If you grew up in the sixties or seventies more likely than
not you spent countless hours at parked at the local drive in watching movies
that were never going to win Oscars but were always entertaining in various
ways. Horror movies would give you goose bumps, action flicks blew up countless
buildings and T&A films titillated the masses. One common thread among all
of these genres of films is director/producer Roger Corman. And with CORMAN'S
WORLD we finally get an on film look at the man and his movies.
The documentary follows Corman from the early years when he
began until the more current Corman, producing movies that most often end up on
the SyFy channel. In his earlier days, Corman was a director who had a talent
for making a marketable product for very little money. Those films became the
fodder for drive ins across the country. While low budget the ingenuity and
creativity displayed were amazing. I'll grant that they weren't top of the line
movies, but there was heart to them and entertainment always. IT CONQUERED THE
WORLD, CARNIVAL ROCK, NOT OF THIS EARTH, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, ROCK ALL
NIGHT, MACHINE GUN KELLY, WASP WOMAN and BUCKET OF BLOOD are just a few of the
movies that Corman directed during the 50s. Then he took off in the 60s.
During that time he began with a little movie shot in
several days called LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. A staple on late night horror host
shows across the country, it was a beginning of cult status for Corman. In 1960
he took off when he directed the first of several films he made based on the
stories of Edgar Allan Poe with FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. This was soon
followed with PIT AND THE PENDULUM and PREMATURE BURIAL. Corman's use of color
and stylistic forms are noted to this day by film makers around the world.
But Corman didn't just make great movies. He also helped up
and coming film makers and stars get the chance to get into the business as
well. One was a young actor who was quite unknown at the time but who Corman
gave more opportunities than one: Jack Nicholson. In the documentary here
Nicholson gives Corman the credit he deserves for helping him along when he got
started, coming to tears at one point.
Other notables who Corman gave opportunities to who appear
in the film with candid interviews include Martin Scorsese, Paul Bartel, Peter
Bogdanovich, David Carradine, Joe Dante, Jonathan Demme, Robert DeNiro and
Bruce Dern. All either starred in a Corman film or directed films for him.
But the movie isn't just a tribute to the man. It follows
his career from those early B-movies through the creation of his first company,
New World. Disappointed in the way films were being green lighted and made in
Hollywood, Corman started the company feeling that he could offer movies made
on lower budgets but that had something going for them. They were also a chance
for movie makers who had dreams to get the chance they needed. An example of
that is a man who discusses the way he was able to break into directing. Long
before he made films like THE DA VINCI CODE, FROST/NIXON, A BEAUTIFUL MIND,
RANSOM, APOLLO 13, PARENTHOOD or BACKDRAFT director Ron Howard was given his
first chance to direct by Corman with the film GRAND THEFT AUTO. The movie did
great for a small film and began Howard's directing career.
One would think that would be enough but it isn't. Corman
went on to make more films as a producer and even at 80s now hasn't stopped.
He's been producing films for the TV network SyFy now going back to his roots
using CGI instead of a man in a rubber suit. If you've seen DINOCROC, CAMEL
SPIDERS, CYCLOPS, SUPERGATOR, DINOSHARK, DINOCROC VS SUPERGATOR and the like,
you've seen a Corman film.
This documentary follows the time line of Corman's life,
from those early black and white low budget films through the honorary Oscar he
received. It has been a life filled with great and bad movies, with friends
that have stayed with him and recognize him to this day that he made decades
ago. It shows a man who made movies that might have displayed some artistic
value along the way but whose main goal was up front, to make money. To do so
means you have to make movies that people actually wanted to see and Corman
always did that. He's famous for making the statement that he never lost money
on a movie he made (with one exception, THE INTRUDER which is discussed in this
film). Having produced over 400 movies that's quite an accomplishment.
If you've never heard of Roger Corman, don't be surprised to
discover that he's been involved with more than one movie you've seen. His list
of credits available at imdb.com is amazing. This film does him justice with
interviews from numerous people from his past and present. It gives short
glimpses into the various genres of movies he made. And it pays tribute to one
of a dying breed, the Hollywood mogul. Corman deserves to be included in the
ranks of Selznick and Mayer. While a rebel when it comes to how Hollywood
works, Corman has been one of its biggest players of all time. Watch this film
and find out how.
On a last note I defy anyone to watch this film and not find
themselves thinking back fondly to some of the movies he made and that are
discussed here. Chances are you'll click on to amazon.com and place an order
after watching.
Click here to order.
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