Much like the ’60s were a time of radical change, the Hollywood landscape during this period was one of rapid and decisive shifts towards the grittier aspects of filmmaking. Between 1957 – 1966, a buffer zone was created where artists began to tackle more serious stories. Studios and distributorsbegan to ignore the Code. Among the pioneers of the era islegendary filmmaker Roger Corman, who along with American International Pictures ushered in an era of professional amateurism (not quite amateur, not quite big-budget spectacle) that would begin to dominate most of the American cinema experience for the coming decades. Producer of a whopping 356 films, many filmmakers of the New Hollywood era owe their success to Corman, including Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Nicholson, Paul Bartel, and Ron Howard to name a few. Here are some of Corman’s best works.
5The Haunted Palace (1963)
Despite using the title of an Edgar Allen Poe poem,The Haunted Palaceis an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’sThe Case of Charles Dexter Ward.Starring Vincent Price, the story serves as a cautionary tale of inheritance and macabre inhibitions, showing us the dark path one takes when faced with this kind of predicament if one is not too careful. Similar toA Bucket of Blood(see below) with its slow build and a penchant for ironic set-pieces, where the audience is fully aware of what’s happening, while the characters are left in the mystery, it stands the test of time through Price’s brilliant performance and creative depictions of the haunting imagery. While the effects, as with most of his work, are dated and cartoonish, the craftsmanship behind it is always appreciated.
4A Bucket of Blood (1959)
InA Bucket of Blood, the film that officially launched his career, Corman explores the life of a tortured artist desperately looking for recognition and respect. As his psychosis begins to dwindle, he becomes more erratic and volatile, commencing a string of murders he disguises as sculptures he’s created, to the dazzlement of his critics. The more admiration he receives, the more pressure and torment he begins to feel over his actions, culminating in his masterpiece. Drawing inspiration fromMystery of the Wax Museum,Corman changed the tone and style, making it more comedic and cynical as a way to stand out. He was also confronted with very little time to work, and an abysmal budget. Nevertheless, the result is a masterful job of mood and pacing, ushering in a new era of creativity and style devoid of the earlier Hollywood conventions. The stepping stones of what would later become New Hollywood were on full display.
Related:Vincent Price’s Best Performances, Ranked
3The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Perhaps Corman’s most famous work, thanks in large part tothe ’80s musical remake,The Little Shop of Horrorspresents us with the life of florist shopkeeper Seymour Krelboined, who befriends a talking plant he grew out of seeds bought in a Japanese shop. The plant develops an appetite for human flesh, and demands to be fed a human every week. Seymour, bored and not surprisingly weak-minded, caters to these demands and goes on a rampage that culminates with his downfall. The film is based on various stories by different authors, includingGreen Thoughtsby John Collier and Arthur C. Clarke’sThe Reluctant Orchid.Corman combined the two stories to create a short but thrilling story of a man taking things too far out of fear of the repercussions. Once again dealt with a very low budget, Corman made the best out of the situations and produced a monumental film of the currently developing underground movement, proving once more that the more on the ropes a project is, the more effort and success awaits those who are willing to sacrifice the many sleepless nights they require.
Related:Peter Cushing’s Best Performances, Ranked
2X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (1963)
The story centers around Dr. James Xavier, who recently discovered a concoction that turns normal vision into X-ray wavelengths. Instead of testing it out on other subjects first, he tests it on himself. Predictably, the serum causes side effects he was not prepared for, causing him to lash out violently and forcing him to go on the run. By the movie’s conclusion, the message of overstepping ethical boundaries, and the meddling of the human condition is more than duly noted. With the exception of Xavier’s eyes, it lacks thespecial effectsof his previous work. However, Corman was able to prove his versatility by creating a fluid and interesting story, keeping the pace and constantly throwing obstacles at his characters, culminating in what’s perhaps the darkest ending in his film repertoire.
1The Trip (1967)
Starring Peter Fonda,The Tripfollows the life of a young socialite looking for a sense of purpose and guidance in the wasteland that is Hollywood. Written by soon-to-be legendary actor Jack Nicholson in what’s his only feature writing credit, it presents Corman at his very best. All the depth and symbolism behind his previous work is on full display. The acid trip sequences are some of the best depictions of the event, showing us the brutal, euphoric, yet downright mysterious cascade of colors and imagery they convey. Corman himself said he took LSD to get a better feel for its effects on the psyche. The effort was one of Corman’s most successful releases, grossing $6 million at the box office and firmly establishing his credibility as a talented director who knows how to grip an audience through masterfully crafted effects. The film serves as a catalyst for what was to come for both Fonda and Nicholson, as their next roles would go on to make them very famous and icons in their own right:Easy Rider.
