Re: The Incredible Shrinking Man :LP's in film and TV

[Guest guest]

I'm average sized (5'9 and a half " ) but have seemingly always been

interested in giant or tiny people in movies, TV, books, ads, and

real life. I was most interested in little people, as I have always

" cheered for the little guy " . The '57 film " Incredible Shrinking Man "

(now being remade with Eddie in the title role) was unique

because it showed how the character's world changed as he got

smaller--and by the end it's an adventure tale as he flees a cat

and a spider.

The scene you spoof of, by the way, only featured one LP actor,

Curtis, playing a circus dwarf who says hi to Clarice (April

Kent), another circus dwarf who has befriended the Shrinking Man.

April Kent was not an LP actress (she's been in other stuff,

including an Elvis film) but the oversized props made it seem that

she was 3 feet tall.

The book (soon to go back into print) does have some scenes that

didn't make it into the movie; when he's 42 " tall a drunken child

molester attacks him and when he's 35 " tall some teens chase him,

once they discover he's " that shrinkin' guy " and they taunt him.

Somehow the book and film caused me to want to look at things from

different perspectives. Have talked to people of all heights on the

Net, most recently a 3'6 " 27 year old proportional dwarf who seems

like an adult in a 5 year old's body, but he's happy (his family

takes care of him)...although he lives in a world seemingly scaled

for people bigger than him, etc.

My website is mostly for fictional tales of giant or tiny people

though there is also a links page for real life tall or short folks.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/shrinking

The

> film has a deeper meaning as it illustrates the fear of feeling

small

> and inadequate in life.