it's needed.
The Accidental Shrinking Pills
One day, Professor Popper and his student helper, Simon, accidentally drink tea with the shrinking powder in pill form. They become tiny! Then, a group of other students—Terry, Angus, Carol, and Peter—also shrink while looking for them.
Luckily, another student named Liz doesn't shrink. She becomes the group's only hope to get back to normal. The tiny group is now only two inches tall, like insects.
Their world looks completely different. A book seems like a giant cliff. A rotary dial telephone looks like a huge carousel. Pennies are as big as hula hoops, and a cat's paw is like a giant truck.
The Search for an Antidote
Even though they are tiny, Professor Popper is surprisingly happy. He sings to his students about the fun of being small. Meanwhile, Professor Crabbit, a colleague dressed like Sherlock Holmes, starts investigating what happened.
A local man named Rollins becomes suspicious of Crabbit. The Professor has lost the antidote to his shrinking formula. This makes his formula a target for people who want to steal it.
Some sneaky people from another country want to use the formula for their own plans. There's also a gang from London who want to shrink valuable things to steal them easily.
Dangers and Villains
The tiny group faces many dangers. They are chased by a huge tarantula. They also have a scary roller skate ride through the city.
Despite all these challenges, Professor Popper manages to protect his formula. All the bad guys' plans are stopped. Finally, the Professor finds the antidote. Everyone, including the schoolchildren and their teacher, returns to their normal size.
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the actors who brought Professor Popper's Problem to life:
- Charlie Drake as Professor P. Popper
- Adam Richens as Simon
- Debra Collins as Liz
- Philip da Costa as Terry
- Todd Carty as Angus
- Karen Saunders as Carol
- Eric Holloway as Peter
- Milo O'Shea as Professor Crabitt
- Sydney Bromley as Crickle
- Richard Caldicot as headmaster
- Alan Curtis as Grainger
- Leo Maguire as Rollins
- Keith Smith as Police Constable Whitby
- Ruth Kettlewell as meter maid
Images for kids
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Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire (pictured in 2011)
