Little Shop of Horrors (1960 / 1986)

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (PG)

D: Roger Corman

The Filmgroup / American International Pictures (Roger Corman)

US 🇺🇸 1960

72 mins

Horror/Comedy

W: Charles B. Griffith

DP: Archie R. Dalzall

Ed: Marshall Nellan, Jr.

Mus: Fred Katz

Jonathan Haze (Seymour Krelboined), Jackie Joseph (Audrey Fulquard), Mel Welles (Gravis Mushnick), Dick Miller (Burson Fouch), Jack Nicholson (Wilbur Force)

Whilst many would know of the 1986 adaptation of the musical stage play inspired by this Roger Corman B-movie, not many would know of this 1960 original, or those who do would note it for an early Jack Nicholson performance as a dental patient.

Utilising a shop front set before it’s demolition, B-movie auteur shot this schlocky comedy-horror in a few days, centring the plot around a bookish florist’s assistant who nurtures and cultivates a flesh-eating, talking plant that continues to grow, as does its appetite.

The film is worth a watch for curious eyes, and certainly has a cult following, but the 1986 version is far superior in every way.

5/10

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (PG)

D: Frank Oz

Warner Bros. (David Geffen)

US 1986

88 mins

Musical/Comedy/Horror

W: Howard Ashman [based on his play]

DP: Robert Paynter

Ed: John Jympson, Derek Trigg & Bob Gavin

Mus: Miles Goodman; Alan Menken & Howard Ashman

PD: Roy Walker

Rick Moranis (Seymour Krelboin), Ellen Greene (Audrey), Vincent Gardenia (Mushnik), Steve Martin (Orin Scrivello), John Candy (Wink Wilkinson)

Considering the musical genre was very much out of favour during the mid-1980's, Little Shop Of Horrors did a good job to both find an audience and return a healthy profit on it's release.

Based on a stage musical reworked from Roger Corman's 1960 low-budget horror it stars Rick Moranis as a timid florist who discovers an alien plant which needs to feed off human blood in order to survive, but as the plant begins to grow, so does it's thirst.

Some of the musical numbers are throwbacks to the 1930's Broadway style with a unique comedy twist and the special effects are absolutely fantastic.

7/10