I don't think this film is a masterpiece Sorry, but I have a problem taking the Absent Minded Professor/The Shaggy D.A. seriously. I think Fred is not a very good actor. I saw this in a film noir class, and I think that this was probably the least good of all the films we watched (though I would still give it an 8/10). There are many better noirs, especially The Maltese Falcon, Out of the Past, and Kiss Me Deadly. Plus, the novella on which this film is based is much, much more complex and just plain better. I read it before I saw the film. I was blown away by the novella, but only moderately impressed (mostly at Barbara Stanwyck) with the film.