Film: The Incredible Shrinking Man
Grant Williams, Randy Stuart Star in 1957 Science Fiction Movie
Director Jack Arnold's The Incredible Shrinking Man lovingly recreates the world in miniature, breathing cinematic life into the fantastic novel written by science fiction master Richard Matheson. With Grant Williams in the title role, the movie hauntingly begins with a simple narration:
"The strange, almost unbelievable story, of Robert Scott Carey, began on a very ordinary summer day. I know this story, better than anyone, because I am Robert Scott Carey."
Richard Matheson Writes The Shrinking Man
The Shrinking Man (the "Incredible" part would come later) was published in 1956 by Fawcett Publications, Inc., first appearing as original Gold Medal paperback s577. Richard Matheson had gotten the idea for his novel from a scene in the 1953 film Let's Do It Again, in which Ray Milland dons a larger hat belonging to Aldo Ray, making it appear as if the former had shrunk.
The book was primarily penned in Matheson's cellar at his rented house on Long Island, where he imagined the extraordinary dangers his diminutive title character would face. The film rights to Matheson's fantastic thriller were quickly snapped up by Universal-International Pictures, with their resident science fiction impressario, Jack Arnold, slated to direct.
Filming, Special Props
Budgeted at an estimated $750,000, The Incredible Shrinking Man was filmed from May to July 1956. For eight months prior to filming, the special effects wizards had labored mightily to create the miniature world of Scott Carey. Special props were constructed, including a 12-foot sewing needle, a 20-foot mousetrap, a chair 25 times its normal size and various oversized cans, a ball of thread and a Fire Chief matchbox.
Also constructed was the all-important basement set -- encompassing an incredible nine sound stages -- which served as the alien, hostile environment in which Scott Carey struggles to survive. Shrouded in partial secrecy, the basement set required special passes for all who ventured onto its fantastic premises.
The Incredible Shrinking Man Movie
Six months following his chance encounter with the strange sea mist, Scott Carey begins to notice that his clothes no longer fit. That revelation sends him to Dr. Arthur Bramson (William Schallert), who notes that Scott has lost two inches in height.
As he continues to shrink, Scott is sent to the California Medical Institute where Dr. Thomas Silver (Raymond Bailey) speculates that his patient was exposed to both insecticide and some type of radioactive spray. It's a first in medical history, with Dr. Silver and his colleagues vowing to search for an antidote.
Meanwhile, Scott Carey's condition continues to deteriorate. Now living in a doll house, Scott is left alone one day while his wife Louise (Randy Stuart) goes out. Slipping into the house is the former family cat, Butch (played by movie feline Orangey), who shreds Scott's clothes and sends him tumbling into the basement. Upon her return, Louise makes note of the carnage, incorrectly assuming that Butch has devoured her husband.
Abandoned in the basement, Scott begins his odyssey of survival, with everyday things becoming his mortal enemy -- a burst water heater, a rigged mousetrap, a marauding spider...
New York City Release, Box Office
The Incredible Shrinking Man made its debut at New York City's Globe Theater on February 22, 1957. Providing the narration for the film's trailer was Orson Welles, with Ray Anthony performing the haunting, jazzy trumpet solo heard at the beginning of the picture.
Later called "the screen's great existential science fiction film" by critic Hal Erickson, The Incredible Shrinking Man went on to gross $4 million during its original release.
"Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something," an enlightened, sub-atomic Scott Carey defiantly declares at the end. "To God, there is no zero. I still exist!"
Whoa...
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