It's a Small World

"It's a Small World", despite the title, is NOT a Disney film but an exploitation film about a midget. And, incidentally, it was written and directed by William Castle--a guy who sure knew how to promote his films!

The film is about a fictional guy named Harry (Paul Dale). It starts with him as a 12 year-old (even though the actor appeared to be in his 30s or 40s) and his father is worried because his son stopped growing. Doctors are baffled and as the years pass, the boy's life gets tougher and tougher. His sister is a TOTAL b---- and is embarrassed by him-- and does little to hide this from poor Harry. And, as for most of the other folks in his life, they make fun of him and life is tough. So, he leaves home and goes in search of a new life. Unfortunately, he is befriended by some slime-bags who only want to exploit him. Can poor Harry somehow find love and acceptance some place?!

The film is very painful to watch. Some of it is because you know that the movie is exploiting Paul Dale and hearing folks making fun of him is very hard. Also, too often it seems like Castle tries to make his point by using sledgehammer symbolism and over-exaggerations. Sure, life can be VERY tough for a small person like this, but too often the film came off as a campy and over-the-top account of a life that cannot help but be fictional. Had they just dialed back the examples a bit, it would have made the film a lot easier to watch and realistic.

"It's a Small World" is one of the stranger movies that director William Castle (who also wrote the screenplay) made in his career. On one hand, it does feel quite exploitive. There is liberal use of the now un-PC term "midget", among other kinds of abuse the short stature Paul Dale character has to endure almost non-stop until near the end of the movie. On the other hand, you do sense through all the abuse that Castle's heart was in the right place, trying to get the audience to sympathize with this character and to understand what problems short people must go through all through their lives. In the end, while I definitely wouldn't call this a good movie, or a movie for more sensitive and compassionate people, it is definitely one of a kind, and may be strange enough for those who have a taste for offbeat cinema.

Years before he became famous for his gimmicky (but extremely fun) horror flicks, William Castle directed and co-wrote this obscure B movie. The story is about the life of a midget named Harry and the hardships he has to endure. Don't watch this if you're very sensitive or easily depressed. The poor guy has to put up with a lot. Harry eventually does find happiness but how that comes about is kind of sad itself.

Harry is played by Paul Dale, a little person whose only other credit on IMDb is that of a member of the Lollipop Guild in The Wizard of Oz. He does a very good job for an amateur. Will Geer plays Harry's father. He appears to be the only person in his town with a Southern accent. Todd Karns, of It's a Wonderful Life fame, plays the guy who befriends Harry and gives him a job shining shoes. Sexy Lorraine Miller is great as Buttons, the 'big woman' who leads Harry astray.

There are moments where Castle displays some directorial flair, such as the scene where Harry's shadow talks to him while he sleeps or the scene where he runs away from the jerk who runs a carnival, only to be confronted by the jerk's laughing face everywhere he turns. Castle could be a talented director when he tried. The most ridiculous part of the film is near the end where Harry sings "It's a Small World." No, not the Disney song; this one is worse. I'm sure there will be some people offended by this movie. I can sort of see why but I do believe Castle's intent was to tell the story of a midget sympathetically and not be exploitative. But yesterday's good intentions aren't always good enough viewed through a modern lens. It's an interesting movie, for sure. Some will watch it just to laugh but this isn't something like Terror of Tiny Town. Contrary to what IMDb currently lists it as, this is not a comedy. Not intentionally, anyway.

When I first saw this film I felt a sense of absurdity. It is a film that has close ties to both FREAKS (1932) and CHAINED FOR LIFE (1951). Same theme... what happens to the circus freak when he tries to live a normal life ? He is unwillingly taken advantage of. This time its the midget/actor Paul Dale that breaths life into a story where he is exploitet by some crooks that takes advantage of his size. The film does not take place in the entertainment business this time, but small town USA. We follow the day to day life of a midget that grows from child to adult. Many of the episodes in his life are very sad and depressing. But he is able to move forward and fights for his independence away from home. ITS A SMALL WORLD has a happy ending and love is found when he meets a woman his own size. Absurd ending takes place in a trailer where his new found love all of a sudden starts singing like she suddenly was in the middle of a musical. This film has to be seen to be believed. A film often ignored by lovers of exploitation films. Its worth watching, even if very slow at times, but like CHAINED FOR LIFE you might wonder if the producers of this film thought they would make money on this. I wonder if they did ?

I too stayed up and watched this on TCM last night. Wow! My first impression was I just saw the worst movie I have ever seen. But that is probably not true. Was it bad? Well, it wasn't good. The acting was mostly terrible, by almost everyone. Call it morbid curiosity but I would like to see it again to see how bad it was. It was only a little over 70 minutes long so when it ended I wasn't expecting it to end at that time. My first reaction was "Huh?" Followed closely by "What was that". Surely not for everyone but if you like B or bad films check this one out. It will certainly make you scratch your head. I will be looking to see when TCM is going to show it again.