8mm Forum: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN

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Topic: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN

Chris Fries
Master Film Handler

Posts: 399
From: Ohio, US
Registered: Aug 2011

posted December 11, 2011 10:40 PM

The Incredible Shrinking Woman

Universal 8

1981

Lily Tomlin plays Pat Kramer, a housewife and mother who begins to shrink because of over exposure to household products and pollution. It is loosely based on Richard Matheson's "The Incredible Shrinking Man".

I think the story is told fairly well in 32 min. for what is originally a 90 min. movie. There are some things I did miss, though. The fact that it is the new perfume and not just everything that is the catalyst for the shrinking. The kids keep asking Pat to do "Little Bar of Soap" but we never see her do it. Her appearance on The Mike Douglas Show. Pat living in a dollhouse. The "Galaxy Glue" song. And I know time is limited in a digest but it would have been nice to see the brief appearance of either Ernestine or Edith Ann.

This print still has good color. And what bright colors they are. They would become less so as the tone of the movie gets darker.

A lot has been said on this forum about the awful picture quality of this transfer. How soft the images are. But no one mentioned that the softness is intentional. I will agree that the image is not as clear as the on-demand-only DVD but if you watch that, you will see there is a halo effect around everything from whatever filter was put on the camera. It could be a little more clear, however. I have noticed several of the later U8 films, like this and "The Blues Brothers", are pretty grainy.

The sound is a very clear magnetic mono.

"The Incredible Shrinking Woman" is by no means a masterpiece but I thought it was fun when I was 10 years old. The kid in me still enjoys it.

This was the last 2x400 digest from Universal 8 Films. The format has been laying low since then while movies on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray and now download have become the way to watch movies at home. And yet, through it all, we are here keeping it alive. Pretty cool.

[ March 16, 2012, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: Chris Fries ]

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There's a great big beautiful tomorrow just a dream away.

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted December 12, 2011 01:05 AM

My sons and I loved this film. When they were little I would have to sing them the Little Bar of Soap song at bedtime. You are right about the soft halo look of the original film. I've noticed that myself. It created a dreamy effect and the saturated colors gave it a cartoon or comic book feeling.

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Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted December 12, 2011 02:31 AM

quote:
The format has been laying low since then while movies on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray and now download have become the way to watch movies at home. And yet, through it all, we are here keeping it alive. Pretty cool.

Well said, Chris. I'm glad to be part of that too. I love my film collection.

I would like to find a copy of this digest. It has been many years since I have seen this film and your review brought back some good memories!

Bill [Smile]

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted December 13, 2011 08:23 AM

Intentional softness in a 35mm print looks ok..but my print of this film was plain out of focus. Not even the Universal 8 logo was sharp. ..I ran it one time...couldn't show it to an audience because I'd have to apologize for it...and sold it.

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Larry Arpin
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 953
From: Sunland, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2006

posted December 14, 2011 12:09 AM

When a print fades it loses contrast, in turn, will lose some focus.

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