Celebrating Roger Corman

In honor of the legendary Roger Corman's birthday, we're sharing a few of our favorite titles. The prolific director and producer has a body of work spanning decades and has mentored talents such as James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola. Read on to learn more about the many films of the King Of Cult as Shout! aficionada Aixa B. shares the behind-the-scenes on some of Corman's most beloved films. 

PIRANHA (1978)

Roger Corman may have cut Piranha’s production budget by more than half, but director Joe Dante's Jaws-inspired cult classic remains a favorite more than 40 years later. If anything, the $200,00 budget was essential to giving the film its B-movie charm. The waters run red with terror in Lost River Lake as a school of deadly creatures wreak havoc on unsuspecting vacationers. Bradford Dillman and Heather Menzies-Urich take the lead roles as drunkard Paul Grogan and skip tracer Maggie McKeown. Between these two locals, they discover what truly lies beneath the surface of the water. With inventive kills and a satirical take on monster movies, Piranha delivers thrills and laughs in equal measure, making it a beloved entry in the creature feature genre.

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

The Fall Of The House Of Usher was the first of eight Corman/Poe films. Roger Corman credits the short story as his initial inspiration for his venture with Edgar Allan Poe’s work. This film also marked the beginning of Vincent Price’s filmography with Corman, wherein he typically portrays a tortured soul on the brink of insanity. The particular tortured soul in The Fall Of The House Of Usher is cursed by the evils of his ancestors as he attempts to ward off his sister’s fiancé from marrying her. Co-starring with Price is Myrna Fahey as Madeline Usher, the poor victim of her brother’s beliefs. One can’t help but watch as madness chips away at the Usher family.

THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE

Rather than taking up Steven Spielberg’s offer to edit what would become one of his most successful films, Amy Holden Jones decided to direct her first film instead.  After Roger Corman agreed to finance the film, The Slumber Party Massacre came to life. Originally written as a parody of slasher flicks, this unique blend of horror and satire subverts genre conventions while giving the blood and gore that fans crave. The female-led cast features Michelle Michaels as the final girl who just won’t give in: Trish Deveraux. With the drill-wielding killer slowly closing in on Trish’s house, each death gets more and more brutal. This comedic take on gruesome horror has earned its place in the pantheon of '80s slasher classics.

ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL

Roger Corman isn’t all thrills and scares. He worked as executive producer on the musical comedy Rock 'N' Roll High School alongside director Allan Arkush. At Vince Lombardi High School, the music is loud, the students are wild, and the fun never stops. This high-energy film is a love letter to rock 'n' roll and teenage rebellion. P.J. Soles stars as Riff Randell, the leader of the students and most importantly, the Ramones’ number one fan. She’s set on meeting the punk rock icons, even after her tyrannical principal takes away her concert tickets. Although Roger Corman originally wanted Cheap Trick or Todd Rundgren to play the band, he settled for the Ramones. They prove their worth through electrifying performances and catchy songs.

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

Roger Corman's visionary adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of The Red Death brings a chilling tale of mortality and corruption to life. Vincent Price, considered the king of horror by many, steps into the role of Prince Prospero. As a Satanist devoted to the pursuit of evil, he’s far from a good ruler. While the outside world succumbs to a fatal plague, Prince Prospero indulges himself with all the luxuries within his fortress. However, when he invites his noble friends to take shelter in his castle and attend a masked ball, there’s a mysterious guest he can’t seem to recognize. With stunning cinematography, a haunting score, and Price's commanding performance, The Masque Of The Red Death delves into the twisted depths of human nature. It's a Gothic gem that shouldn't be missed.

LORDS OF THE DEEP

Lords Of The Deep is another one of Roger Corman’s many productions with his signature B-movie style. With Abyss and Leviathan coming out the same year, director Mary Ann Fisher seized the opportunity for a sea monster horror film. This sci-fi thriller imagines a world where humans have conquered the ocean as a means of survival. It takes a brutal approach, highlighting continuously relevant themes of human interference and human instinct. When large, stingray-like creatures start attacking, panic breaks loose. It’s no longer clear whether it’s safer inside or outside of the submarines.

GALAXY OF TERROR

Although Roger Corman was crowned as a B-movie king, he jumpstarted the careers of many prominent Hollywood people. One of James Cameron’s earliest film gigs was as a production designer on Bruce D. Clark’s Galaxy Of Terror. Even with a small budget, the film’s visuals did not fall short. Set in space, this sci-fi horror takes full advantage of the environment and uses it to create unforgettable moments. Space becomes a realm of terror and mystery as a crew of explorers confront their darkest fears on an alien planet. The absurdity from beginning to end garners its cult following.

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

Shot in just 15 days, Roger Corman’s The Pit And The Pendulum is a Gothic classic that takes Edgar Allan Poe's story to new heights. John Kerr and Vincent Price are at odds with each other as the persistent Francis Barnard and the tormented Nicholas Medina. When Francis’s sister Elizabeth disappears, Nicohlas’s downward spiral into insanity kicks off. Is he being haunted? Is he losing his mind? You’ll also find yourself questioning what’s real and what isn’t. Achieved solely through practical effects, cinematographer Floyd Crosby captures the deadly swinging pendulum. Just hope that you’re not the one strapped underneath it.

FORBIDDEN WORLD

Imagine Ridley Scott’s Alien but with more gruesome action and dangerously tight pants and high heels. Produced by Roger Corman and directed by Allan Holzman, Forbidden World is anything but boring. Taking clear inspiration from Alien, this sci-fi horror touches on all tropes ranging from experiments gone wrong to prolonged, gory deaths. The only person who can take down Subject 20 is the best troubleshooter in the Galaxy, Mike Colby. Of course, he can’t go without his robot assistant, SAM-104. Together, they prepare for an intergalactic showdown that’s both amusing and terrifying.

CRAZY MAMA

In Jonathan Demme's road trip adventure, Crazy Mama, the open road becomes a playground for the Stokes family. While Bill Paxton and Dennis Quaid made their film debut with this Corman production, Cloris Leachman, Ann Sothern, and Linda Purl rightfully took the lead roles as the runaway family.  After fleeing from their landlord, the three women go on a cross-country crime spree, fully embracing the freedom of the American highway. This feel-good film celebrates 1950s Americana and the decade’s greatest music.