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IMDbPro

The Incredible Shrinking Man

  • 19571957
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
18K
YOUR RATING
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
When Scott Carey begins to shrink because of exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide, medical science is powerless to help him.When Scott Carey begins to shrink because of exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide, medical science is powerless to help him.When Scott Carey begins to shrink because of exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide, medical science is powerless to help him.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
18K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Arnold
  • Writers
    • Richard Matheson(screenplay by)
    • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Grant Williams
    • Randy Stuart
    • April Kent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Arnold
  • Writers
    • Richard Matheson(screenplay by)
    • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Grant Williams
    • Randy Stuart
    • April Kent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 152User reviews
    • 110Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Official Trailer

    Photos172

    Grant Williams in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    Grant Williams in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    "The Incredible Shrinking Man" Grant Williams 1957 Universal
    "The Incredible Shrinking Man" Grant Williams 1957 Universal
    "The Incredible Shrinking Man" Grant Williams 1957 Universal
    Grant Williams and Orangey at an event for The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    Style B, 1/2 Sheet
    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
    Grant Williams in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Grant Williams
    Grant Williams
    • Scott Careyas Scott Carey
    Randy Stuart
    Randy Stuart
    • Louise Careyas Louise Carey
    April Kent
    April Kent
    • Clarice Bruceas Clarice Bruce
    Paul Langton
    Paul Langton
    • Charlie Careyas Charlie Carey
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • Doctor Thomas Silveras Doctor Thomas Silver
    William Schallert
    William Schallert
    • Doctor Arthur Bramsonas Doctor Arthur Bramson
    Frank J. Scannell
    Frank J. Scannell
    • Barkeras Barker
    • (as Frank Scannell)
    Helene Marshall
    Helene Marshall
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Diana Darrin
    Diana Darrin
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Billy Curtis
    Billy Curtis
    • Midgetas Midget
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Balloon Vendoras Balloon Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    John Hiestand
    • KIRL TV Newscasteras KIRL TV Newscaster
    • (uncredited)
    Joe LaBarba
    • Joeas Joe
    • (uncredited)
    Perk Lazelle
    • Doctoras Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Lock Martin
    • Giantas Giant
    • (uncredited)
    Orangey
    Orangey
    • Butch the Catas Butch the Cat
    • (uncredited)
    Regis Parton
    Regis Parton
    • Minor Roleas Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Perry
    • Spieleras Spieler
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Arnold
    • Writers
      • Richard Matheson(screenplay by) (from his novel)
      • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay by) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Matheson's book was written as a series of flashbacks so that you got into the cellar with Scott quickly. Universal insisted on a linear story. They also vetoed key sequences, such as Scott spending the night with the female midget, a drunk homosexual who abuses Scott, a gang of teenagers who terrorize him, and Scott becoming a Peeping Tom secretly spying on a teenage girl baby-sitter. These were rejected as too risqué for 1957.
    • Goofs
      Even though the spider in this film is clearly a tarantula, the spider is shown sitting in a standard type spider web. Tarantulas do not build webs like that. They live in burrows or holes.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Scott Carey: I was continuing to shrink, to become... what? The infinitesimal? What was I? Still a human being? Or was I the man of the future? If there were other bursts of radiation, other clouds drifting across seas and continents, would other beings follow me into this vast new world? So close - the infinitesimal and the infinite. But suddenly, I knew they were really the two ends of the same concept. The unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet - like the closing of a gigantic circle. I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends is man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist!

    • 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).
    • Connections
      Edited into Attack of the 50 Foot Monster Mania (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      The Incredible Shrinking Man Theme
      Written by Foster Carling and Earl E. Lawrence

      Played by Ray Anthony

    User reviews152

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) ***
    I finally caught up with Jack Arnold's most highly-regarded piece of science fiction, and I have to say that I agree it's his most accomplished work.

    True, the plot isn't terribly original (how about THE DEVIL-DOLL [1936], which I watched again right after, and DR. CYCLOPS [1940], for starters, not to mention the 'little people' of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN [1935]?) but none of the others quite touched upon the psychology of its admittedly fantastic situation, let alone treat it with such intelligence, sensitivity and, ultimately, persuasion. Legendary author Richard Matheson is to be congratulated for his truly excellent script, as should be Arnold for putting his ideas on the screen with such vividness and imagination. Special mention must go too to Grant Williams for his fine performance; Jack Arnold seemed to think it was worthy of an Oscar and I can't say I disagree!

    It was interesting to see that the title character's peculiar affliction effected him gradually and not all at once; the fact that this was caused by exposure to radiation must have struck a note of panic amid contemporary anxiety-ridden audiences (this was the Cold War era, after all) and, in any case, it was inevitable that such 'monstrous' radiation effects (as seen mutating various forms of animal life on the screens of 1950s America) would not spare man himself in the long run. An episode featuring sideshow midgets, with whom The Shrinking Man seems to identify for a little while, is quite moving - as is his jealous possessiveness of his wife who he suspects wants to abandon him.

    Despite the low budget, the film's special effects are terrific and the second half of the story basically resolves itself into a struggle for survival for our unfortunate hero as he has to battle various elements (the family cat, a spider, water, the re-dimension of objects around him, his own weakness due to hunger) which a normal person would more or less take for granted.

    I thoroughly enjoyed THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN - though I must say that Matheson's bleak yet strangely affecting ending blew me away, giving the film an intellectual resonance lacking in most films of its type and period.
    helpful•75
    15
    • Bunuel1976
    • Jul 9, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1957 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Mr. C
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $750,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,580
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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