Tonight on MeTV, we bring back a 1950s sci fi classic that has been absent from our airwaves for too long- the story of a man who finds the world getting too big for him- because he is progressively becoming smaller and smaller! In this story created by Richard Matheson, we join a normal man in his descent into the abnormal- embarking on a journey that includes lonely isolation and the transition of normal everyday things into objects of terror for “The Incredible Shrinking Man"!
This 1957 science fiction favorite starts out on the water, with Scott Carey and his wife- as they relax and enjoy lounging on their boat off the California coast. While Louise heads to the galley to grab some drinks, hubby Scott remains topside, and sees an approaching mist of some sort- a glittering fog that briefly envelopes him, then abruptly fades away by the time Louise comes back up on deck. The couple is confused, having no idea what the fog might have been, or where it came from.
A few weeks later- Scott notices that his clothes don't seem to fit right. It isn’t simple weight loss, though- his whole body seems to be a little smaller! He heads to his doctor, whose tests show that he's in perfect health- and the doctor states the fact that, never in medical science has anybody started to get shorter (other than through something like osteoporosis, of course- but this movie isn’t titled “The Incredible Guy with Loss of Bone Density”) ! Scott, however, can’t agree with what the doc is telling him- especially once he's noticed that he and his wife are now suddenly the same height- when, previously, he was taller than she.
Eventually, all concerned parties agree that something strange is happening to Scott- and he transfers to a medical research lab. A battery of tests confirms that Scott is getting smaller-and they have a theory as to why. Things take a bad turn for the diminishing dude when, in circumstances we have all become familiar with, the media get hold of the story- and he is plagued by paparazzi. All Scott can do is live in isolation, as a prisoner in his own home- unable to work or move freely around the outside world- and his frustration soon becomes obvious to his wife. ( Yes, there are some comparisons to life during this pandemic as well.)
Possible hope for a cure comes - along with some encouragement from a winsome little person Scott meets by chance in a rare trip into the public- but the reality that he still continues to shrink brings an end to any hopes he had of returning to a normal life. Various aspects of his home become a savage new world he must face alone- as the world around him continues to become larger and more threatening at every turn. Scott finds simple everyday objects and creatures are now an incredible danger -as he fights to survive in a land of giants!
This movie has always been a big (sorry) favorite of our viewers- not just for the effects, but also for Grant Williams’ outstanding performance as Scott, who conveys his frustrations, fear, and sense of isolation so well. We’ll brief you on the cast members, including a few familiar MeTV faces, including a future “Beverly Hillbillies” actor- a famous TV father, and a small star with a large resume! Also among the cast members are a horrifying housecat and a tarantula ( in the original script, it was supposed to be a black widow spider, but that breed proved to be, ironically, too small to work in what they were trying to do). We’re happy to be able to show this important ‘50s science fiction film to you again.
“The Incredible Shrinking Man” starts tonight on MeTV at 8pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, and, to find out time and channel where you are, please check your local listings- or find your local info at www.metv.com . The live-Tweeting during the show on Twitter continues to flourish-with us among the top trends for all two hours of the show last week- so, feel free to join in, using the hashtag #svengoolie. Our Chicago area viewers get another look at the Roger Corman tale of witchcraft and time-travel "The Undead" at 11 am on our main local channel, CW 26. ( And a happy belated birthday to Roger, having turned 95 this past week!)
Join us tonight for a small hero with big problems- that are only getting bigger ( no, wait- HE’S getting smaller…)
3753 Comments
Many writers presented the stories of ordinary people being confronted with extraordinary situations. And maybe what made Richard Matheson different was that there was something extraordinary about the individual, while the things that seemed threatening, to him, actually existed in everyday life. “Duel” for example, is the story of a driver feeling apprehension about the large truck continuously behind him. What connects his characters is their sense of loneliness. The Main Characters of “I am Legend” and “The Shrinking Man” woke up one morning to find themselves either being the last human being on earth or beginning to shrink for no apparent reason. Matheson’s main characters often seemed to be exist on a different plane or level than other characters in the same stories. The deformed child of “Born of Man and Woman” and Scott Carey of “The Shrinking Man” are exiled in basements, each spending a good part of their narratives trying to regain entry to the main level where life is going on. The Gremlin of “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” terrorizes a passenger from the wing of an airplane while William Shatner’s Bob Wilson can only wonder whose world he is in. The Old Woman living alone, terrorized by miniature aliens who have landed in her attic, turns out to be the extraterrestrial who then destroys the tiny US space craft and astronauts she finds there.
Universal must have felt it was taking the same type of risk in releasing “The Incredible Shrinking Man” in February 1957 that it did in releasing “The Invisible Man” in November 1933. After seeing “Frankenstein” and “The Mummy”, how would audiences feel about seeing a fiend - one they could not see? And with all the movies about giant creatures attacking major cities, how would audiences feel about a man who only grows smaller and smaller. But both films turned out to be box office successes. “TIM” was the fifteenth highest grossing film of 1933. “TISM” made over four million dollars which was almost six times its production costs. Both films defined, as well as defied, their respective genres. These films were subtle, allowing us to look inside the main character in more ways than one. Yes, special effects helped us to watch Scott Carey getting smaller, but it was those subtle touches (his wife no longer having to stand on tip toe to kiss him, his wedding ring sliding off his finger and his cat forcing him into his basement) that suggest his fall from stature as well as his mental disintegration.
Richard Matheson made it a point not to be trapped within the genre he was creating. Maybe that is why so much of his work had a twist ending. Shortly before tonight’s story, he wrote “I am Legend” which brought the story of Dracula into the Science Fiction realm. Its theme was two-sided, with perspective from both the living and the dead. If he hadn’t written this story (Meaning the resulting film adaptation, “The Last Man on Earth” would also not be made) would George Romero have been able to create “Night of the Living Dead”?
Great Authors such as Ray Bradbury and Steven King saluted Matheson for what he created. Great Directors such as Romero and Spielberg saluted him for what he helped them create!
Some people thought it stank.
I thought it was insightful,
Just like tomorrow’s movie starring an eyeball.
[https://youtu.be/vU7Dzd16Tn4]
Funny you say that, I was sent this today!
I work in a fish bowl
They play tug-of-war with my soul
They said "Of the four contractors, we can keep two
But do not frett, 'cause one of them is you"
I just made a count (reliability not 100% guaranteed) of the morning Toon posts. Saturday (3 hours) - 325. Monday - 113. Tuesday - 187. Wednesday - 92. Thursday - 114. Friday - 114. Average of 118 posts per hour. Grand total - 945.
Considering Sven blog averaged 600-700 posts per week back in 2015, I think it's evident we need a Toon-In blog. Come on, MeTV folks, I bet you can do it remotely. All you Toonatics and Tooniacs, what do you think?
Which might not be worth it, as the blog is not a direct money-maker for MeTV, and thus probably not worth it. (Although being able to post replies to the show's blog might help develop a sense of community, which might encourage folks to watch.)
I only catch them on Saturday, so I don't get the whole effect of the hosting part. Have enjoyed the crossover to Sven Land.
Somewhat related....
Some last thoughts about Grant Williams. He does seem to be one of these tragic cases of a talented actor who probably, literally, drank himself to death at age 53. I've seen two reasons given for his death-perintonitis or blood toxemia, and both, I believe, can be connected to alcoholism in some ways.
One thing that is somewhat amazing is how the guy never seemed to have a personal relationship with anyone, either male or female, that any one can find any evidence of. He also was an excellent pianist, and actually sang opera on stage! His alcoholism apparently caused him to lose his job on Hawaiian Eye.
Several years after TISM, he
made a movie called The Couch, where he played gave a very chilling performance as a serial killer whose weapon of choice was an ice pick.
I found this info on a site called Original Cinemaniac, and it referenced the Stampalia biography that Dale mentioned in an earlier post.
When I watch a movie multiple times, like others I try to notice things I didn't notice as much before. In last Saturday's viewing, I thought about how physically demanding the role was, and-according to what I read, he broke a vertabrae in his neck doing work in the movie.
So sad he never got the recognition he deserved in his lifetime.☹️
