Roger Corman Dies, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, was 98

[Zapp Brannigan]

Legendary B-movie king Roger Corman, who directed and produced hundreds of low-budget films and discovered such future industry stars as Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, has died. He was 98.

Corman died May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members, the family confirmed to Variety.

“His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that,'” the family said in a statement.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/rog...ie-1235999591/

[ponderingtheuniverse]

To say that this is heartbreaking is an understatement.

His Poe films were my first steps into the horror genre, and as an adult a few years ago. I watched the Poe films over and over again. Then I watched Bucket of Blood, Little Shop of Horrors, and Creature from the Haunted Sea. Then Targets, that he didn't direct but had a hand in, that effected me almost unlike anything else I had ever watched. He had such a hand in me getting into this hobby and making my way through films in general. I don't know where I'd be without his films. I don't know who I'd be.

Thank you, Mr. Corman, for what you have given us. You won't be forgotten anytime soon.

[ben6543]

Though it was never released to the Public officially. Never forget Roger Corman did the first Fantastic Four movie

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by ben6543

Though it was never released to the Public officially. Never forget Roger Corman did the first Fantastic Four movie

He only executive produced it because it was via his production company New Horizons.

But to only note that would be an insult to the rest of his filmography.

The Masque Of The Red Death, Little Shop Of Horrors, X The Man With X-Ray Eyes, The St Valentine Day Massacre...............

Not to mention other classics he produced like Targets, Piranha, Slumber Party Massacre.

This isn't just a sad death, this is one of the last Classic Horror legends passing. A damn tragedy.

[starsteam]

The things this man brought us, the stars he introduced to the world, and the craftsmanship goes unmatched. Rest in peace you absolute legend.

[BerC]

Growing up, I would always watch at least two or three of his horror films at Halloween. Every year. "House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Premature Burial" and "The Masque of the Red Death" were my absolute favorites from his catalog and they all ranked quite high in my overall favorite horror films period. He will be missed.

[themp3000]

98… What a life. What an adventure. Thank you Mr. Corman.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by ben6543

Though it was never released to the Public officially. Never forget Roger Corman did the first Fantastic Four movie

Which starred NOT QUITE HUMAN and THE BOY WHO COULD FLY actor Jay Underwood as the Human Torch. I've never personally watched the movie, but I did see a bootleg of it on sale once at a convention in Dallas.

[Chedwiggen]

RIP Mr. Corman, you left a heck of library of fun crazy films.

[Röckzilla]

Absolutely heartbreaking news to hear, sincerely, I am completely stunned with sadness right now.
Mr. Corman was a true maverick filmmaker in every sense of the term and an undeniable legend of independent filmmaking.
Whether it was under the banner of American International Pictures, Filmgroup, New World Pictures, New Horizons, or New Concorde, Roger knew how to "stretch a dollar" for all its worth and deliver something out of essentially nothing and still make some money back.
As a director, a producer, and even an occasional actor, Corman lived for cinema.
His ability to see the potential and talent in young "nobodies" as well as his tenacity to give these people a chance to work, learn from experience, improve their skills, and even pursue their own artistic visions is truly unparalleled still to this very day.
There are so many graduates of the "Corman School Of Filmmaking", many of which have rightfully become legends themselves within the film industry.
If you ask me, that alone speaks volumes about the man and his overall impact.
Although most of Corman's work has been either unfairly ridiculed or dismissed outright by many as cheap exploitation and schlock over his multiple-decades-long career, thankfully he lived to see his work eventually earn critical reevaluation and even received proper recognition for all of it (in the form of an honorary Oscar).
Honestly, I can't think of many other filmmakers more deserving of a so called "lifetime achievement" award than Roger Corman.
With a life-long filmography reaching triple digits, it's incredibly difficult to narrow down which exact film(s) will ultimately be his legacy (especially if you are a die-hard fan of the Corman brand such as myself).
Perhaps more importantly, Roger's legacy will simply be that he was just an overall great person in real-life, a quality which can't be said for the majority of people working in show business (film producers or otherwise).
Despite his budgetary limitations and quest to always turn a profit with his work, Corman somehow remained a cinematic intellectual and a rule-breaking artist with a counter culture ethos and sense of integrity.
Roger Corman was and will forever remain one of my all-time greatest heroes and inspirations.
An enormous "THANK YOU" goes out to Mr. Corman for everything he has done.
Your films and body of work are more influential and beloved than you may have ever fully known.
Rest in peace Roger Corman, The True King Of The B-Films!


(^ Arguably my personal favorite photograph of Roger Corman.)
Here's a solid rocker that will be blastin' out of my speakers in your honor sir!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS7sRfknXXQ

[Foggy]

Incredible career, incredible legacy. Insane thing is how different the history of cinema would be, without him there would be no Francis Ford Coppola, no Joe Dante (and coincidentally no James Cameron), no Peter Bogdanovich, no Ron Howard, no Jonathan Demme, and perhaps even no Martin Scorsese plus many many others.

[Katatonia]

R.I.P. Mr. Corman the King of B's!

To say that he was a legend is an understatement. He was an integral part of some legendary films, and also helped jumpstart the careers of many Hollywood icons who later became legendary themselves.

I'd definitely say he had a fulfilling life to last until age 98!

Roger Cormans Titanic - YouTube

[Winslow Leach]

Devasting news. R.I.P. to one of the all-time greats.

[Damon1281]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Which starred NOT QUITE HUMAN and THE BOY WHO COULD FLY actor Jay Underwood as the Human Torch. I've never personally watched the movie, but I did see a bootleg of it on sale once at a convention in Dallas.

You can still find it (Corman's Fantastic Four) on Youtube and it is every bit as good as the ones we got.

[mikesncc1701]

Legend is an understatement. Without this guy we probably wouldn't have half the stuff we do now. 98 years is a damn good run though.

[Walter Kafka]

Legend of legends. Had so much to do with pushing future New Hollywood figures. As a director, he's actually underrated. The Poe films, Intruder, The Trip. As a producer, the late 70s New World era is ace. Rock N Roll High School, Piranha, Battle Beyond the Stars, Death Race 2000.

On and on.

I even forgive him for having something to do with the future monster that is James Cameron's ego

Here's when I fell in love with Roger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7zOxu4tLCE

[morris_schaffer]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Incredible career, incredible legacy. Insane thing is how different the history of cinema would be, without him there would be no Francis Ford Coppola, no Joe Dante (and coincidentally no James Cameron), no Peter Bogdanovich, no Ron Howard, no Jonathan Demme, and perhaps even no Martin Scorsese plus many many others.

You may be right, but the 'without this there wouldn't be that' line of thinking possibly ignores the possibility that talent will find a way to emerge one way or another. Hell, you mentioned Cameron. I've a hard time believing this tenacious director would have been lost to the world without Corman.

But you may be right. We'll never know.

[RFK]

RIP Roger,

You gave young audiences in the 50's, 60's and 70's the movies they wanted to see that Hollywood never offered. A mixture of enjoyable horror, sci-fi, action and teen films that introduced new actors (Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, William Shatner), new directors (Dante, Demme, Arkush) and new roles for older actors (Price, Lorre, Karloff).

I spent an ungodly amount of time at drive-ins watching your films growing up and believe your films were instrumental in developing my deep love of movies. You've never gotten the attention and respect you deserved. You were a legend and will be greatly missed.

[JMDiaz718]

RIP Mr. Corman.

I grew up loving the classic Poe movies with Vincent Price, the seedy women in Philippine jungle prisons, his 50s sci-fi classics and of course the 70’s/80s exploitation and blaxploitation movies. He was a legend to me since childhood. He always appeared approachable and generous in his interviews.

I recently purchased a few books by and about Corman and New World Pictures. I also own the blu-ray and digital versions of Corman’s World, an excellent but too short documentary. Might watch that tonight.

Will have to watch some of favorites soon. Attack of the Crab Monsters, Big Bird Cage, Piranha, Humanoids From The Deep, Galaxy of Terror, Big Bad Mama, for starters.

[jess1581]

RIP Mr. Corman. A cinematic legend if there ever was one.