Before Rick Moranis and Frank Oz wowed us with a talking singing plant. This man made the movie that inspired it and jumpstarted Jack Nicholson's career. Before Jason Statham took over the role as Frankenstein, this man made sure David Carridine did it first, while pairing him off against a pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone. Before Black Scorpion was the name of an obscure superhero franchise, this man made a movie about giant scorpions of the same name, then produced this one. That man is Roger Corman.

The B Movie King. Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, you name it he's done it. When he wasn't making B movies in the 60s, he was furthering other up and coming film star's careers one job at a time. This man worked with the likes of Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, Joe Dante and James Cameron just to name a few. He's even cameoed in many movies himself including Silence of The Lambs. This guy for the past decades had his hand in every form of media old and new.

However, this legend both in the A-List and B-List alike has tragically passed away May 9th 2024 at age 98.

I first came across Corman's work, when I first watched the Frank Oz version of the Little Shop of Horrors. A horror musical comedy involving a clumsy flowershop worker, cultivating a man-eating plant in hopes to gain fame and fortune. Little did I know at the time, it was a remake. Of a film so infamous you can literally watch it for free:

While I like the musical, I love this movie better, because they do make the most out of it. The set is obviously fake, but they make up for it in the acting and the dark comedy. That was just a mere taste of Corman's work.

My personal favourite is Death Race 2000:

Unlike the Statham version which involved an elimination race for freedom, this one was much more brutal. A dystopian future where the only good entertainment is a trans continental race running men, women and children alike for points as they reach the finish line. And that was Corman producing a movie.

However, B movies weren't his only racket. He also used his rep and money to start a lot of other projects such as comics, a haven for independent filmmakers as well as even making fun of himself in movies like Scream 3. This guy was basically Hollywood's answer to Tom Fulp.

Still at 2 years away from a century, almost making it to Norman Lear's age, he had a good run, made a shit load of money and died like a king. May he rest in peace.