Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926)
is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works that have an already-established critical reputation, such as his cycle of low-budget cult films adapted from the tales of
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
.
In 1964, Corman—admired by members of the
French New Wave and ''
Cahiers du Cinéma''—became the youngest filmmaker to have a retrospective at the
Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française (), founded in 1936, is a French non-profit film organization that holds one of the largest archives of film documents and film-related objects in the world. Based in Paris's 12th arrondissement, the archive offers ...
, as well as in the
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
and the
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...
. He was the co-founder of
New World Pictures
New World Pictures (also known as New World Entertainment and New World Communications Group, Inc.) was an American independent production, distribution, and (in its final years as an autonomous entity) multimedia company. It was founded in 19 ...
, the founder of
New Concorde
New Concorde (NC) is an American Los Angeles, California based film distribution company founded by Roger Corman. NC got its start in 1983 when Corman formed the production and distribution Concorde-New Horizons (CNH) as one of the first product ...
and is a longtime member of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
. In 2009, he was awarded an
Honorary Academy Award "for his rich engendering of films and filmmakers".
Corman is also famous for distributing in the U.S. many foreign directors, such as
Federico Fellini (Italy),
Ingmar Bergman (Sweden),
François Truffaut (France) and
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dyna ...
(Japan). He mentored and gave a start to many young film directors such as
Francis Ford Coppola,
Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...
,
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
,
Jonathan Demme,
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian.
One of the "New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on R ...
,
Joe Dante,
John Sayles
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, for ''Passion Fish'' (1992) and '' ...
,
and
James Cameron,
and was highly influential in the
New Hollywood
The New Hollywood, also known as American New Wave or Hollywood Renaissance, was a movement in American film history from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, when a new generation of young filmmakers came to prominence.
They influenced the types o ...
filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He also helped to launch the careers of actors like
Peter Fonda,
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...
,
Dennis Hopper,
Bruce Dern,
Sylvester Stallone,
Diane Ladd, and
William Shatner
William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1965 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...
. Corman has occasionally taken minor acting roles in the films of directors who started with him, including ''
The Silence of the Lambs'', ''
The Godfather Part II
''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. ''Part II'' s ...
'', ''
Apollo 13'', ''
The Manchurian Candidate
''The Manchurian Candidate'' is a novel by Richard Condon, first published in 1959. It is a political thriller about the son of a prominent U.S. political family who is brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for a Communist conspiracy.
Th ...
'', and ''
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
''.
A documentary about Corman's life and career entitled ''
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel'', directed by Alex Stapleton, premiered at the
Sundance and
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
s in 2011. The film's TV rights were picked up by
A&E IndieFilms after a well-received screening at Sundance.
Early life
Corman was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Anne (née High) and William Corman, an engineer.
His younger brother,
Gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
, produced numerous films, sometimes in collaboration with Roger.
[ Corman and his brother were raised Catholic.
Corman went to ]Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School (usually abbreviated as Beverly or as BHHS) is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. The other public high school in Beverly Hills, Moreno High School, is a small alternative school located on B ...
and then to Stanford University
Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...
to study industrial engineering. While at Stanford, Corman realized he did not want to be an engineer. He enlisted in the V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II. Between July 1, 1943, and June 30, 1946, more than 125,000 participants were enrolled in 131 colleg ...
with six months of study to complete. After serving in the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
from 1944 to 1946, he returned to Stanford to finish his degree, receiving a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is an engineering profession that is concerned with the optimization of complex process (engineering), processes, systems, or organizations by developing, improving and implementing integrated systems of people, money, kno ...
in 1947.["The Award of a Lifetime for Roger Corman"](_blank)
''Stanford Alumni Magazine'', January/February 2010. While at Stanford University, Corman was initiated in the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (), commonly known as SAE, is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. It was founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is t ...
.
In 1948, he worked briefly at U.S. Electrical Motors on Slauson Avenue
Slauson Avenue is a major east–west thoroughfare traversing the central part of Los Angeles County, California. It was named for the land developer and Los Angeles Board of Education member J. S. Slauson. It passes through Culver City, L ...
in Los Angeles, but his career in engineering lasted only four days; he began work on Monday and quit on Thursday, telling his boss "I've made a terrible mistake." Gene Corman was already working in the film industry as an agent, and Roger decided to go into filmmaking instead.
Early film career
Corman found work at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
initially in the mail room. He worked his way up to a story reader. The one property that he liked the most and provided ideas for was filmed as ''The Gunfighter
''The Gunfighter'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Henry King and starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell and Karl Malden. It was written by screenwriters William Bowers and William Sellers, with an uncredited rewr ...
'' with Gregory Peck. When Corman received no credit at all, he left Fox and decided he would work in film by himself. Under the G.I. Bill
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the G.I. Bill, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I.s). The original G.I. Bill expired in 1956, bu ...
, Corman studied English literature at Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
and lived in Paris for a time.
He then returned to Los Angeles and tried to re-establish himself in the film industry. He took various jobs, including television stagehand at KLAC and a messenger at Fox. He worked as an assistant to agent Dick Hyland, a literary agent.
''Highway Dragnet''
Corman wrote a script in his spare time and sold it to William F. Broidy at Allied Artists for $2,000. "Dick thought it was funny and let me pay myself a commission," said Corman. Originally called ''House in the Sea'', it was retitled ''Highway Dragnet
''Highway Dragnet'' is a 1954 American film noir B film crime film directed by Nathan Juran from a story by U.S. Andersen and Roger Corman. The film stars Richard Conte, Joan Bennett and Wanda Hendrix. It was the first feature film on which Rog ...
'' (1953) and starred Richard Conte
Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from the 1940s through 1970s, including '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'', ''Ocean's 11'', and ''Th ...
and Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990) was an American stage, film, and television actress. She came from a show-business family, one of three acting sisters. Beginning her career on the stage, Bennett appeared in more t ...
. Corman also worked as associate producer on the film for nothing, just for the experience.
Producer
Corman used his script fee and personal contacts to raise $12,000 to produce his first feature, a science-fiction film, ''Monster from the Ocean Floor
''Monster from the Ocean Floor'' is a 1954 science fiction film about a sea monster that terrorizes a Mexican cove. The film was directed by Wyott Ordung and starred Anne Kimbell and Stuart Wade.
It was the first film produced by Roger Corman ( ...
'' (1954). It was produced by Corman's own company, Palo Alto, and released by Robert L. Lippert.
The film did well enough to encourage Corman to produce another film, the racing-car thriller ''The Fast and the Furious
''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...
'' (1955), directed by its star, John Ireland
John Benjamin Ireland (January 30, 1914 – March 21, 1992) was a Canadian actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in ''All the King's Men'' (1949), making him the first Vancouver-born actor to receive an Oscar nomin ...
, and co-starring Dorothy Malone
Dorothy Malone (born Mary Dorothy Maloney; January 29, 1924 – January 19, 2018) was an American actress.
Her film career began in 1943, and in her early years, she played small roles, mainly in B-movies, with the exception of a supporting role ...
. Decades later, producer Neal H. Moritz
Neal H. Moritz (born June 6, 1959) is an American film producer and founder of Original Film. He has produced over 70 major motion pictures which have grossed a total of over $11 billion worldwide as of 2021. He is best known for the ''Fast & Fu ...
and Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
licensed the title for the 2001 franchise-launching film, ''The Fast and the Furious''. Moritz had difficulty choosing between proposed titles ''Racer X'', ''Redline'', ''Race Wars'', and ''Street Wars'', and was inspired by a documentary on American International Pictures
American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...
that included Corman's film. Moritz was able to trade the use of some stock footage to Corman for use of the title.
Corman sold the movie to a new independent company, the American Releasing Company (ARC), run by James H. Nicholson
James Harvey Nicholson (September 14, 1916 – December 10, 1972) was an American movie producer, film producer. He is best known as the co-founder, with Samuel Z. Arkoff, of American International Pictures.
Early life
Nicholson was born on ...
and Samuel Z. Arkoff. Although Corman had a number of offers for the film from Republic and Columbia, he elected to go with ARC because they undertook to advance money to enable him to make two more movies.
Director
Corman's second film for ARC was one he decided to direct, ''Five Guns West
''Five Guns West'' is a 1955 Western film set during the American Civil War directed by Roger Corman. It was Corman's first film as director although he had already made two as producer. It was the second film released by the American Releasing ...
'' (1955), a Western, made in color for around $60,000, with Malone and John Lund. The script was written by Robert Wright Campbell
Robert Wright Campbell (June 9, 1927–September 21, 2000), often credited as R. Wright Campbell or Robert Campbell, was an American screenwriter, author and occasional actor. He was the brother of actor William Campbell and brother in law o ...
, who worked with Corman on several more occasions.
Corman announced he would make four more projects for ARC: ''High Steel'', ''Cobra'', ''Fortress Beneath the Sea'', and an untitled film from Campbell. Instead, Corman did some uncredited directing on '' The Beast with a Million Eyes'' (1955), then made another Western, ''Apache Woman Apache Woman may refer to:
* Apache Woman (1955 film), an American Western directed by Roger Corman
* Apache Woman (1976 film)
''Apache Woman'' ( it, Una donna chiamata Apache) is a 1976 Italian Spaghetti Western film, written and directed by ...
'' (1955), starring Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. (January 15, 1913 – March 10, 1998) was an American film, stage and television actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. He was the father of four children, includi ...
, written by Lou Rusoff
Lou Rusoff (August 3, 1911 – June 29, 1963) was a Canadian-born screenwriter and producer best known for his work with American International Pictures.
He was brother-in-law to Sam Arkoff and was the screenwriter for many of Roger Corman's f ...
. Rusoff and Corman reunited on ''Day the World Ended
''Day the World Ended'' is a 1955 independently made black-and-white post-apocalyptic science fiction film, produced and directed by Roger Corman, that stars Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens, Paul Birch and Mike Connors. Chet Huntl ...
'' (1955), a postapocalyptic science-fiction film, which was popular.
Corman was to make ''The Devil on Horseback'' by Charles B. Griffith
Charles Byron Griffith (September 23, 1930 – September 28, 2007) was an American screenwriter, actor and film director, son of Donna Dameral, radio star of ''Myrt and Marge'', along with Charles' grandmother, Myrtle Vail, and was best known ...
about the Brownsville Raid, but it was too expensive.
The Woolner Brothers
The Woolner Brothers were an American film releasing company formed in 1955, made up of Lawrence (April 22, 1912 – July 21, 1985), Bernard (June 9, 1910 – February 21, 1977), and David Woolner.
History
After US Army service in World W ...
, Louisiana drive-in owners, financed Corman's ''Swamp Women
''Swamp Women'' is a 1956 American adventure film noir crime film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Carole Mathews, Beverly Garland, and Marie Windsor, with Mike Connors and Ed Nelson in small roles.
The film follows undercover police officer ...
'' (1956), a girls-on-the-lam saga.
He returned to ARC for two Westerns, ''The Oklahoma Woman
''The Oklahoma Woman'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Roger Corman.
Plot
The film involves the return of Steve Ward, a former gunslinger recently released from federal prison, to his hometown to claim a ranch he has inherited. Upo ...
'' (1956) and ''Gunslinger
Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (), or in the 19th and early 20th centuries gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in gunfights and shootouts. Today, the t ...
'' (1956) (with Ireland); ''Gunslinger'' was co-written by Griffith, who became a crucial collaborator with Corman over the next five years. He bought a script from Curtis Harrington
Gene Curtis Harrington (September 17, 1926 – May 6, 2007) was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films and episodic television. He is considered one of the forerunners of New Queer Cinema ...
, ''The Girl from Beneath the Sea''. Harrington made it for Corman years later as ''Night Tide
''Night Tide'' is a 1961 American fantasy film sometimes considered to be a horror film, written and directed by Curtis Harrington and featuring Dennis Hopper in his first starring role. It was filmed in 1960, premiered in 1961, but was held up fr ...
'' (1961).
American International Pictures and Allied Artists
ARC changed its name to American International Pictures. Corman was established as their leading filmmaker. They financed Corman's next film as director, the science-fiction story ''It Conquered the World
''It Conquered the World'' is an independently made 1956 American black-and-white science fiction film, produced and directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef, Beverly Garland, and Sally Fraser. ''It Conquered the World'' ...
'' (1956). Co-written by Griffith, it was a follow-up to ''The Day the World Ended''. It was a big hit.
He optioned a TV play ''The Stake'' and hoped to get Dana Andrews
Carver Dana Andrews (January 1, 1909 – December 17, 1992) was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts ...
to star. It was never made. Instead, Walter Mirisch
Walter Mortimer Mirisch (born November 8, 1921) is an American film producer. He is president and executive head of production of The Mirisch Corporation, an independent film production company, which he formed in 1957 with his brother Marvin ...
of Allied Artists hired Corman to make ''The Undead
The Undead is an American horror punk band formed in 1980 in New York City's East Village by Bobby Steele (vocals and guitar), Chris "Jack" Natz (bass) and Patrick Blanck (drums). They were one of the pioneers in the New York hardcore scene. ...
'' (1957), inspired by '' The Search for Bridey Murphy''. Griffith wrote the script.
In June, Corman made a science-fiction film for Allied Artists, '' Not of this Earth'' (1957), written by Griffith.
In August 1956, AIP financed a Corman heist movie shot in Hawaii, ''Naked Paradise
''Naked Paradise'' (sometimes credited as ''Thunder Over Hawaii'') is a 1957 drama film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Richard Denning and Beverly Garland.
Corman later asked Charles Griffith, who worked on the script, to reuse his screenplay ...
'' (1957), co-written by Griffith. Corman shot it back-to-back with a movie made with his own money, ''She Gods of Shark Reef
''She Gods of Shark Reef'' is a 1958 B- adventure film directed by Roger Corman that was partially filmed on location in Kaua'i back to back with '' Thunder over Hawaii'' in 1956. The film was distributed in 1958 by American International Picture ...
'' (1958) – Corman wound up selling the movie to AIP.
Corman and Griffith reunited in ''Attack of the Crab Monsters
Attack may refer to:
Warfare and combat
* Offensive (military)
* Charge (warfare)
* Attack (fencing)
* Strike (attack)
* Attack (computing)
* Attack aircraft
Books and publishing
* ''The Attack'' (novel), a book
* ''Attack No. 1'', comic an ...
'' (1957) for Allied, which wound up being one of his most successful early films.
For his own production company, Corman made a rock-and-roll "quickle", '' Carnival Rock'' (1957), released by Howco. ''Rock All Night
''Rock All Night'' is a 1957 crime drama film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Distributed by American International Pictures, it is based on a 25-minute television episode of '' The Jane Wyman Show'' from 1955 called "The Little Guy." It s ...
'' (1957) was a heist film written by Griffith expanded from a TV play, "The Little Guy", with musical acts inserted.
He was meant to make ''Rock'n'Roll Girl'' for AIP in December 1957.
In April 1957, Corman announced he would try to make two films back-to-back from then on to save costs.
Corman made two "teen girl noirs", ''Teenage Doll
''Teenage Doll'' is a 1957 film noir directed by Roger Corman, starring June Kenney and John Brinkley. It was financed by Lawrence Woolner, who had previously made ''Swamp Women'' with Corman. One writer called it Corman's "most impressive teen f ...
'' (1957) for the Woolner Brothers
The Woolner Brothers were an American film releasing company formed in 1955, made up of Lawrence (April 22, 1912 – July 21, 1985), Bernard (June 9, 1910 – February 21, 1977), and David Woolner.
History
After US Army service in World W ...
and '' Sorority Girl'' (1957), starring Susan Cabot for AIP.
For AIP, he made '''' (1957), shot in August 1957. He was meant to follow this with ''Teenage Jungle'' by Tony Miller.
The success of ''Not of this Earth'' and ''Crab Monsters'' led to Allied offering Corman a four-picture deal for 1958.
''Machine Gun Kelly'' and producing
Corman received his first serious critical praise for '' Machine-Gun Kelly'' (1958), an AIP biopic of the famous gangster, which gave Charles Bronson his first leading role and co-starred Cabot. Campbell wrote the script.
Also for AIP, he did '' Teenage Caveman'' (1958), with Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn (November 22, 1932 – November 11, 2016) was an American actor noted for his stage, film and television work. His television roles include the spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s series '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''; th ...
, originally titled ''Prehistoric World''.
He helped produce two films for Allied Artists, both from scripts by Leo Gordon: ''Hot Car Girl
''Hot Car Girl'' is a 1958 American film directed by Bernard L. Kowalski. Seeing ''Hot Car Girl'' in a four-walled playoff in 1958 gave the audience the sense that they were witnessing something clandestine and taboo.
It was an early credit for ...
'' (1958), directed by Bernard Kowalski and produced by his brother Gene (the first film they made together) from a script by Gordon; and ''The Cry Baby Killer
''The Cry Baby Killer'' is a 1958 teen exploitation film produced by Roger Corman that marked Jack Nicholson's film debut. The film was out of print and difficult to find until 2006, when it was issued on DVD for the first time by Buena Vista Home ...
'' (1958), which gave Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...
his first starring role.
He had his biggest budget yet for ''I Mobster
''I Mobster'' (originally released in the UK as ''The Mobster'') is a 1958 film noir crime-drama film directed by Roger Corman. The film features a cameo of famous burlesque star Lili St. Cyr.
Plot
Joe Sante is a small time crook, who works as ...
'' (1958), a gangster story, co-produced by Edward L. Alperson and Corman's brother Gene for 20th Century Fox. In September 1958, he was reported as scouting locations in Australia to do a remake of H. Rider Haggard's ''She
She most commonly refers to:
*She (pronoun), the third person singular, feminine, nominative case pronoun in modern English.
She or S.H.E. may also refer to:
Literature and films
*'' She: A History of Adventure'', an 1887 novel by H. Rider Hagga ...
''.
'' War of the Satellites'' (1958) was conceived and shot in record time to take advantage of the Sputnik launch; it was his first collaboration with art director Daniel Haller.
Corman also produced, but did not direct, '' Stakeout on Dope Street'' (1958), directed by Irvin Kershner
Irvin Kershner (born Isadore Kershner; April 29, 1923November 27, 2010) was an American film director, actor, and producer of film and television.
He gained notice early in his career as a filmmaker for directing quirky, independent drama films ...
, ''Night of the Blood Beast
''Night of the Blood Beast'' is a 1958 American science fiction film, science-fiction horror film about a team of scientists who are stalked by an alien creature, which implants its embryos in an astronaut's body during a space flight. Produced b ...
'' (1958), directed by Kowalski for AIP, using leftover costumes from ''Teenage Caveman'', and ''Crime and Punishment U.S.A.
''Crime and Punishment U.S.A.'' (1959) is an American feature film directed by Denis Sanders, written by Walter Newman and starring George Hamilton in his first screen role. The film was released on November 1, 1959.
''The New York Times'' cal ...
'' (1959), directed by Dennis Sanders with George Hamilton in his first lead role.
The Filmgroup
In January 1959, Corman announced he would be moving into distribution.
In 1959, Corman founded The Filmgroup
The Filmgroup was a production and distribution company founded by filmmakers Roger Corman and Gene Corman in 1959. Corman used it to make and distribute his own movies, as opposed to ones he was making for American International Pictures. (The re ...
with his brother Gene, a company producing or releasing low-budget black-and-white films as double features for drive-ins and action houses. In February 1959, Filmgroup announced they would release 10 films. Their first movies were ''High School Big Shot
''High School Big Shot'' is a 1959 film starring Tom Pittman as Marv Grant, a smart high school student whose plans for getting a college scholarship are threatened by his alcoholic father played by Malcolm Atterbury, and his relationship with th ...
'' (1959) and ''T-Bird Gang
''T-Bird Gang'' is a 1959 American film directed by Richard Harbinger in his first and final film. It was co-written by and starring John Brinkley and Tony Miller with Edwin Nelson; all of them had appeared in several of Roger Corman's films.
Pl ...
'' (1959) produced by Stanley Bickman.
For AIP, Corman and Griffith made a black comedy, ''A Bucket of Blood
''A Bucket of Blood'' is a 1959 American comedy horror film directed by Roger Corman. It starred Dick Miller and was set in West Coast beatnik culture of the late 1950s. The film, produced on a $50,000 budget, was shot in five days and shares ma ...
'' (1959). Corman announced he would follow it with a similar comedy, ''The Bloodshot Private Eye''. It does not seem to have been made. Instead, Griffith reused the same script structure and Corman employed many of the same cast in ''The Little Shop of Horrors
''The Little Shop of Horrors'' is a 1960 American horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith, the film is a farce about an inadequate florist's assistant who cultivates a plant that feeds on human blood. The fi ...
'' (1960). This film was reputedly shot in two days and one night.
For Filmgroup, Corman directed ''The Wasp Woman
''The Wasp Woman'' (also known as ''The Bee Girl'' and ''Insect Woman'') is a 1959 American independent science-fiction horror film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Filmed in black-and-white, it stars Susan Cabot, Anthony Eisley, Mic ...
'' (1959), starring Cabot from a script by Gordon. His brother and he made two films back-to-back in South Dakota: '' Ski Troop Attack'' (1960), a war movie written by Griffith and directed by Corman, and '' Beast from Haunted Cave'' (1959), the first film directed by Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman (; born Monte Jay Himmelbaum; July 12, 1929 – April 20, 2021) was an American film director, producer, writer, and editor. Hellman began his career as an editor's apprentice at ABC TV, and made his directorial debut with the ho ...
.
Corman went to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
and produced another two films back-to-back: '' Battle of Blood Island'' (1960), directed by Joel Rapp
Joel Malcolm Rapp (May 22, 1934 – September 15, 2021) was an American writer and director who worked extensively in film and television.Derek Royal"The Blood before the Stain: An Interview with Joel Rapp" ''Philip Roth Studies'' 2.1 (2006): 3- ...
, and ''Last Woman on Earth
''Last Woman on Earth'' (often referred to as ''The Last Woman on Earth'', but it appeared without the word ''The'' in the film's title card) is a 1960 American science fiction film that was produced and directed by Roger Corman. It tells the stor ...
'' (1960), directed by Corman from a script by Robert Towne
Robert Towne (born Robert Bertram Schwartz;'' Easy Riders, Raging Bulls'' by Peter Biskind page 30, 1999 Bloomsbury edition November 23, 1934) is an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor. He started with writing films for Roger ...
. Filming on these two films went so quickly that Corman commissioned Griffith to write a third, which was shot at the same time: ''Creature from the Haunted Sea
''Creature from the Haunted Sea'' is a 1961 horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith, the film is a parody of spy, gangster, and monster movies (mostly ''Creature from the Black Lagoon''), concerning a secre ...
'' (1961).
Corman was going to make ''Part Time Mother'' from a script by Griffith but it appears to have never been made.
''House of Usher''
AIP wanted Corman to make two horror films for them, in black and white, at under $100,000 each on a 10-day shooting schedule. Corman, however, was tired of making films on this sort of budget and was worried the market for them was in decline. He proposed making a film in colour for $200,000, shot over 15 days. Corman proposed an adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher
"The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1839 in ''Burton's Gentleman's Magazine'', then included in the collection ''Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque'' in 1840. The short story ...
" by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
and AIP agreed. The film was announced in May 1959.
Richard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013) was an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres.
He is best known as the author of '' I Am Legend'', a 1954 science fictio ...
was hired to do the adaptation and Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor, art historian, art collector and gourmet cook. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price has two stars on the Hollywood Wal ...
was brought in to star; Haller did the art direction. The resulting film, '' House of Usher'' (1960), shot in early 1960, was a critical and commercial hit.
Following this, Corman bought two scripts, ''Sob Sisters Don't Cry'' and ''Cop Killer''. In March 1960, Corman announced that Filmgroup would be part of an international production group, Compass Productions. He directed a peplum in Greece, ''Atlas
An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of maps of Earth or of a region of Earth.
Atlases have traditionally been bound into book form, but today many atlases are in multimedia formats. In addition to presenting geograp ...
'' (1961) in August.
He was going to direct a thriller from a script by Robert Towne
Robert Towne (born Robert Bertram Schwartz;'' Easy Riders, Raging Bulls'' by Peter Biskind page 30, 1999 Bloomsbury edition November 23, 1934) is an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor. He started with writing films for Roger ...
, ''I Flew a Spy Plane Over Russia''. It was not made; neither were two comedies he was to make with Dick Miller and Jon Haze, ''Murder at the Convention'' and ''Pan and the Satyrs''.
''House of Usher'' had been so successful that AIP wanted a follow-up, and Corman, Haller, Matheson and Price reunited on ''The Pit and the Pendulum
"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842 in the literary annual ''The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843''. The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of ...
'' (1961). It was another sizeable hit, and the "Poe cycle" of films was underway.
Corman hired Charles Beaumont
Charles Beaumont (January 2, 1929 – February 21, 1967) was an American author of speculative fiction, including short stories in the horror and science fiction subgenres.Stefan R. Dziemianowicz, "Beaumont, Charles" in David Pringle, ed., '' ...
to write ''Masque of the Red Death'' and announced two films, ''Captain Nemo and the Floating City'' and ''House of Secrets''.
''The Intruder''
Following ''The Pit and the Pendulum'', Corman directed one of William Shatner
William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1965 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...
's earliest appearances in a lead role with '' The Intruder'' (a.k.a. ''The Stranger'', 1962). Based on a novel by Charles Beaumont
Charles Beaumont (January 2, 1929 – February 21, 1967) was an American author of speculative fiction, including short stories in the horror and science fiction subgenres.Stefan R. Dziemianowicz, "Beaumont, Charles" in David Pringle, ed., '' ...
, the film was co-produced by Gene Corman and was shot in July and August 1961. It took a while for the film to be released and it lost money.
Corman was unhappy with his profit participation on the first two Poe films, so he made a third adaptation for different producers, ''The Premature Burial
"The Premature Burial" is a horror short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1844 in ''The Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper''. Its main character expresses concern about being buried alive. This fear was common in this period and ...
'' (1962), written by Charles Beaumont
Charles Beaumont (January 2, 1929 – February 21, 1967) was an American author of speculative fiction, including short stories in the horror and science fiction subgenres.Stefan R. Dziemianowicz, "Beaumont, Charles" in David Pringle, ed., '' ...
and starring Ray Milland. The film was co-financed by Pathe labs; AIP put pressure on Pathe and ended up buying out their interest.
For producer Edward Small
Edward Small (born Edward Schmalheiser, February 1, 1891, Brooklyn, New York – January 25, 1977, Los Angeles) was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movi ...
, Corman made a historical horror piece about Richard III, ''Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...
'' (1962), starring Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor, art historian, art collector and gourmet cook. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price has two stars on the Hollywood Wal ...
. It was meant to be the first in a three-picture deal with Small, but Corman did not enjoy working with the producer.
For Filmgroup, he also bought the rights to a Soviet science-fiction film, '' Nebo Zovyot'' (1959) and had some additional footage shot for it by his then-assistant, Francis Ford Coppola; the result was ''Battle Beyond the Sun
''Battle Beyond the Sun'' is the English-dubbed and re-edited U.S. version of '' Nebo Zovyot'', a 1959 Soviet science fiction film.
Roger Corman acquired the Soviet film for US distribution and hired a young film-school student named Francis F ...
'' (1962). He also released '' The Magic Voyage of Sinbad'' (1962), dubbed from a Soviet film.
The fourth Poe was an anthology, '' Tales of Terror'' (1962), shot in late 1961. One of the installments, "The Black Cat", was a comedy, inspiring Corman to do a whole Poe story comedically next: ''The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myst ...
'' (1963). Later, Corman used the sets for that film for ''The Terror
The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...
'' (1963), made for Filmgroup but released by AIP, and starring Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film '' Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established ...
(whose scenes were all shot in two days) and Jack Nicholson. Corman did not direct all of this film; additional scenes were shot by Monte Hellman, Coppola, and Jack Hill, among others.
''The Young Racers
''The Young Racers'' is a 1963 sports drama film directed by Roger Corman and starring Mark Damon, William Campbell, Luana Anders and Patrick Magee. It is based on the Formula One races in Europe.
Plot
Joe Machin ( William Campbell), an Am ...
'' (1963) was produced and directed by Corman in Europe for AIP, starring and written by Campbell. Working on the film was Francis Ford Coppola, whom Corman financed to make his directorial debut, ''Dementia 13
''Dementia 13'', known in the United Kingdom as ''The Haunted and the Hunted'', is a 1963 independently made black-and-white horror-thriller film, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Roger Corman. It was Coppola's feat ...
'' (1963).
Back in the U.S., Corman made '' X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes'' (1963), a contemporary science-fiction film for AIP starring Ray Milland. He followed it with ''The Haunted Palace
''The Haunted Palace'' is a 1963 horror film released by American International Pictures, starring Vincent Price, Lon Chaney Jr. and Debra Paget (in her final film), in a story about a village held in the grip of a dead necromancer. The film wa ...
'' (1963), ostensibly part of the Poe cycle—it featured Price and was made for AIP, written by Beaumont—but was actually based on a story by H. P. Lovecraft.
Corman directed a war film in Yugoslavia with his brother, ''The Secret Invasion
''The Secret Invasion'' is a 1964 American war film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Stewart Granger, Raf Vallone, Mickey Rooney, Edd Byrnes, Henry Silva, Mia Massini and William Campbell. Appearing three years before ''The Dirty Dozen'' (196 ...
'' (1964), with Stewart Granger and Mickey Rooney, from a script by Campbell. Following this, he announced he would make ''The Life of Robert E. Lee'' as part of a four-picture deal with Filmgroup worth $3.75 million. Other movies were ''Fun and Profit'' by Joel Rapp, ''The Wild Surfers'' by John Lamb, and ''Planet of Storms'' by Jack Hill
Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works.
Early life
Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n ...
. None of these films was made, nor was ''The Gold Bug'', a Poe adaptation written by Griffith.
End of the Poe cycle and filming in Europe
Corman made two Poes in England starring Price, the much-delayed ''The Masque of the Red Death
"The Masque of the Red Death" (originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death: A Fantasy") is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plagu ...
'' (1964), with Campbell rewriting Beaumont's scripts, and ''The Tomb of Ligeia
''The Tomb of Ligeia'' is a 1964 British horror film directed by Roger Corman. Starring Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd, it tells of a man haunted by the spirit of his dead wife and her effect on his second marriage. The screenplay by Robe ...
'' (1965), from a script by Robert Towne. Corman made no further Poes; AIP started up a fresh Poe cycle in the late 1960s, but Corman was not part of it.
Corman got Towne to write a script called ''The Red Baron''. He bought the rights to another Soviet science-fiction film, '' Planeta Bur'' (1962), and had some additional footage added to it by Curtis Harrington
Gene Curtis Harrington (September 17, 1926 – May 6, 2007) was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films and episodic television. He is considered one of the forerunners of New Queer Cinema ...
. The result was '' Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet'' (1965). Harrington used footage from ''Planeta Bur'' in another film financed by Corman, ''Queen of Blood
''Queen of Blood'' (a.k.a. ''Planet of Blood'') is a 1966 science fiction horror film produced by George Edwards and Samuel Z. Arkoff, directed by Curtis Harrington, that stars John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hopper, and Judi Meredith. ...
'' (1966).
He also bought the rights to a Yugoslavian film, ''Operation Titan'' (1963), and financed additional shooting by Jack Hill
Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works.
Early life
Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n ...
and Stephanie Rothman
Stephanie Rothman (born November 9, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, known for her low-budget independent exploitation films made in the 1960s and 1970s, especially ''The Student Nurses'' (1 ...
. The result was ''Blood Bath
''Blood Bath'' is a 1966 American horror film directed by Jack Hill and Stephanie Rothman and starring William Campbell, Linda Saunders, Marissa Mathes, and Sid Haig. The film concerns a mad painter of weird art who turns into a vampire-li ...
'' (1966). He also had an investment in the beach party films ''Beach Ball
''Beach Ball'' is a 1965 American beach party movie starring Edd Byrnes and partly financed by Roger Corman.Ed. J. Philip di Franco, ''The Movie World of Roger Corman'', Chelsea House Publishers, 1979, p. 145
It features appearances by The Supre ...
'' (1965) and ''It's a Bikini World
''It's a Bikini World'' is a 1967 American musical comedy film starring Tommy Kirk, Deborah Walley and Bobby Pickett. The film features cameos by the music groups the Gentrys, the Animals, Pat & Lolly Vegas, the Castaways and R&B girl g ...
'' (1967).
Working for major studios
Corman said, "For ten years as an independent I could get financing for $100-$200-$300,000 pictures. Everything had been interesting, artistically satisfying, economically satisfying. But I decided I was going nowhere and wanted to move directly into the business. So I accepted a contract with Columbia."
In August 1965, Corman announced he had signed a contract with United Artists to make two films over three years. He also signed with Columbia to make a Western, ''The Long Ride Home'', based on a script by Robert Towne.
He was announced for a number of other projects at Columbia: the biopic of Robert E. Lee, an adaptation of ''Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
''A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'' is the first novel of Irish writer James Joyce. A ''Künstlerroman'' written in a modernist style, it traces the religious and intellectual awakening of young Stephen Dedalus, Joyce's fictional alter ...
'', an adaptation of Kafka's ''The Penal Colony'', and a script by novelist Richard Yates about the Battle of Iwo Jima.[Corman 1990, p. 125.] He intended to make ''The Deserters'' for UA, from a script by Wright, but that was not made either.
He later reflected, "Every idea I submitted was considered too strange, too weird; every idea they had seemed too ordinary to me. Ordinary pictures don't make money."
''The Wild Angels''
After a year of not directing, Corman took a leave of absence under his contract with Columbia to make a film for AIP, the first biker movie, ''The Wild Angels
''The Wild Angels'' is a 1966 American outlaw biker film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Made on location in Southern California, ''The Wild Angels'' was the first film to associate actor Peter Fonda with Harley-Davidson motorcycles an ...
''. It starred Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.
Nancy Sinatr ...
, from a script by Griffith; Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian.
One of the "New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on R ...
worked as Corman's assistant. The film opened the 1966 Venice Film Festival and was hugely successful at the box office, making over $6 million on a $350,000 budget and kicking off the "biker movie" cycle.
He wanted to make a film about the Red Baron
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a seconda ...
, but Columbia turned it down because of ''The Blue Max
''The Blue Max'' is a 1966 British war film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp. The film was made in DeLuxe Color and filmed in CinemaScope. The plot i ...
'' (1966). He proposed a movie about the St Valentine's Day Massacre and also an adaptation of the novel ''Only Lovers Left Alive''. Nick Ray was meant to be making ''Only Lovers'' in Britain.
Corman did begin directing ''Long Ride Home'' with Glenn Ford
Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-offi ...
at Columbia. However, Corman left production a few weeks into the shoot in June 1966 and was replaced by Phil Karlson. The film was retitled '' A Time for Killing'' (1967).
Corman received an offer to direct a studio film,'' The St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' (1967), for 20th Century Fox, starring Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes ...
and George Segal. He did not enjoy the restrictions of working for a major studio. He was given a $2.5 million budget and made it for $400,000 less.[Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996, p. 266] Corman, an independent director, was most comfortable in his own style: shoestring budgets and shooting schedules measured in days, rather than weeks. Nonetheless, it is generally considered one of his best films as a director.
Corman was meant to follow this with ''Robert E. Lee'' for United Artists at a budget of $4.5 million. It was not made. Neither was a story Corman optioned, ''The Spy in the Vatican''.
Return to independence
He continued to finance films for Filmgroup: '' Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet'' (1965), dubbing a Soviet movie '' Planeta Bur'' into English with some additional footage shot by Curtis Harrington, ''Queen of Blood
''Queen of Blood'' (a.k.a. ''Planet of Blood'') is a 1966 science fiction horror film produced by George Edwards and Samuel Z. Arkoff, directed by Curtis Harrington, that stars John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hopper, and Judi Meredith. ...
'' (1966), using some Soviet footage but a mostly new film, directed by Harrington, ''Blood Bath
''Blood Bath'' is a 1966 American horror film directed by Jack Hill and Stephanie Rothman and starring William Campbell, Linda Saunders, Marissa Mathes, and Sid Haig. The film concerns a mad painter of weird art who turns into a vampire-li ...
'' (1966), an adapted Yugoslavian film with additional footage shot by Stephanie Rothman
Stephanie Rothman (born November 9, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, known for her low-budget independent exploitation films made in the 1960s and 1970s, especially ''The Student Nurses'' (1 ...
and Jack Hill, and ''Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women
''Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women'' is a 1968 American science fiction film, one of two films whose footage was taken from the 1962 Soviet SF film ''Planeta Bur'' (''Planet of Storms'') for producer Roger Corman. The original film was ...
'' (1967), yet another dubbed version of ''Planeta Bur'' with some additional footage shot by Corman's then-assistant Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian.
One of the "New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on R ...
.
He had money in '' Navy vs. the Night Monsters'' (1967). He financed two Westerns shot back to back in Utah directed by Monte Hellman and written and co-produced by Jack Nicholson, ''The Shooting
''The Shooting'' is a 1966 American Western film directed by Monte Hellman, with a screenplay by Carole Eastman (using the pseudonym Adrien Joyce). It stars Warren Oates, Millie Perkins, Will Hutchins, and Jack Nicholson, and was produced by ...
'' (1967) and ''Ride in the Whirlwind
''Ride in the Whirlwind'' is a 1966 American Western film starring Cameron Mitchell, Millie Perkins, Jack Nicholson, and Harry Dean Stanton, and directed by Monte Hellman. Nicholson also wrote and co-produced the film. A trio of cowboys are fo ...
'' (1967), which became cult successes. He also financed two films directed by Dan Haller, '' Devil's Angels'' (1967), a follow-up to ''Wild Angels'' written by Griffith, and a car racing film shot in Europe, ''The Wild Racers
''The Wild Racers'' is a 1968 American film directed by Daniel Haller and starring Fabian, Mimsy Farmer, and Judy Cornwell. The screenplay concerns a Grand Prix racing car driver.
Plot
Stock car racer Jo Jo Quillico goes to Europe after an acc ...
'' (1968). He announced a comedy about the population explosion, ''There Just Isn't Any Room'', but it appears to have never been made.
Corman directed '' The Trip'' for AIP, written by Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...
and starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Bruce Dern. This began the psychedelic film craze of the late 1960s and was the American entry at Cannes that year. AIP made some changes to the film in post-production, which made Corman unhappy.
In September 1967, he announced plans to build a new film studio. However, this did not happen for a number of years.
Corman made a film for American TV, '' Target: Harry'' (1968), shot in Europe with his brother producing. He did some uncredited directing on AIP's '' De Sade'' (1969) when director Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield (November 10, 1914 – April 16, 1995) was an American screenwriter, director, author, magician and inventor. Having been named as a Communist at a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing and subsequently blacklisted, ...
fell ill. He financed Bogdanovich's first feature, ''Targets
''Targets'' is a 1968 American crime thriller film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, produced by Roger Corman, and written by Polly Platt and Bogdanovich, with cinematography by László Kovács.Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster' ...
'' (1968), which incorporated footage from ''The Terror''. He also produced ''The Dunwich Horror
"The Dunwich Horror" is a horror novella by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in 1928, it was first published in the April 1929 issue of '' Weird Tales'' (pp. 481–508). It takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in Massachusett ...
'' (1970) for AIP, directed by Haller and co-written by Curtis Hanson
Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His directing work included the psychological thriller '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (1992), the neo-noir crime film ''L. ...
, and financed Haller's ''Paddy''.
Final films as director
For AIP, Corman returned to the director's chair for a gangster film, ''Bloody Mama
''Bloody Mama'' is a 1970 American exploitation crime film directed by Roger Corman and starring Shelley Winters in the title role, with Bruce Dern, Don Stroud, Robert Walden, Alex Nicol, and Robert De Niro in supporting roles. It was very lo ...
'' (1970), starring Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift; August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006) was an American actress whose career spanned seven decades. She appeared in numerous films. She won Academy Awards for ''The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959) and ''A Patch o ...
and a young Robert de Niro. It was a big hit at the box office. He also directed a black comedy, ''Gas-s-s-s
''Gas-s-s-s'' (on-screen title: ''Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.'') is a 1970 post-apocalyptic black comedy film produced and released by American International Pictures.
It was producer Roger Corman's ...
'' (1970), written by George Armitage
George Brendan Armitage (born March 2, 1942) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed the films '' Miami Blues'' (1990) and '' Grosse Pointe Blank'' (1997). He worked frequently with Roger Corman.
Life and career
Ar ...
; it was cut without his permission by AIP and was a financial failure.
United Artists finally agreed to finance his Red Baron project, although they asked that it emphasize American characters. Accordingly, it was filmed as ''Von Richthofen and Brown
''Von Richthofen and Brown'', alternatively titled ''The Red Baron'', is a 1971 war film directed by Roger Corman and starring John Phillip Law and Don Stroud as Manfred von Richthofen and Roy Brown. Although names of real people are used and ...
'' (1971), shot in Ireland in July 1970. There were several plane crashes during filming and one person died.
Corman was going to make a film of ''Couples'', a novel by John Updike for United Artists
United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...
, and ''In'' from a script by Richard Schupe, but decided to take a break from directing.
"Directing is very hard and very painful," he said in 1971. "Producing is easy. I can do it without really thinking about it."
New World Pictures
In May 1970, Corman founded New World Pictures
New World Pictures (also known as New World Entertainment and New World Communications Group, Inc.) was an American independent production, distribution, and (in its final years as an autonomous entity) multimedia company. It was founded in 19 ...
, which became a small independently owned production/distribution studio, immediately successful with ''Angels Die Hard
''Angels Die Hard'' is a 1970 biker film directed by Richard Compton and starring Tom Baker and William Smith. It is the first film distributed by New World Pictures; half its budget was provided by Roger Corman.
The film—which was written in t ...
'' (1970), a biker film, and ''The Student Nurses
''The Student Nurses'' is a 1970 American film directed by Stephanie Rothman. It was the second film from New World Pictures and the first in the popular "nurses" cycle of exploitation movies. It has since become a cult film.
Plot
Four young women ...
'' (1971), directed by Rothman. ''The Big Doll House
''The Big Doll House'' is a 1971 American women-in-prison film starring Pam Grier, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, Brooke Mills, and Pat Woodell. The film follows six female inmates through daily life in a gritty, unidentified tropical prison. Late ...
'' (1971), directed by Jack Hill
Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works.
Early life
Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n ...
in the Philippines, was a big hit, making a star of Pam Grier
Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress and singer. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star (although, there are some who dispute that claim and believe Cheng Pei-pei actually holds that distinc ...
. The company made a profit of $3.2 million in its first financial year, and Corman says all eleven out of his first eleven films were successful. ''Angels Die Hard'' led to a series of biker films, including ''Angels Hard as They Come
''Angels Hard as They Come'' is a 1971 biker film directed by Joe Viola and starring Scott Glenn, Charles Dierkop, Gary Busey, James Iglehart, and Gilda Texter. It was co-written and produced by Jonathan Demme.Christopher T Koetting, ''Mind War ...
'' (1971), produced by Jonathan Demme with Jack Fisk
Jack Fisk (born December 19, 1945) is an American production designer and director.
As a production designer, he is known for his collaborations with Terrence Malick, designing all of his first eight films including ''Badlands'' (1973), ''Days o ...
working as art director. ''Bury Me an Angel
''Bury Me an Angel'' is a 1971 American biker film from female director Barbara Peeters, who was script supervisor on ''Angels Die Hard'' (1970). She was the first woman to direct a biker film. The film was acquired by Roger Corman's New World Pi ...
'' (1971) was the first biker movie directed by a woman, Barbara Peeters. Corman financed the directorial debuts of Curtis Hanson
Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His directing work included the psychological thriller '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (1992), the neo-noir crime film ''L. ...
, ''Sweet Kill
''Sweet Kill'' (also known as ''A Kiss from Eddie'' and ''The Arousers'') is a 1973 B-movie written and directed by future Academy Award winner Curtis Hanson. The film was Hanson's directorial debut and was executive-produced by Roger Corman. It s ...
'' (1971), produced by Corman protege Tamara Asseyev. ''Student Nurses'' led to a "cycle" of nurse pictures, including ''Private Duty Nurses
''Private Duty Nurses'' is a 1971 American film written and directed by George Armitage. It is a sequel to '' The Student Nurses'' (1970) for New World Pictures. Roger Corman says they got the idea for the title after being sent a letter of compla ...
'' (the first film directed by George Armitage
George Brendan Armitage (born March 2, 1942) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed the films '' Miami Blues'' (1990) and '' Grosse Pointe Blank'' (1997). He worked frequently with Roger Corman.
Life and career
Ar ...
), ''Night Call Nurses
''Night Call Nurses'' is a 1972 American sex comedy film directed by Jonathan Kaplan. It is the third in Roger Corman's "nurses" cycle of films, starting with '' The Student Nurses'' (1970).
Plot
Three young nurses work in a psych ward at a hosp ...
'' (1972) (the first feature directed by Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan (born November 25, 1947) is an American film producer and director. His film ''The Accused'' (1988) earned actress Jodie Foster an Oscar for Best Actress and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 39th Berlin International ...
), '' The Young Nurses'' and ''Candy Stripe Nurses
''Candy Stripe Nurses'' is a 1974 film starring Candice Rialson. It was the last in the popular "nurses cycle" of films for New World Pictures that started with ''The Student Nurses'' (1970).
Plot
Three high school girls work as volunteer candy s ...
'' (1975). There was also ''The Student Teachers
''The Student Teachers'' is a 1973 film directed by Jonathan Kaplan. It was inspired by the "nurse" cycle of pictures starting with ''The Student Nurses'' (1970). Roger Corman says it was one of the best of the cycle.
Plot
Three new high school t ...
'' (1973) and ''Summer School Teachers
''Summer School Teachers'' is a 1974 feature film directed and written by Barbara Peeters and starring Candice Rialson. It is about three female friends who all teach at a school over the summer.
It was an unofficial follow up to '' The Student T ...
'' (1974). ''Big Doll House'' was followed by a series of women in prison pictures, such as ''Women in Cages
''Women in Cages'' is a 1971 women in prison sexploitation film directed by Gerardo de León and starring Jennifer Gan, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, and Pam Grier. Co-produced by Roger Corman, it was prominently featured in the ''Planet Terror'' ...
'' (1972), ''The Hot Box
''The Hot Box'' is a 1972 women in prison film from Joe Viola and Jonathan Demme, who had previously made '' Angels Hard as They Come'' (1971) for New World Pictures. It was shot in the Philippines and was originally known as ''The Prescription ...
'' (1972), ''Black Mama, White Mama
''Black Mama White Mama'' (also known as ''Women in Chains'') is a 1973 women in prison film directed by Eddie Romero and starring Pam Grier and Margaret Markov. The film has elements of blaxploitation. The movie also was released as ''Hot, Har ...
'' (1973), '' The Arena'' (1974) (the first film directed by Steve Carver) and ''Caged Heat
''Caged Heat'', also known as ''Renegade Girls'', is a 1974 women in prison film. It was written and directed by Jonathan Demme (in his directorial debut) for New World Pictures, headed by Roger Corman. The film stars Juanita Brown, Roberta Coll ...
'' (1974) (the first film directed by Demme). Of New World's second year, Corman says 11 of the 12 releases were successful. Corman produced one more film at AIP, ''Boxcar Bertha
''Boxcar Bertha'' is a 1972 American romantic crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Roger Corman, from a screenplay by Joyce H. Corrington and John William Corrington, Made on a low budget, the film is loose adaptation o ...
'' (1972), the second feature directed by Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
, starring David Carradine
David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series '' Kung Fu'', playi ...
. He also executive produced ''Unholy Rollers
''The Unholy Rollers'' is a 1972 American action comedy film directed by Vernon Zimmerman and starring Claudia Jennings.
Plot
Karen wants more action out of life and quits her job at the cannery to become a skater in the roller derby. She enc ...
'' (1972) for AIP. A proposed political satire, ''The Wild Political Prank'', was not made. He made ''I Escaped from Devil's Island
''I Escaped from Devil's Island'' is a 1973 exploitation film about an escape attempt from Devil's Island. Roger Corman and Gene Corman produced this grim adventure saga which was made to cash in on the release of '' Papillon''.
Plot summary
P ...
'' (1973) with his brother and produced ''Cockfighter
''Cockfighter'' (also known as ''Born to Kill'', ''Gamblin' Man'' and ''Wild Drifter'') is a 1974 drama film by director Monte Hellman, starring Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton and featuring Laurie Bird and Ed Begley Jr. The screenplay is based ...
'' (1974) with Monte Hellman, which was a rare financial failure for New World. A big hit was '' Big Bad Mama'' (1974), a gangster film directed by Carver and starring Angie Dickinson
Angeline Dickinson (née Brown; born September 30, 1931) is an American actress. She began her career on television, appearing in many anthology series during the 1950s, before gaining her breakthrough role in ''Gun the Man Down'' (1956) wit ...
. It led to a follow-up, ''Crazy Mama
''Crazy Mama'' is a 1975 American action comedy film directed by Jonathan Demme, produced by Julie Corman and starring Cloris Leachman. It marked the film debut of Bill Paxton and Dennis Quaid.
Plot
In 1958 Long Beach, California, Melba Stoke ...
'' (1975), produced by his wife and directed by Demme. In 1975, Corman said New World was "the most successful independent film company in the country...if you count AIP as a major". He said they were "the best of the cheap acts".
Distributing foreign films
In the 1970s the major Hollywood studios were moving away from distributing foreign arthouse pictures, New World moved into the market and became the U.S. distributor for ''Cries and Whispers
''Cries and Whispers'' ( sv, Viskningar och rop, lit=Whispers and Cries) is a 1972 Swedish period drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullmann. The film, set in ...
'' (1972), directed by Ingmar Bergman. Corman bought it for $75,000 and it earned over $2 million at the U.S. box office. and Corman's distribution side of New World brought many foreign films to mass audiences in the U.S. for the first time - reportedly some played at drive-ins and grindhouses - including the works of François Truffaut (''The Story of Adele H.
''The Story of Adèle H.'' (french: L'Histoire d'Adèle H., link=no) is a 1975 French historical drama film directed by François Truffaut, and starring Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, and Sylvia Marriott. Written by Truffaut, Jean Gruault, and ...
'', '' Small Change''), Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ''Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witness ...
(''The Cars That Ate Paris
''The Cars That Ate Paris'' is a 1974 Australian horror comedy film, produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy and directed by Peter Weir. It was his first feature film, and was also based on an original story he had written. Shot mostly i ...
''), Federico Fellini ('' Amarcord''), Joseph Losey (''The Romantic Englishwoman
''The Romantic Englishwoman'' is a 1975 British film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, Helmut Berger. It marks the feature-length screen debut for Kate Nelligan. The screenplay was written by Tom Stoppard and T ...
''), Volker Schlöndorff
Volker Schlöndorff (; born 31 March 1939 Friday) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer who has worked in Germany, France and the United States. He was a prominent member of the New German Cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s ...
(''The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum
''The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, or: how violence develops and where it can lead'' (original German title: , ) is a 1974 novel by Heinrich Böll.
The story deals with the sensationalism of tabloid news and the political climate of panic ove ...
'', ''The Tin Drum
''The Tin Drum'' (german: Die Blechtrommel, ) is a 1959 novel by Günter Grass. The novel is the first book of Grass's ' ('' Danzig Trilogy''). It was adapted into a 1979 film, which won both the 1979 Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Bes ...
'') and Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dyna ...
(''Dersu Uzala
Dersu Uzala (russian: Дерсу Узала; 1849–1908) was a Nanai trapper and hunter. He worked as a guide for Vladimir Arsenyev who immortalized him in his 1923 book '' Dersu Uzala''. The book was adapted into two feature films, with the ve ...
''). New World also released ''Fantastic Planet
''Fantastic Planet'' (french: La Planète sauvage; cs, Divoká planeta, lit. "The Wild Planet") is a 1973 experimental adult animated science fiction film, directed by René Laloux and written by Laloux and Roland Topor, the latter of whom a ...
'' (1974).
In a 10-year period, New World Pictures won more Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film than all other studios combined.
20th Century Fox
He had a four-picture deal with 20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
, making '' Capone'' (1975), '' Fighting Mad'' (1976) (directed by Demme), ''Moving Violation
A moving violation is any violation of the law committed by the driver of a vehicle while it is in motion. The term "motion" distinguishes it from other motor vehicle violations, such as paperwork violations (which include violations involving ...
'' (1976) and '' Thunder and Lightning'' (1977).
Peak of New World
''Death Race 2000
''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film
produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...
'' (1975), written by Robert Thom and directed by Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel (August 6, 1938 – May 13, 2000) was an American actor, writer and director. He was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy '' Eating Raoul'', which he wrote, starred in and directed.
Bartel appeared in over 90 movies and ...
, was a big hit, earning $4 million. It helped inspire a series of car chase movies: ''Cannonball
A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge, launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a lar ...
'' (1976), directed by Bartel; ''Eat My Dust!'' (1976), directed by Griffith starring Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...
, which led to a follow-up, ''Grand Theft Auto (film), Grand Theft Auto'' (1978), Howard's directorial debut. There was also ''The Great Texas Dynamite Chase'' (1976), ''Deathsport'' (1978) and ''Smokey Bites the Dust'' (1981).
New World's trailers were cut by Joe Dante and Alan Arkush. Corman gave them the chance to direct together, with ''Hollywood Boulevard (1976 film), Hollywood Boulevard'' (1976), which used outtakes from other New World films. It was successful enough for Corman to give both men jobs directing features on their own: Dante with ''Piranha (1978 film), Piranha'' (1978) and Arkush with ''Rock 'n' Roll High School'' (1979).
''Piranha'' was written by John Sayles
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, for ''Passion Fish'' (1992) and '' ...
, who had been discovered by Corman's story editor, Frances Doel. Sayles later wrote ''The Lady in Red (1979 film), The Lady in Red'' (1979) for Corman, which was directed by Lewis Teague.
Other popular films around this time included ''Tidal Wave (1973 film), Tidal Wave'' (1975), a Japanese film to which Corman added some extra footage, and ''Jackson County Jail (film), Jackson County Jail'' (1976). He also financed ''I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (film), I Never Promised You a Rose Garden''. Less popular was Avalanche (1978 film), ''Avalanche'' (1979), a disaster film directed by Corey Allen.
For Universal he made ''Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider'' (1979), directed by Carver. He financed Bogdanovich's ''Saint Jack'' (1979).
Corman was criticised when he insisted on the addition of footage featuring a rape for ''Humanoids from the Deep'' (1980).
The success of ''Star Wars'' inspired New World's most expensive film yet, ''Battle Beyond the Stars'' (1981). This film required extensive special effects, prompting Corman to buy a movie studio in Main Street Venice for $1.5 million. Corman made a TV film for CBS, ''The Georgia Peaches'' (1980).
''Battle Beyond the Stars'' was so successful Corman had its footage and music score reused in other films such as ''Galaxy of Terror'' (1981) and ''Forbidden World'' (1982).
He picked up a film called ''The Personals (1982 film), The Personals'' (1983) which enjoyed success.
Millennium Films
Corman sold New World Pictures in January 1983 to a consortium of three lawyers for $16.9 million.
Under the terms of the contract, he agreed to stay on as a consultant for two years and to provide New World with at least five films they could release. New World agreed to distribute all of Corman's films until March 1984. He set up a new production company, Millennium – the title of which was taken from the name of a 1981 retrospective of Corman's work at the National Film Theatre of London. He announced plans to make films budgeted between $2–5 million using cash from his sale of New World to finance personally. He announced an intention to make fewer commercial films, movies more like ''I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (film), I Never Promised You a Rose Garden'' and ''Cries and Whispers''.
Millennium's films included ''Space Raiders (film), Space Raiders'' (1983), a science fiction epic using footage and music from ''Battle Beyond the Stars''; ''Love Letters (1984 film), Love Letters'' (1984), a serious drama from Amy Holden Jones; ''Screwballs'' (1984), a sex comedy in the vein of ''Porky's''; ''Suburbia (1984 film), Suburbia'' (1984), directed by Penelope Spheeris, which he acquired, ''Deathstalker (film), Deathstalker''; and ''Kain of Dark Planet'' (which became ''The Warrior and the Sorceress'').
New Horizons
Corman says people struggled with the name "Millennium" – "nobody could spell it, nobody knew what it meant" – so he changed it to New Horizons by early 1984.
Corman and the new owners of New World ended up suing each other in March 1985. Corman claimed that New World failed to honor their guarantee to distribute his movies at a fee of 15%. He sought $400 million in damages and the return of the company. He said they refused to distribute ''School Spirit'' (1985) and ''Wheels of Fire (film), Wheels of Fire''. He also claimed that New World cheated him distributing ''Space Raiders'', ''Screwballs'' and ''Slumber Party Massacre''. New World sued Corman in return, claiming he was seeking to return to distribution, and was discrediting New World to potential investors. They said Corman bypassed New World for some of his films, such as Columbia's ''Hardbodies'' (1984). Corman argued "My whole point in selling was to free myself of the burden of running the company and to get guaranteed distribution. If I can't get my guaranteed distribution, I'm forced to go back to running the company."
Concorde Pictures
The case with New World settled out of court. In March 1985 Corman announced he would establish a new distribution "cooperative", Concorde Pictures, where producers could get relatively cheap distribution from Concorde in exchange for contributing to the company's overhead. Their first releases were Corman productions ''School Spirit'', ''Wheels of Fire'' and ''Barbarian Queen''. Concorde later merged with a low budget production company, Cinema Group, and announced plans to make 15-20 films a year.
Early Concorde releases include ''Loose Screws'' (1985), a sequel to ''Screwballs''; ''Streetwalkin''' (1985), a more serious drama directed by Joan Freeman; ''Cocaine Wars'' (1986), the first in a series of movies Corman would finance in South America; ''Hour of the Assassin'' (1987), shot in Peru and the first film directed by Luis Llosa; and ''Munchies (film), Munchies'' (1987), a spoof of ''Gremlins'' directed by Tina Hirsch.
Corman also remade ''Not of this Earth (1988 film), Not of this Earth'' (1988) and released ''Big Bad Mama II'' (1987), and ''Transylvania Twist'' (1989); all three were directed by Jim Wynorski. He produced another version of ''Masque of the Red Death (1989 film), Masque of the Red Death'' (1989), directed by Larry Brand.
He produced ''Sweet Revenge (1987 film), Sweet Revenge'' (1987), ''Slumber Party Massacre II'' (1988), directed by Deborah Brock, ''Andy Colby's Incredible Adventure'' (1988), also directed by Brock, and ''The Terror Within'' (1989), directed by Thierry Notz.
Corman financed the early directorial efforts of Carl Franklin (''Nowhere to Run (1989 film), Nowhere to Run'' (1989)), Mario Vargas Llosa, Vargas Llosa and Katt Shea (''Stripped to Kill'' (1988), ''Stripped to Kill II'' (1989)). More experimental was ''Nightfall (1988 film), Nightfall'' (1988).
After ''Hour of the Assassin'', he made a series of films in Peru, including ''Crime Zone'' (1989), also directed by Luis Llosa, and ''Full Fathom Five (film), Full Fathom Five'' (1990), directed by Carl Franklin.
Concorde had a big hit with ''Bloodfist'' (1989), starring Don "the Dragon" Wilson which cost $1 million and earned over $6 million. Concorde signed Wilson to a long-term contract and he made a number of sequels for the company, including ''Bloodfist II'' and ''Fighting to Win''.
''Frankenstein Unbound''
He returned to directing once more with ''Frankenstein Unbound'' (1990).
Concorde and New Horizon in the 1990s
In 1990, Concorde sued MGM for $6 million.
Concorde's films included ''Overexposed (film), Overexposed'' (1990), ''The Unborn (1991 film), The Unborn'' (1991), and ''In the Heat of Passion'' (1992). They had a big hit with ''Carnosaur (film), Carnosaur'' (1993), which led to several sequels. He financed ''Fire on the Amazon'' (1991, directed Luis Llosa) which had Sandra Bullock and Craig Sheffer in early roles.
Corman had to deal with the decline of the drive-in market and studio competition through the 1990s, but Concorde-New Horizons still made 15-24 pictures a year. This included a never-released version of ''The Fantastic Four (unreleased film), The Fantastic Four''.
''Roger Corman Presents''
In 1995 Corman was executive producer on ''Roger Corman Presents'', a special series of 13 movies for Showtime with budgets of around $1.5 million each. "I think the Corman name means action, humor and some titillation," says Mike Elliott, the producer of the series. "It's going to deliver the goods – and it will have a little moral statement in there as well." Corman ended up doing a second season of 11 movies. The films were ''Bram Stoker's Burial of the Rats'', ''Hellfire (1995 film), Hellfire'', ''Virtual Seduction'', ''Suspect Device (film), Suspect Device'', ''Unknown Origin'', ''Terminal Virus'', ''Where Evil Lies'', ''Vampirella (film), Vampirella'', ''Shadow of a Scream'', ''Subliminal Seduction'', ''Spectre (1996 film), House of the Damned'' (a.k.a. ''Spectre''), ''The Haunted Sea'', ''Alien Avengers'' (a.k.a. ''Aliens Among Us'') and its sequel, ''Inhumanoid'', ''Sawbones (film), Sawbones'', ''Not Like Us'', and ''Last Exit to Earth''. He created his own comic book franchise, ''Black Scorpion (film), Black Scorpion'', which led to a sequel and later a TV series. Corman also executive-produced remakes of ''The Wasp Woman (1995 film), The Wasp Woman'', ''Humanoids from the Deep (1996 film), Humanoids from the Deep'', ''A Bucket of Blood (1995 film), A Bucket of Blood'' (a.k.a. ''The Death Artist''), ''Piranha (1995 film), Piranha'' and ''Not of this Earth (1995 film), Not of this Earth''.
Ireland
Concorde set up operations in Ireland as Concorde Anois, building studios in Connemara, County Galway. He received some support from the Irish government, a decision which became controversial when the content of some Corman productions such as ''Criminal Affairs'' was criticized in the press.
Later Concorde-New Horizons films included ''Overdrive'' (1997). "The genres still hold", said Corman in 1997, "action adventure, the suspense thriller, science fiction and horror. The difference is that they are bigger and better now. "
Corman also produced the film Moving Target (2000 film), Moving Target which was filmed in County Galway. It was his last film produced with Concorde-New Horizons.
Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics
Corman operated a short-lived comic book imprint in 1995–1996 called Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics. It produced comics based on his films, written and drawn in a similar no-hold-barred style. Titles included ''Bram Stoker's Burial of the Rats'', ''Caged Heat
''Caged Heat'', also known as ''Renegade Girls'', is a 1974 women in prison film. It was written and directed by Jonathan Demme (in his directorial debut) for New World Pictures, headed by Roger Corman. The film stars Juanita Brown, Roberta Coll ...
3000'', ''Death Race 2020'', ''Welcome to The Little Shop of Horrors
''The Little Shop of Horrors'' is a 1960 American horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith, the film is a farce about an inadequate florist's assistant who cultivates a plant that feeds on human blood. The fi ...
'', and ''Rock 'n' Roll High School, Rock & Roll High School'' — the latter featuring the Melvins (instead of the Ramones). Notable creators published by Cosmic Comics included Trevor Goring (comics), Trevor Goring, James Kochalka, Jason Lutes, Pat Mills, Shane Oakley, Jerry Prosser, and J. R. Williams (comics), J. R. Williams. The longest-running title was ''Death Race 2020'', which lasted eight issues — but was left unfinished when the company closed down.
Later career: Syfy Channel
He continued to produce creature films, such as ''Raptor (film), Raptor'' (2001, dir Jim Wynorski). ''Dinocroc'' (2004), which aired on the Syfy cable television channel and was popular enough for two sequels, ''Supergator'' and ''Dinocroc vs. Supergator'' (2010), as well as a spin-off film, ''Dinoshark'' (2010). ''Supergator'' (2007) was turned down by the Syfy channel, but Corman made it anyway.
Corman also continued to make action films: ''Escape from Afghanistan'' (2001) was a Russian film, ''Peshavar Waltz'' plus some additional footage; ''The Hunt for Eagle One'' (2006) and ''The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash Point'' (2006) were shot in the Philippines; ''Roger Corman's Operation Rogue'' (2014); ''Fist of the Dragon'' (2015).
In 2006 Corman said he made 60% of his films overseas. "These foreign countries are offering subsidies that are so great that not only I but many independent producers are moving overseas", he said. He sold the remake rights of ''Death Race 2000
''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film
produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...
'' to Universal, who made ''Death Race (2008 film), Death Race'' (2008) with Jason Statham, with Corman credited as executive producer. It led to two direct-to-video prequels and one direct-to-video sequel.
In 2009, Corman produced and directed alongside director Joe Dante the web series "Splatter" for Netflix. The protagonist of the film is portrayed by Corey Feldman, and the story talks of the haunting tale of rock-and-roll legend Johnny Splatter. He also started contributing trailer commentaries to Dante's web series ''Trailers from Hell''. In 2011, Corman cited James Cameron's ''Avatar'' (2009) and Christopher Nolan's ''Inception'' (2010) as examples of "great imagination and originality".
By now, the SyFy channel was Corman's leading market. For them, he made ''Sharktopus'' (2010) and ''Piranhaconda'' (2012). Corman produced the 2017 film ''Death Race 2050'', a sequel to the 1975 film ''Death Race 2000
''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film
produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...
''. It was made with Universal, Corman's first film with a major studio in more than two decades.
Personal life
Corman married Julie Corman, Julie Halloran in 1970. They have four children. On April 3, 2018, a lawsuit by Corman's sons, Roger Martin Corman and Brian Corman, was filed against Corman to prevent the trade of his film collection. It was settled in 2020. In 2016, Corman also sued a wealth management company about suspected losses of his personal fortune. To date, the result of that dispute has not been disclosed.
Recognition
In 1964, Corman was the youngest producer/director to be given a retrospective at the Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française (), founded in 1936, is a French non-profit film organization that holds one of the largest archives of film documents and film-related objects in the world. Based in Paris's 12th arrondissement, the archive offers ...
, as well as retrospectives at the British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
and the Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...
.
Corman won the Lifetime Achievement Award at Stockholm International Film Festival in 1990.
Corman was the subject of the 1978 documentary ''Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel'', produced and directed by Christian Blackwood. Portions of the film reappeared in 2011's ''Corman's World''.
In 1998, he won the first Producer's Award ever given by the Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
.
In 2006, Corman received the David O. Selznick Award from the Producers Guild of America. Also in 2006, his film ''House of Usher (film), Fall of the House of Usher'' was among the twenty-five movies selected for the National Film Registry, a compilation of significant films being preserved by the Library of Congress.
In 2009, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
awarded Corman with an Academy Honorary Award at the inaugural Governors Awards, on November 14, 2009.
In 2010, writer and actor Mark Gatiss interviewed Corman for his BBC documentary series ''A History of Horror'', of which the second half of the second episode focuses on Corman.
In 2010, Corman was inducted into the Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School (usually abbreviated as Beverly or as BHHS) is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. The other public high school in Beverly Hills, Moreno High School, is a small alternative school located on B ...
Hall of Fame.
In 2012, Corman was honored with the Filmmaker on the Edge Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival.
In 2018, he received the "Extraordinary Contribution to Film" award at the Austin Film Festival.
Archive
Film elements and prints for many movies directed, produced, and/or distributed by Corman are held at the Academy Film Archive as part of the New Horizons Collection. The Academy Film Archive restored Corman's film ''The Masque of the Red Death'' in 2019.
"The Corman Film School"
A number of noted filmmakers (including directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers) have worked with Corman, usually early in their careers, including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
, Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...
, Polly Platt, Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian.
One of the "New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on R ...
, Declan O'Brien, Armondo Linus Acosta, Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel (August 6, 1938 – May 13, 2000) was an American actor, writer and director. He was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy '' Eating Raoul'', which he wrote, starred in and directed.
Bartel appeared in over 90 movies and ...
, Jonathan Demme, Donald G. Jackson, Gale Anne Hurd, Carl Colpaert, Joe Dante, James Cameron, John Sayles
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, for ''Passion Fish'' (1992) and '' ...
, Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman (; born Monte Jay Himmelbaum; July 12, 1929 – April 20, 2021) was an American film director, producer, writer, and editor. Hellman began his career as an editor's apprentice at ABC TV, and made his directorial debut with the ho ...
, Carl Franklin, George Armitage
George Brendan Armitage (born March 2, 1942) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed the films '' Miami Blues'' (1990) and '' Grosse Pointe Blank'' (1997). He worked frequently with Roger Corman.
Life and career
Ar ...
, Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan (born November 25, 1947) is an American film producer and director. His film ''The Accused'' (1988) earned actress Jodie Foster an Oscar for Best Actress and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 39th Berlin International ...
, George Hickenlooper, Curtis Hanson
Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His directing work included the psychological thriller '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (1992), the neo-noir crime film ''L. ...
, Jack Hill
Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works.
Early life
Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n ...
, Robert Towne
Robert Towne (born Robert Bertram Schwartz;'' Easy Riders, Raging Bulls'' by Peter Biskind page 30, 1999 Bloomsbury edition November 23, 1934) is an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor. He started with writing films for Roger ...
, Menahem Golan, James Horner, and Timur Bekmambetov. Many have said that Corman's influence taught them some of the ins and outs of filmmaking.[Nashawaty, Chri]
"Roger Corman: Scorsese, Stallone, Sayles, and other A-listers talk about the B-movie King"
''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved February 19, 2010 In the extras for the DVD of ''The Terminator'', director James Cameron asserts, "I trained at the Roger Corman Film School." The British director Nicolas Roeg served as the cinematographer on ''The Masque of the Red Death
"The Masque of the Red Death" (originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death: A Fantasy") is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plagu ...
''. Cameron, Coppola, Demme, Hanson, Howard and Scorsese have all gone on to win Academy Awards. Howard was reportedly told by Corman, "If you do a good job on this film, you'll never have to work for me again."
Actors who obtained their career breaks working for Corman include Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...
, Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Charles Bronson, Todd Field Michael McDonald (actor), Michael McDonald, Dennis Hopper, Tommy Lee Jones, Talia Shire, Sandra Bullock, Robert De Niro, and David Carradine
David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series '' Kung Fu'', playi ...
, who received one of his first starring film roles in the Corman-produced ''Boxcar Bertha
''Boxcar Bertha'' is a 1972 American romantic crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Roger Corman, from a screenplay by Joyce H. Corrington and John William Corrington, Made on a low budget, the film is loose adaptation o ...
'' (1972) and went on to star in ''Death Race 2000
''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film
produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...
'' (along with Sylvester Stallone).
Many of Corman's protegés have paid their mentor homage by awarding him cameos in films, such as in ''The Godfather Part II
''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. ''Part II'' s ...
'', '' The Silence of the Lambs'', '' Apollo 13'', and as recently as Demme's 2008 film ''Rachel Getting Married''.
Filmography
The IMDb credits Corman with 55 directed films and some 385 produced films from 1954 through 2008, many as uncredited producer or executive producer (consistent with his role as head of his own New World Pictures from 1970 through 1983). Corman also has significant credits as writer and actor.
''Roger Corman's Cult Classics''
In 2010, Roger Corman teamed up New Horizons Pictures with Shout! Factory to release new DVD and Blu-ray editions of Corman productions under the name ''Roger Corman's Cult Classics''. The releases have concentrated on 1970–1980s films he produced through New World rather than directed. These titles include ''Rock 'n' Roll High School'', ''Death Race 2000
''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film
produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...
'', ''Galaxy of Terror'', ''Forbidden World'' and ''Piranha (1978 film), Piranha'', with additional titles continuing to be released.
Books
*
**His autobiography documents his experiences in the film industry
References
Further reading
* Di Franco, J. Philip, ''The Movie World of Roger Corman'' (New York: Chelsea House, 1979)
* Laroni, Giulio, ''Il cinema secondo Corman. Intervista allo scopritore di Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron'' (Milano: Biblion Edizioni, 2016)
* Nasr, Constantine (ed.), ''Roger Corman: Interviews'' (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2011)
* Price, Robert M., "Cormanghast: The Poe Films of Roger Corman". ''Parts'' 14 (November 1997), 3–14, 20.
*
*
* Will, David and Willemen, Paul, ''Roger Corman: The Millennic Vision'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh Film Festival, 1970)
External links
Roger Corman
interview at DBCult Film Institute
Roger Corman bibliography
(via UC Berkeley)
*
Roger Corman biography
on (re)Search my Trash
Roger Corman at Senses of Cinema
2011 radio interview
at The Bat Segundo Show
Interview with Roger Corman, accessed October 20, 2016.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corman, Roger
1926 births
Living people
Academy Honorary Award recipients
American film producers
American Cinema Editors
Horror film directors
Science fiction film directors
Film theorists
German-language film directors
Male actors from Detroit
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Stanford University alumni
Film directors from Michigan
American male film actors
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Beverly Hills High School alumni
Film directors from Los Angeles
20th Century Studios people
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Horror film producers