The Little Shop Of Horrors

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Runtime: 72 minutes

Directed by: Roger Corman

Starring: Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles, Dick Miller, Myrtle Vail

From: The Filmgroup/Santa Clara Productions

Or: When you watch a pair of movies so you can participate in a watchalong discussion on a movie messageboard.

It was only earlier in the month that I discovered a movie messageboard I always frequent (admittedly, I mainly only look at one thread on that board) talks about each episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs with a few people engaging in discussion. So yes, on Sunday I'll be posting my review of Humanoids from the Deep, which was... quite the spectacle. This was my first time viewing The Little Shop of Horrors, and as a kid I only saw parts of the 80's remake. Not only was it interesting to see a pair of films new to me that are both cult favorites, it was a treat getting to see the legendary Roger Corman be interviewed-more on that at the end.

This was not the typical Corman movie as it is dialogue-driven. When you make a movie in either 2 or 2 ½ days (I've seen both be noted) in order to win a bet, that is what will happen. Those that only have seen the Frank Oz movie, from what I know the characters are the same and so is the plot aside from some minor differences and this not being a musical. Of course the movie is cheap although because it reuses sets, the cast is fine-as always it's great to see Dick Miller-the score is catchy and it has laughs-of the Jewish variety because of said cast having a few members of that faith-that makes this watchable.

It's a film that's the opposite of subtle about a talking carnivorous plant starring a guy that looks like Oscar Issac (of course some people want to remake this again, with Taron Egerton as Seymour. Balderdash, I say! If it has to be done, might as well have Isaac play a bumbling nerd) so it will forever be a silly picture filled with caricatures of human beings... that thankfully was entertaining and did not wear out its welcome at only 72 minutes. There's even a dental patient who is a masochist... here played by Jack Nicholson in quite the unforgettable brief role for a then-up and coming actor. In a sad note, I was surprised to see that Karyn Kupcinet had a small role; I have known of her for a long time as the daughter of a longtime Chicago columnist... and someone who was tragically killed on Thanksgiving Day 1963 and the identity of her murderer or murderers has never been identified. In fact, various true crime podcasts have covered this case.

It was great getting to hear Roger Corman be interviewed. For someone who is 95 (!) he still appears to have all his faculties and intelligently answered all of Joe Bob's questions... it was fascinating, especially when he casually mentioned that Nicholson was familiar with LSD in the 1960's! No matter what you think of Corman's product, he helped launch the careers of MANY notable talent in the movie world. The industry would be better off if there was someone around now who has a low-budget studio like Roger did and young talent can have a place to cut their teeth and pay their dues before they go on to Hollywood success.