Renowned for his role in bringing to life low-budget classics like ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters,’ Roger Corman, the Hollywood producer and director known affectionately as the ‘King of the Bs,’ has passed away at the age of 98. Corman’s family released a statement on Saturday, expressing their remembrance of him as a generous, open-hearted, and kind individual. ‘When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that.” Corman’s career spanned decades, beginning in 1955. As a producer and director, he created hundreds of B-movies, including ‘2001’s ‘The Little Shop of Horrors,’ ‘1959’s ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters,’ and ‘1970’s ‘Boxcar Bertha.’ His contributions to the film industry were recognized with an honorary Academy Award in 2009. “There are many constraints connected with working on a low budget, but at the same time, there are certain opportunities,” Corman stated in a 2007 documentary. “You can gamble a little bit more. You can experiment. You have to find a more creative way to solve a problem or to present a concept,” he explained. Beyond his own work, Corman played a significant role in the careers of many Hollywood legends. He hired aspiring filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese as directors for his films. Jack Nicholson made his film debut as the title character in Corman’s 1958 short film ‘Cry Baby Killer.’ Other actors whose careers began in Corman films include Robert de Niro, Bruce Dern, and Ellen Burstyn. Peter Fonda’s appearance in ‘The Trip’ foreshadowed his iconic role in the seminal biker film ‘Easy Rider,’ co-starring fellow Corman alumnus Dennis Hopper. ‘Boxcar Bertha,’ starring Barbara Hershey and David Carradine, marked an early work by Martin Scorsese. Despite his tight-knit approach, Corman maintained strong relationships with his directors, boasting that he never fired one because “I wouldn’t want to inflict that humiliation.” Years later, some of these former underlings reciprocated his kindness. Coppola cast him in ‘Apocalypse Now,’ Jonathan Demme included him in ‘Something Wild’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ and Howard gave him a role in ‘Parenthood.’ Corman’s B-movie directors were often given strict deadlines, with some completing their films in as little as five days. Oscar-winning director Ron Howard experienced this firsthand when he pleaded with Corman for an extra half-day to reshoot a scene for his 1977 directorial debut, ‘Grand Theft Auto.’ Corman’s response was blunt: “Ron, you can come back if you want, but nobody else will be here.” Initially, only drive-ins and specialty theaters booked Corman’s films. However, as they gained popularity among teenagers, national chains followed suit. Corman’s films often explored controversial themes for their time, such as ‘The Trip,’ a 1967 release about LSD penned by Nicholson and starring Fonda and Hopper. Most of Corman’s movies faded from mainstream memory, but some notable exceptions remain. ‘The Little Shop of Horrors,’ starring a bloodthirsty plant that feasted on humans, featured Nicholson in a memorable role as a pain-loving dental patient. It inspired a long-running stage musical and a 1986 musical adaptation starring Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and John Candy. In 1963, Corman initiated a series of films based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The most notable was ‘The Raven,’ which teamed Nicholson with veteran horror stars Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Basil Rathbone. Directed by Corman on a rare three-week schedule, the horror spoof was well-received by critics, an uncommon occurrence for his films. Another Poe adaptation, ‘The Masque of the Red Death,’ was deemed worthy of preservation by the Library of Congress. Many contemporary filmmakers have cited Corman’s Poe series as influential in their cinematic upbringing. Industry professionals whose lives were touched by Corman paid tribute to his legacy over the weekend, sharing their memories of the legendary producer. “Roger Corman was my very first boss, my lifetime mentor, and my hero. Roger was one of the greatest visionaries in the history of cinema,” said Gale Ann Hurd, whose notable producing credits include the ‘Terminator’ franchise and ‘The Walking Dead’ television series. “A passionate and indefatigable lover of cinema for more than half a century, Corman’s influence and support of artists changed the course [of] film history, and can be felt in everything from B-movies and exploitation flicks to art-house classics,” the Criterion Collection posted. “It was my privilege to know him. He was a great friend. He shaped my childhood with science fiction movies and Edgar Allen Poe epics,” said John Carpenter, director of ‘Halloween,’ ‘The Thing,’ and other classic horror and action films. “I’ll miss you, Roger.” Writer and producer Larry Karaszewski, known for ‘Ed Wood’ and ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt,’ stated: “Modern American cinema begins with Roger Corman. Without him, we would not have Coppola, Scorsese, Bogdanovich, Nicholson, Demme, and countless others. My film school was a drive-in theater in the 1970s, and Roger Corman was the Dean.” Roger Corman’s impact on the film industry is undeniable. His low-budget filmmaking techniques and willingness to take risks pushed the boundaries of cinema, inspiring generations of filmmakers and cementing his legacy as the ‘King of the Bs.’
Roger Corman, Hollywood Legend and ‘King of B Movies,’ Dies at 98
