From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Incredible Shrinking Woman
The Incredible Shrinking Woman movie poster
Directed by	Joel Schumacher
Produced by	Hank Moonjean
Written by	Richard Matheson Jane Wagner
Starring	Lily Tomlin Charles Grodin Ned Beatty John Glover Elizabeth Wilson
Music by	Suzanne Ciani
Cinematography	Bruce Logan
Editing by	Jeff Gourson
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	January 30, 1981
Running time	88 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	N/A
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Incredible Shrinking Woman is a 1981 science fiction/comedy film, starring Lily Tomlin, Charles Grodin, Ned Beatty, John Glover and Elizabeth Wilson, and directed by Joel Schumacher. Written by Tomlin's longtime life partner and frequent collaborator, Jane Wagner.

The film tells the story of a happy, contented California suburban wife, and mother of two small children, who suddenly starts shrinking. Medical tests suggest this is due to all the chemicals that are part of daily life: household cleaners, deodorants, food additives, etc. She becomes a celebrity of sorts, though her personal life suffers. Soon after, she is kidnapped, and learns of a diabolical plan by a sinister group.

• This was originally planned to be a 3D film, but the idea was ultimately scrapped.

• Pat's neighbor Mrs. Judith Beasley sells a line of household products called Flow-Naturelle.

• Pat and her family live in the fictional suburb of Tasty Meadows.

• Prop products shown in the film included aerosol cheese spray: "Cheese Tease", "Galaxy Glue", feminine hygiene spray: "Breathe Easy", and the prototype for a new perfume called "Sexpot".

• Actor Dick Wilson plays a fussy supermarket manager - much like his famous Charmin tissue TV commercial character: Mr. Whipple.

• Mike Douglas sings the song "Little Things Mean A Lot" on his show before Pat Kramer comes out on stage.

• A scene was cut where Pat Kramer shrinks some more while backstage at The Mike Douglas Show. Judith Beasley comes to the rescue by fashioning a tiny dress for Pat to wear from the cut sleeve of her own blouse. In the final version, Judith is shown in the studio audience with one of her sleeves missing.

• Lily Tomlin plays four characters in this film: lead character Pat Kramer, her neighbor Judith Beasley, Tomlin's Laugh-In characters "Ernestine" (a telephone operator) and "Edith Ann" (a little girl) who wanders in the lab.

• Rick Baker played Sidney the Gorilla. In 1981 he was the very first recipient of the Oscar for Best Make-Up for "An American Werewolf in London" when the category was first introduced. Baker's career, especially his early fascination with gorillas and his work in three movies featuring them is told in the TV documentary "Gorillas: Primal Contact."

• A Mike Douglas audience member holds up a sign reading "Small is Beautiful." A book by that same title was written by E.F. Schumacher (no relation to director Joel).

• In one of the many editions of his books of movie reviews, Roger Ebert took special notice of the sets and color scheme in the film, as have several other reviewers since its release.

• Lily Tomlin .... Pat Kramer/Judith Beasley
• Charles Grodin .... Vance Kramer
• Ned Beatty .... Dan Beame
• Henry Gibson .... Dr, Eugene Nortz
• Elizabeth Wilson .... Dr. Ruth Ruth
• Mark Blankfield .... Rob
• Maria Smith .... Concepcion
• Pamela Bellwood .... Sandra Dyson
• John Glover .... Tom Keller
• Nicholas Hormann .... Logan Carver
• Jim McMullan .... Lyle Parks (as James McMullan)
• Shelby Balik .... Beth Kramer
• Justin Dana .... Jeff Kramer
• Rick Baker .... Sidney (as Richard A. Baker)
• Mike Douglas .... Himself
• Dick Wilson .... Store Manager
• Sally Kirkland .... Store Cashier

• The Incredible Shrinking Woman at the Internet Movie Database