7.6/10
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The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

PG | | Horror, Sci-Fi | 17 May 1957 (France)
When Scott Carey begins to shrink because of exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide, medical science is powerless to help him.

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay), Richard Matheson (novel)
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2 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Grant Williams ... Scott Carey
Randy Stuart ... Louise Carey
April Kent ... Clarice Bruce
Paul Langton ... Charlie Carey
Raymond Bailey ... Doctor Thomas Silver
William Schallert ... Doctor Arthur Bramson
Frank J. Scannell Frank J. Scannell ... Barker (as Frank Scannell)
Helene Marshall ... Nurse
Diana Darrin ... Nurse
Billy Curtis ... Midget
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Storyline

Scott Carey and his wife Louise are sunning themselves on their cabin cruiser, the small craft adrift on a calm sea. While his wife is below deck, a low mist passes over him. Scott, lying in the sun, is sprinkled with glittery particles that quickly evaporate. Later he is accidentally sprayed with an insecticide while driving and, in the next few days, he finds that he has begun to shrink. First just a few inches, so that his clothes no longer fit, then a little more. Soon he is only three feet tall, and a national curiosity. At six inches tall he can only live in a doll's house and even that becomes impossible when his cat breaks in. Scott flees to the cellar, his wife thinks he has been eaten by the cat and the door to the cellar is closed, trapping him in the littered room where, menaced by a giant spider, he struggles to survive. Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Moment by moment the terror mounts! See more »

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Orson Welles did the narration for the trailer for this film. He was at Universal working on Touch of Evil (1958) See more »

Goofs

Look carefully when Scott is running from the cat and from the spider. In the close-up shots Scott has a shadow. In the distant shots he has no shadow because he wasn't really there, he was just placed on top of the film! See more »

Quotes

Scott Carey: Relax Doctor. You can't tell me anything I haven't already imagined.
Doctor Arthur Bramson: You are getting smaller. I... I don't profess to understand it Mr. Carey. There is no medical precedent for what's happening to you. I simple know that you're getting smaller. The X-rays prove it beyound any doubt.
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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 2006 when the film was re-rated with a 'PG' certificate for home video. Note: The running time on the BBFC website for the 1957 theatrical release mentions a run time of 91 minutes 48 seconds with an indication this is the submitted run time prior to any cuts. It is not clear if this was a longer version of the film which is widely known to run just 81 minutes (77 minutes on PAL media). See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XIV (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

The Incredible Shrinking Man Theme
Written by Foster Carling and Earl E. Lawrence
Played by Ray Anthony
See more »

User Reviews

 
My favorite '50s sci fi movie
24 August 2003 | by andyman618See all my reviews

This has always been one of my favorite science fiction/horror movies from the 1950s.

This is an existential science fiction movie. Man alone against the universe is always a powerful topic, and writer Richard Matheson, who adapted his own novel for the screen, does an admirable job. Grant Williams' character isn't fighting aliens or demons, but rather the extraordinary circumstance of his mysterious shrinking, and the unforeseen consequences of his ever-dwindling size.

I love the fight with the spider, but my favorite part of the movie is the final monologue. It adds another half a star to an already extraordinary film.


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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 1957 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

The Incredible Shrinking Man See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,580
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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