by Julian Spivey

Roger Corman’s 1960 disturbing black comedy “The Little Shop of Horrors” is one of the truly classic cult, B-movies of cinema.

The film, written by Charles B. Griffith, is one of the best known films from Corman’s career. Corman is often called the “King of the Bs,” as his resume of low budget films has drawn some critical success, something that’s definitely not accustomed to most B-films.

The film stars Jonathan Haze as Seymour Krelboin, an employee at Gravis Mushnik’s unsuccessful little flower shop in the skid row part of Los Angeles. Krelboin is on the verge of being fired by Mushnik until he reveals to the owner that he’s created a new type of plant. His creation is named Audrey Jr. after his love interest Audrey Fulquard, played by Jackie Joseph. The plant is a cross-breed between a butterwort and a Venus Flytrap.

It doesn’t take long before we find out that Audrey Jr. has a taste for blood and body parts. Every time it’s fed a victim the plant grows larger and larger. Eventually the plant takes up much of the shop. Oh yes, Audrey Jr. speaks as well.

“The Little Shop of Horrors” is quite possibly best known today as one of the first films that acting legend Jack Nicholson ever appeared in. Nicholson appears in the really small role of Wilbur Force, a strange undertaker who seems to derive sexual pleasure from trips to the dentist’s office.

“The Little Shop of Horrors” is a film that is in the public domain because Corman didn’t copyright the film figuring that it wouldn’t gain much profit. Because the film is in the public domain it is widely distributed in many forms in sometimes good and sometimes bad quality for mostly low prices. The copy that I own is in so-so quality, but only cost $1.

Because the film remains in public domain it means that companies and distributors can package this film anyway they please. The result of this is that Nicholson appears on many DVD covers for the film saying that he’s the star of the film. In actuality, Nicholson appears on film for less than two minutes in a bit role. Don’t be confused by the false advertising if you merely want to see “The Little Shop of Horrors” because Nicholson is in it.    

The film includes many great small supporting characters including Nicholson. Dick Miller co-stars in the film as Burson Fouch, an interesting character who comes into the shop to feast on flowers. The film also includes two detectives, played by Wally Campo and Jack Warford, who are obviously spoofing Jack Webb’s character of Sgt. Joe Friday from the 1950s television series “Dragnet.” The highlight of the film is possibly Audrey Jr. itself. Hearing the plant, voiced by screenwriter Griffith, begging Krelboin to, “Feed me! Feed Me!” is hysterically disturbing.

Director Frank Oz remade “The Little Shop of Horrors” into a musical in 1986 starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin.

“The Little Shop of Horrors” must have really freaked some people out back in the early ‘60s. If you’re looking for a fun, campy movie to enjoy with your friends than “The Little Shop of Horrors” might be the film for you.