The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Directors: Roger Corman

Cast: Jackie Joseph, Jonathan Haze, Mel Welles

The Little Shop of Horrors is a 1960 American horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith, the film is a farce about a florist's assistant who cultivates a plant that feeds on human blood. The film stars Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles, and Dick Miller, who had all worked for Corman on previous films. Produced under the title The Passionate People Eater, the film employs an original style of humor, combining dark comedy with farce and incorporating Jewish humor and elements of spoof. The Little Shop of Horrors was shot on a budget of $28,000 (equivalent to $298,000 in 2024). Interiors were shot in two days, by utilizing sets that had been left standing from A Bucket of Blood. It is possible that the movie’s premise was inspired by H.A. Rey’s 1942 children’s book Elizabite. The film was released in October 1960 by Filmgroup as a double feature with Filmgroup's Last Woman on Earth (1960).The film slowly gained a cult following through word of mouth when it was later distributed as the B movie in a double feature with Mario Bava's Black Sunday (1960) The film's popularity increased with local television broadcasts, and the presence of a young Jack Nicholson, whose small role in the film has been prominently promoted on its home video releases. The film was the basis for an Off-Broadway musical, Little Shop of Horrors, which in turn was adapted into a 1986 feature film. The musical enjoyed a 2003 Broadway debut and a 2019 off-Broadway revival, among other productions.

Ultimately, The Little Shop of Horrors is the story of one man and his plant. The man is harmless enough, the plant though, is another matter entirely. You can learn more about The Little Shop of Horrors at A Passion for Horror

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