“The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957) directed by Jack Arnold / Z-View
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Director: Jack Arnold
Screenplay: Richard Matheson, Richard Alan Simmons based on THE SHRINKING MAN by Richard Matheson
Stars: Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, William Schallert, Frank J. Scannell, Helene Marshall, Billy Curtis and Raymond Bailey.
Tagline: Victim of weird mist ! Day by day he shrinks! Science is baffled! Cat becomes monster! Terror at every turn! Deadly spider attacks! Lost in a flood’s fury!
The Plot…
Scott Carey (Williams) and his wife, Louise (Stuart) are vacationing on a small boat. When his wife goes down to get some drinks a strange mist passes over the craft. Scott is covered with particles from the mist. Six months later Scott realizes he’s shrinking.
The best doctors confirm that Scott is shrinking and begin searching for a cure. As Scott continues to shrink life becomes more difficult. Before too long even the household cat becomes a danger.
If no cure is found, what will become of Scott as he continues to shrink…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Incredible Shrinking Man is based on Richard Matheson’s novel THE SHRINKING MAN. Some scenes from the book were to risqué for 1957 and probably still are today. They include Scott sleeping with a female midget, Scott abused by a drunk homosexual, and Scott peering through the window to watch a teenage baby-sitter.
Although the story ends with no cure found to save Scott, the studio got cold feet as filming progressed. Director Jack Arnold, hot off The Creature from the Black Lagoon, refused. Instead Arnold came up with a soliloquy for Scott to speak that ends the film. Test audiences proved the decision to be a winner.
The large props used when Scott shrinks were later used on the Universal Studios Tour and the television series Land of the Giants.
Look for Mr. Drysdale (Raymond Bailey) of The Beverly Hillbillies fame playing a doctor.
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) rates 5 of 5 stars.
