Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1993 film)
A remake of the 1958 cult film with a feminist slant.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, a 1993 American science fiction comedy made for television, reimagines the 1958 cult classic. Christopher Guest directed the film, which stars Daryl Hannah and Daniel Baldwin. It first aired on HBO on December 11, 1993, and later saw theatrical releases in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Nancy Archer inherits her late mother’s entire estate, a fortune her father, Hamilton Cobb, wants to use to seize control of their town. She confides in her psychiatrist, Dr. Cushing, about her low self-esteem and her troubled marriage to Harry Archer. Harry, meanwhile, is having an affair with beautician Honey Parker, and the two plot to steal the family business from Hamilton.
One night while driving through the desert, Nancy spots a UFO that shines a bright light on her. Fearing ridicule, she keeps the sighting secret. She eventually persuades Harry to join her on another desert drive. When the UFO descends, Nancy gets out for a closer look, is trapped in a bright light, and vanishes with the craft. Harry returns to town quietly, reporting nothing to Sheriff Denby or Deputy Charlie.
Later, a dazed Nancy is found atop Honey’s salon and brought home. Hamilton suspects Harry abandoned her in the desert, but Harry denies it. As the two men argue, Nancy loses her temper—and begins to grow. Her clothes tear as her head smashes through the ceiling into the attic.
The next morning, Nancy is moved to a large stable, where Dr. Loeb examines her. He notes a hormonal surge triggered her growth. Frightened, Nancy asks him to find a cure and keep the condition secret. When she refuses to relocate to a controlled facility, Loeb warns Harry that any stress could overtax her heart. This gives Harry an idea: provoke her into a fatal heart attack to inherit the business and money.
As Nancy grows, her confidence and willpower strengthen. She invites Harry to dinner, discussing her physical and emotional growth and suggesting it could improve their marriage. Pretending to be unhinged, Harry reveals his affair with Honey and other flings, deliberately enraging Nancy until she faints from stress and crashes into the stable. He escapes to Honey’s salon, celebrating with her diamond necklace. But Nancy wakes and searches the town for him.
Finding Honey and Harry, Nancy grabs Honey but spares her, saying she doesn’t have to act stupid. She then captures H
- release_year
- 1993
- country
- United States
- genre
- Science fiction comedy
- director
- Christopher Guest
- starring
- Daryl Hannah, Daniel Baldwin
- premiere_network
- HBO
- premiere_date
- December 11, 1993
Lore & Background
The film follows Nancy Archer, who inherits her late mother's estate. Her father Hamilton Cobb hopes to use the money to control the town, while her husband Harry Archer plots with his mistress Honey Parker to steal the family business. After encountering a UFO in the desert, Nancy is abducted and later reappears, beginning to grow to enormous size. As she grows, she gains self-confidence and strength, but Harry schemes to kill her by provoking stress that could overload her heart. Nancy survives, captures Harry, and is ultimately rescued by the UFO, which takes Harry away for therapy. A memorial museum is later dedicated to Nancy Archer.
Reader's Guide
The 1993 television film updates the 1958 original with a more feminist slant, as noted by critic Brian Gusse of Rovi. It explores themes of female empowerment through Nancy's transformation from a woman with low self-esteem to a giantess who asserts herself against her manipulative husband and father. The film's blend of science fiction and comedy, along with its made-for-cable origins on HBO, contributed to its cult status. Its theatrical releases in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany expanded its audience beyond the United States.
Did You Know?
- The film is a remake of the 1958 film of the same name.
- It premiered on HBO on December 11, 1993.
- The plot involves a UFO that abducts Nancy and later rescues her.
- A memorial museum is dedicated to Nancy Archer at the end of the film.
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