The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), dir. Jack Arnold, Universal-International Pictures Co., Inc.
We continue our look into the 1950s Universal Sci-Fi with a film I've seen described as both a classic and unbearably corny. Which is it?
Robert Carey (Grant Williams) and his wife Louise (Randy Stuart) are enjoying a vacation on their brother in-law's boat when they drift into a strange fog bank. Louise is below deck fetching a beer for Robert, so when she emerge Robert is fine if puzzled. His chest, you see, is now covered in a fine silvery powder. Ah well, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.
That's when the shrinking starts. Robert blames the cleaners at first when his clothes stop fitting, but soon every article of clothing is hanging off of his frame. His doctor (William Shallert) first blames overwork but when Robert and Louise become the same height, well, he's stumped.
Robert's shrinking continues, leaving him helpless and bewildered. The outside world soon catches on, and Robert is now finding himself under the microscope of the press and curious onlookers. A fling with a circus performer (April Kent) lifts his spirits but his shrinking soon continues, leaving him five inches tall and living in a doll house in his living room. Did I mention the family cat?
Different than the book, and I wished they had kept the same narrative structure but overall decent. Carey is an average guy so the horror he goes through feels personal. The special effects rate a mention too. For 1957? Pretty darn impressive.
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