Movie Review: The Incredible Shrinking Man

Of a late night on weekdays, the Australian ABC often plays old black and white films in the NBC Feature Film Package range. You get to see some classic films that wouldn't play in the daytime, stuff that holds a certain charm for movie lovers and retro buffs. Tonight it is The Incredible Shrinking Man, a fine little Science Fiction film made in 1957 and told in first person by the main character.
The story begins with Scott Carey (played by hunky Grant Williams) and his wife, Louise (played by Randy Stuart), on the front of their yacht on holiday. After much convincing, Louise goes below deck to fetch Scott a drink and suddenly a strange mist rolls in and covers the ship. Scott gets the full glitter covering of the strange dust. Over the following weeks our hero shrinks from 6'1" to 5'11". This trend continues. In spite of medical treatments and scientific experiments, we quickly see Scott descend into depression as the shrinking accelerates. The pair are forced to accept payment for the story by the APS, but in doing so they begin to loose their privacy.
After another trial of experiments the doctor informs Scott that in spite of what seems to be a remedy to the man's shrinking, he may never grow back to his former height. In Scott's feeling of isolation and hopelessness he runs out into the night, and meets a midget named Clarice. The pair develop a repore, but just as they are becoming close friends, Scott realizes that he is shrinking again. Scott's condition worsens and he is forced to live in the household doll-house for protection.
However, after a life and death encounter with the household cat, Scott lands in a box in their basement, and because nobody can find him, our hero is thought to be dead. Thus begins a big adventure within the basement. Scott finds a dripping tap for water, a matchbox for shelter, and after failing to gather cheese from a mousetrap he is forced to make tools to fight a tarantula. After finally defeating the spider, Scott comes to the realization that he is more than just a shrinking man and loses all fear of his condition.
An interesting monologue sees out the end, but not one that might expect. There is no miraculous solution, just a man learning to master himself. It was a refreshing film - one that, according to IMDB, will soon be remade with Eddie Murphy playing Scott. I can't see it being anyway near as serious a film as the original but we'll have to wait and see how it pans out, and if it actually gets released.
Richard Matheson, the guy that wrote the screenplay for the original film, also wrote the novel. He did such a good job of showing the perils of miniaturization, and the monologue was believable. The casting was excellent as well and the special effects were exceptionally good for even late 60's. The Incredible Shrinking Man was a rare gem in the science fiction genre of that time and I highly recommend it.