Roger Corman (b. 1926) is known by many names-craftsman, artist,
maverick, schlockmeister, mini-mogul, mentor, cheapskate, and King of
the B's. Yet his commitment to filmmaking remains inspired. He learned
his craft at the end of the studio system, only to rebel against
Hollywood and define himself as the true independent. And the list of
directors and producers who learned under his tutelage--Francis Ford
Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Jonathan Demme, and many
more--is astonishing.
Collected here are many of the most honest and revealing interviews of
his epic career, several of which have never been seen in print. Roger
Corman: Interviews brings into focus a life committed to the
entertaining art of motion pictures.
Corman's rare talent combined artistic drive with business savvy,
ensuring a successful career that was constantly in motion. At a
remarkable pace more akin to silent movies than modern Hollywood, he
directed over fifty films in less than fifteen years, some entertaining
(Not of This Earth), trendsetting (The Wild Angels), daring (The
Intruder), workmanlike (Apache Woman), stylized (The Masque of the
Red Death) and even profound (X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes). In a
single year, Corman famously shot a cult classic in two and a half days
(The Little Shop of Horrors), reinvigorated the American horror film
with a dash of Poe and Price (House of Usher)--and still turned out a
few more films shot across the globe. Recently awarded an honorary Oscar
for his lifetime contribution to cinema, the self-made Corman has
created a legacy as a defining filmmaker.
