Editing The Incredible Shrinking Man (section)

==Production==
===Development and pre-production===
[[File:Dan O'Herlihy 1955.JPG|thumbnail|right|alt=A black-and-white head shot of Dan O'Herlihy looking to his left| Producer [[Albert Zugsmith]] initially wanted [[Dan O'Herlihy]] (pictured) to play the role of Scott Carey.]]
<!-- development of the concept and script, as well as the securing of financing and producers -->
[[Richard Matheson]]'s idea for the original novel was inspired by a scene in the film ''[[Let's Do It Again (1953 film)|Let's Do It Again]]'', where [[Ray Milland]]'s character leaves an apartment with the wrong hat. It is much too large for Milland and sinks down around his head and ears.<ref name="tism-7">{{Cite AV media notes| title =Robinson Crusoe in His Own Basement| last=Newman| first = Kim |author-link = Kim Newman | year = 2017| page = 7| type = booklet | publisher = [[Arrow Films]] | id = FCD1628 }}</ref> Matheson sold the rights to Universal on the condition that he write the screenplay.<ref name="tism-7" /> It was Matheson's first screenplay, a writing format he felt he adapted to quickly.<ref name="tism-7" /> Matheson's initial script followed Scott Carey already shrunken and battling a spider in his basement.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=401}} His rewrite is told in flashback form: scenes of Carey and the spider are interspersed with scenes telling the story of Carey's gradual loss in height.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=401}}

The film was already into its second month of production before the novel was published in May 1956 by [[Gold Medal Books]].{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:02:40}} Producer [[Albert Zugsmith]] added the word "Incredible" to Matheson's title and passed the script to [[Richard Alan Simmons]], who removed the script's flashback structure.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=401}} Matheson later discussed working with Universal, finding that the producer had a "very commercial mind" which made the script weaker in terms of character.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=401}} In an interview in ''[[Cinefantastique]]'' magazine, Matheson stated he protested sharing a screen credit with Simmons.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=402}} The screen credits list Matheson as the writer, while the shooting script lists both Matheson and Simmons.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=401}}

<!-- recruitment of the most important artists (cast and crew) and shooting preparations -->
[[Pre-production]] was originally set to begin on April 20, 1956, but it started officially on April 24.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:05:26}} The cast consisted of mostly unknown actors.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=402}} Director [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]] phoned [[Randy Stuart]], who was a personal friend, asking if she would be interested in doing the film.{{sfn|Weaver|2004|p=306}} Zugsmith initially wanted [[Dan O'Herlihy]] to play the role of Scott Carey.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=406}} O'Herlihy had just been nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for his role in ''[[Robinson Crusoe (1954 film)|Robinson Crusoe]]''. After reading the script, he refused to play another isolated character, not wanting to be typecast in that kind of role.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=406}} [[Grant Williams (actor)|Grant Williams]] was cast because Universal had him pegged to become a star.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=406}} On April 4, 1956, Williams and Stuart were [[screen test]]ed and deemed acceptable for the roles of Scott and Louise Carey.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:05:08}}

===Filming===
<!-- production or filming: actual filming—dates and places, important artistic decisions, and noteworthy events (delays, reshoots, financial problems, etc.) -->
On the first day of production, May 31, Universal's operating committee decided that because of the type of special photography involved in the making of the film, the publicity department would cooperate by publicizing a closed-door policy on the set. On-set photography would not be allowed while the film was shot to stimulate public and trade interest.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:16:57}} Shooting took either five or six weeks, including the special effects sequences. The budget ranged between $700,000 and $800,000.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=402}} Film critic [[Kim Newman]] said the budget was "not expensive", with  most of it used for special effects.<ref name="tism-9">{{Cite AV media notes| title =Robinson Crusoe in His Own Basement | last =Newman| first =Kim |author-link = Kim Newman| year = 2017| page = 9| type =booklet| publisher = Arrow Films| id = FCD1628}}</ref>

Some special effects shots were the earliest taken for the picture. For example, shots with Randy Stuart were taken against a black velvet backdrop and then composited with shots of Williams on an enlarged living room set. Their movements were synchronized using negatives from the first exposed scene in the camera gate, with the opposite done for the other scene.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:20:48}} Sound production began on May 31.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:05:34}} An oversized dollhouse was built for Williams on Stage 28. It had previously been used for ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1925 film)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' and ''[[Dracula (1931 English-language film)|Dracula]]''.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:31:03}} Arnold said he filmed scenes with the cat in a normal studio with an animal trainer who had about 40 identical cats.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:33:40}} To coax the cat to approach the dollhouse, Arnold hid food in it so the cat would find a way into the house.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:34:00}} Later he timed the cat's reactions and directed Williams accordingly to react to the cat.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:34:00}} Arnold first attempted to follow the novel and use a black widow spider. After preliminary tests, he found black widows were too small to use properly in the film.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:49:20}} In an interview with Tom Weaver, Randy Stuart said the spiders presented problems. The overhead lamps on the set had to be turned up high, leading to the deaths of 24 tarantulas.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=405}} They were directed with little puffs of air, a technique which had been used previously in Arnold's film ''[[Tarantula (film)|Tarantula]]''.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=405}} Despite sources suggesting otherwise, the films did not use the same tarantulas.{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=405}}<ref name="afi" />

Many of the basement scenes were shot on Stage 12 of Universal Studios which, according to Tom Weaver, was one of the largest [[sound stage]]s in the world at the time.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:38:39}} While trying to find a way to simulate giant drops of water landing, Arnold recalled a time when he was a child and found condoms in his father's drawer. Not knowing what they were, he filled them with water and dropped them.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:41:05}} Arnold ordered about 100 condoms and placed them on a treadmill so they would drop in sequence.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:41:05}} The flood scene was shot on July 2 and 3.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=01:03:55}} There was a 20-minute delay in filming because of a bad camera cable. There was a further delay from 11:05&nbsp;am to 11:25&nbsp;am to allow water to drain so a crane could be used properly.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=01:04:30}} These scenes involved nine-hour workdays. When the actors were not filming, they were sent to have publicity shots taken.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=01:04:30}}

The film was originally shot in the standard 4:3 [[Aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]], but midway through filming, on June 22, it was decided that the remaining footage would be shot in 1.75:1. The belief was this would give the film a better look, as a shorter frame would allow the production department to scale down the height of certain props for the special effects.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:37:32}} During this period, Grant Williams suffered the first of many injuries on set. On June 22, he reported to the studio hospital with a scratched leg; on June 29, he had to leave the set to be treated for an eye condition; and on July 2 he both had to be driven to the hospital for further treatment for his eyes{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:56:05}} and was sent to the studio hospital with blisters and scratches from climbing sets.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:57:15}} Due to Williams' injuries and some special effects shots being too bright, the film was four days behind schedule and $25,000 over budget.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:57:15}}

===Post-production===
Special effects shots using black velvet [[trick photography]] took three weeks of post-production and were scheduled after the film completed production on July 13, 1956.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:04:18}}  Warren described the special effects as "hard to assign correctly."{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=405}} Clifford Stine, whose field was process work and [[Rear projection effect|rear screen projection]], is credited with "special photography".{{sfn|Warren|2009|p=405}} The boat scene at the beginning of the film was shot on Universal's process stage, which allowed for rear screen projection.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:03:59}} Shots of Scott in certain scenes, such as his encounter with the mist, were shot with him against a black velvet back drop.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=00:03:59}}

According to Randy Stuart, the film's ending had Williams return to his original size, which Matheson felt was the wrong ending for the story.{{sfn|Weaver|2004|p=308}} Arnold argued with Universal over the ending. The studio wanted a happy ending, while he wanted the original ending that had been shot.{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=01:10:30}} To decide on which ending to use, a [[test screening]] was held to judge the audience's reaction.{{sfn|Vieira|2003|p=180}}{{sfn|Vieira|2003|p=181}} Lucas said audience review cards from a December 7 preview screening in California included comments reacting to the ending such as: "Should've had a different ending, should've grown again." and "What happened at the end?". On the overall quality of the film, comments included, "Can't you do any better? This is pretty sad." "You scared my son to death." and "This is an insult to the brain power of my two-year old son".{{sfn|Lucas|2017|loc=01:10:57}} The film was released with Arnold's original ending intact.{{sfn|Vieira|2003|p=180}}{{sfn|Vieira|2003|p=181}} After its release, Mel Danner, manager of the Circle Theater in [[Waynoka, Oklahoma]], noted audiences felt it was a good film, but that Carey should have returned to his original size at the end.{{sfn|Craig|2013|p=107}}

===Soundtrack===
The film's title theme was composed by Fred Carling and Ed Lawrence and played by [[Ray Anthony]] and his Orchestra.<ref>{{cite journal|title=1956|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/ASCAP/ASCAP-30-Years-of-Motion-Picture-Music-1928-1958.pdf|journal=30 Years of Motion Picture Music|publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]]|page=102|date=1958|access-date=August 6, 2024|via=World Radio History}}</ref>