SIX OF THE BEST #38 – ROGER CORMAN

Sadly, the uber-filmmaker, Roger Corman passed away on May 9th 2024. But given the longevity of his life and career in films it’s really time to celebrate his life in cinema. To me Roger Corman is a hero because he is a true independent filmmaker, working outside of the Hollywood system producing hundreds of films, many of which were extremely successful financially.

Of course, for a man known as the “King of the B-Movies” not all of the films were the height of artistic merit, however, they were NEVER boring. So many of his films have real invention and a crazy energy. What separates Corman from say Ed Wood is he knew how to tell a proper story on a low budget. Indeed, films such as Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and Death Race 2000 (1976) would latterly get the big-budget Hollywood remake treatment. Further, without Corman’s The Wild Angels (1966) starring Peter Fonda, Hopper and Fonda’s counter-cultural phenomenon Easy Rider (1969) may not have existed.

As well as boosting the careers of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, as a producer Corman also gave starts to Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, James Cameron, Sandra Bullock, Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese, Pam Grier and many more. Corman did not just have a keen eye for talent, he was canny because he knew that such hungry filmmakers and actors could be “exploited” at a lower cost than bigger Hollywood names.

So, as a mini-tribute I have selected six of the best Corman films I have seen. Rest in peace, Mr Corman – you were a true cult and cinema legend!

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LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960)

Incredibly, this film was shot in three days for $28,000 and would become a cult hit after initially struggling to find distribution. Amazingly, Corman did not expect the film to be successful so he didn’t bother to copyright it. It is therefore in the public domain! I myself saw it recently on Talking Pictures and it is a so entertaining. Look out for a hilarious early performance from Jack Nicholson.

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THE INTRUDER (1962)

This is perhaps the most seriously raw and challenging film of Corman’s career. William Shatner portrays charismatic racist, Adam Cramer, a travelling salesman, who becomes hellbent on preventing racial desegregation in a Southern town. It was a landmark film for Corman who decided, “It was more of a lecture. From that moment on I thought my films should be entertainment on the surface and I should deliver any theme or idea or concept beneath the surface.”

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MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964)

Three masters of horror for the price of one with Edgar Allen Poe, Corman and Vincent Price, combining to chilling effect in this beautifully filmed period ghost story. Arguably the most artfully directed film of Corman’s career, the cinematography was by one Nicolas Roeg, proving once again Corman was an expert at spotting film talent way ahead of time.

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BLOODY MAMA (1970)

Cashing in on the success of period gangster film, Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bloody Mama (1970) is a gloriously over-the-top chase thriller, with Shelley Winters eating the scenery in a brilliant performance. Robert DeNiro appears at Ma Barkers drug addicted son, Lloyd, showing glimpses of the acting talent that would lead to so many incredible performances. But it is Winters’ film as the “loving” and gun-toting mother who leaves a lot to be desired as a positive parental role model.

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DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)

The epitome of a high concept cult movie, directed by Paul Bartel, this features the brilliantly sick idea of racing drivers killing members of the public for entertainment. Full of terrific gore and gallows humour, this is one of those Corman produced films where a bigger budget would have served the action so much better. It was still a massive hit though. The imaginative deaths, cutting satire and demented characterisations from the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Martin Kove and deadpan David Carradine are memorably fantastic. I cannot help thinking Death Race 2000 must have been an influence on The Purge franchise too.

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BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980)

Corman’s biggest budgeted film at the time of release at $2 million, this film is both a rip-off of Star Wars and homage to The Seven Samurai, or it is the other way round? The massive budget was essentially due to George Peppard’s and Robert Vaughan’s salaries, both of whom would become stars of The A-Team. If you didn’t know many of the inventive practical special effects were supervised and created by a certain James Cameron, who got his big break as the lead production designer and art director on Battle Beyond the Stars.