Roger Corman, who directed and produced countless B-movies and championed future industry giants Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson, died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, California. various reports, He was 98 years old.
“His films were revolutionary and symbolic, and reflected the spirit of an era. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, that’s all,’ the family said in a statement to the outlet.
For nearly five decades, he dominated the B-movie market, ranging from his early work in the fifties to Westerns. five guns west And The Gunslinger Including horror and sci-fi the day the world ended And not deadlike teen flicks carnival rock And rock all night long,
His 1958 photo machine gun Kelly This marked a turning point in his becoming critically recognized. they followed him I am a dacoit And then the 1960s little shop of horrors,
He frequently worked with Sam Arkoff of American International. Pictures, who financed most of his early work. Together, they worked on a series of horror films centered on Edgar Allan Poe, including the 1960s Fall of the House of Usher and many other low budget hits like Tomb of Legia And red death mask, These films brought renewed attention to actors such as Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, and Peter Lorre.
It was around this time that he began working with then-unknowns such as Ellen Burstyn, Nicholson and De Niro, as well as screenwriters and directors including Robert Towne, who would eventually become household names such as Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Joe Biden, and others. Dante, Ron Howard, and Peter Bogdanovich.
Howard wrote on social media, “RIP Roger Corman. A great filmmaker and guru. When I was 23 years old he gave me my first chance in direction. He launched many careers and quietly led our industry in important ways. He remained bright, interested and active even at the age of 98. Grateful to know him.
Nicholson was particularly indebted to Corman as he spent the first decade of his career under his tutelage: the future Oscar winner and mega-star had made his acting debut in Corman’s 1958 teen exploitation film. The Cry Baby KillerAnd soon after appeared in the role of director little shop of horrors, Raven, terrorAnd St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Corman also served as director on Nicholson’s screenplay for the 1967 acid-soaked counterculture classic. Travel, “He was my life’s blood,” an emotional Nicholson said in the documentary. Corman’s World,
Demme, who got his start behind the camera in Corman-produced films caged Heat, crazy motherAnd fight crazy Mid-seventies, won the Oscar for Best Director for 1992 the silence of the Lambs, In that Best Picture-winning film, Demme took on her mentor Corman in the brief role of an FBI director:
Corman was a one-man film school for many of Hollywood’s greatest directors, giving them practical instruction on the art of filmmaking: The Sound Man on Corman’s 1963 sports drama young racers Corman will next direct a horror film dementia 13 That same year. A decade later, the same filmmaker – Francis Ford Coppola – would win Best Picture for his film Saint, (Corman would later make a cameo as a senator The Godfather Part II,
titanic And Avatar Director James Cameron had a similar origin story, having worked as a special effects and art director on Corman’s B-movies before embarking on a box office smash and Oscar-winning career. Half a decade after Scorsese’s 1967 debut Who is that knocking at my door?It was Corman who revived his career when he chose Scorsese to direct the 1972 boxcar bertha, Scorsese’s success mean streets Arrived next year. Scorsese once said, “To me, Roger was one of the most important American filmmakers.” “I think it’s very important for today’s generation to be who they are.”
In 2009, after half a century of being denied industry recognition, Corman’s legacy was finally recognized with an Honorary Academy Award for his life’s achievements. He produced over 300 films and directed over 50 titles since the 1955s five guns west By the 1990s frankenstein unbound,
“Roger Corman, one of the most influential film directors of my lifetime, has passed away. It was a privilege to know him.” Halloween Filmmaker John Carpenter wrote on social media, “He was a very good friend. They shaped my childhood with science fiction films and Edgar Allan Poe epics. I’ll miss you, Roger.”
