SYNOPSIS: "The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960) is a darkly comedic horror film directed by Roger Corman. The story revolves around Seymour Krelborn, a hapless flower shop assistant working on Skid Row, a rundown part of Los Angeles. Seymour discovers a strange and unusual plant that he names Audrey Jr. after his coworker crush, Audrey Fulquard. This peculiar plant thrives on human blood and soon becomes the star attraction of Mushnik's Flower Shop, where Seymour works. As Audrey Jr. grows, Seymour faces moral dilemmas about feeding it, eventually resorting to committing murder to satisfy its voracious appetite. The plant's demands escalate as it gains notoriety, pushing Seymour deeper into a spiral of deception and crime.

Meanwhile, Seymour's love for Audrey complicates his decisions, especially as he dreams of a future with her beyond Skid Row. The film climaxes in a bizarre and macabre series of events as Seymour tries to outwit the increasingly monstrous plant that threatens to consume everything in its path. "The Little Shop of Horrors" is known for its low-budget charm, quirky characters, and darkly humorous take on greed and ambition, becoming a cult classic for its inventive storyline and memorable performances.

PLOT Spoiler Alert:

In a small, rundown flower shop in Los Angeles, owned by the cranky Gravis Mushnick, business is failing. The shop is staffed by the shy, awkward Seymour Krelborn and the sweet but ditzy Audrey Fulquard. Seymour, an amateur botanist, has been working on a mysterious plant that he bought from a Chinese flower shop during a solar eclipse. He names the plant "Audrey Jr." in honor of his crush, Audrey.

Despite his enthusiasm, Audrey Jr. is wilting and not attracting customers.

Mushnick is on the verge of closing the shop when Seymour accidentally discovers that the plant thrives on human blood. He pricks his finger, and the plant eagerly devours the blood, growing larger and healthier.

Mushnick decides to display the now-thriving Audrey Jr. in the shop window, and it quickly becomes a local sensation, drawing crowds and boosting business.

As the plant grows, its appetite for blood increases, and Seymour is unable to keep up with its demands. Audrey Jr. begins to speak, calling out "Feed me!" and revealing a sinister intelligence. Seymour starts to panic as the plant's need for fresh blood leads to a series of accidental deaths. The first victim is a dentist named Dr. Farb, who Seymour visits to fix a toothache. In a scuffle, Dr. Farb accidentally dies, and Seymour feeds the body to Audrey Jr.

Audrey Jr. continues to grow and attract more attention. Seymour becomes a local hero, though he is plagued with guilt and fear over the plant's true nature. Audrey, unaware of the dark secret, begins to fall for Seymour, charmed by his newfound confidence and the shop's success.

Mushnick, however, becomes suspicious of Seymour's activities and the plant's unusual growth. One night, he witnesses Seymour feeding a body to Audrey Jr. Mushnick confronts Seymour, who admits to the murders but claims he had no choice. Mushnick plans to turn Seymour in but reconsiders, thinking he can use the plant's popularity to his advantage.

As the plant's fame spreads, Seymour is invited to appear on a popular television show.

Meanwhile, the plant's demands become insatiable. It persuades Seymour to bring more victims, leading to the deaths of a sadistic dentist and a few other unsavory characters.

Audrey Jr.'s final meal is Mushnick himself, who tries to blackmail Seymour one last time. The plant consumes him, leaving Seymour distraught. Realizing he cannot continue the cycle of feeding the plant, Seymour decides to end the horror. He confronts Audrey Jr., but in a tragic twist, the plant devours him too.

In the end, Audrey Jr. blooms, revealing the faces of its victims, including Seymour and Mushnick. The film closes with the plant's eerie laughter, suggesting that the nightmare is far from over.

PRODUCTION: "The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960) stands out as a prime example of low-budget filmmaking ingenuity. Directed by Roger Corman on an extremely tight schedule and budget, the film was shot in just two days and one night at a small studio in Hollywood. The production relied heavily on existing sets to depict the rundown urban setting of Skid Row, minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency. Corman's approach included using a mixture of established actors and newcomers, many of whom were familiar faces from his previous films. The most iconic element of the production was the creation of the man-eating plant, Audrey Jr., which was achieved with basic puppetry and clever camera angles.

Despite its shoestring budget and rapid production schedule, "The Little Shop of Horrors" became a cult classic, known for its dark humor and imaginative storytelling within the constraints of its modest resources.

RELEASE: "The Little Shop of Horrors" underwent a journey from its initial low-budget release to becoming a cult classic. Despite its limited theatrical run, the film gradually gained recognition for its unconventional narrative and dark humor. Its popularity surged further with the rise of home video and cable television screenings, which exposed new audiences to its campy charm and memorable characters. The film's legacy was also buoyed by its influence on subsequent works, inspiring adaptations into stage productions and a musical that became widely known. Over time, "The Little Shop of Horrors" became celebrated for its blend of horror and comedy, showcasing Roger Corman's knack for inventive filmmaking on a shoestring budget and solidifying its place in the annals of cult cinema history.

CAST:

• Jonathan Haze as Seymour Krelborn

• Jackie Joseph as Audrey Fulquard

• Mel Welles as Gravis Mushnick

• Dick Miller as Burson Fouch

• Myrtle Vail as Winifred Krelborn

• Jack Nicholson as Wilbur Force

• Karyn Kupcinet as Shirley

• Toby Michaels as Shirley’s Friend 

• Leola Wendroff as Mrs. Shiva

• Lynn Storey as Mrs. Hortense Feuchtwanger

• Wally Campo as Sgt. Joe Fink / Narrator

• Jack Warford as Officer Frank Stoolie

• Meri Welles as Leonora Clyde

• John Herman Shaner as Dr. Phoebus Farb

• Dodie Drake as Waitress 

CREW:

• Director: Roger Corman

• Producer: Roger Corman

• Writer: Charles B. Griffith

• Cinematographer: Archie R. Dalzell

• Editor: Marshall Neilan Jr.

• Music: Fred Katz

Production Company: The Filmgroup, Santa Clara Productions
Distributor: The Filmgroup

Release Date: August 5, 1960
Country of Origin: United States
Running Time: 72 minutes
Budget: $30,000
Box Office Return: N/A

IMDB Rating =  6.2 / 10

TRIVIA:

• The film was shot in just two days using sets left over from, "A Bucket of Blood" (1959).

• Jack Nicholson's early role as the masochistic dental patient Wilbur Force became one of his most memorable performances.

• The film inspired a successful off-Broadway musical in 1982, which was later adapted into a 1986 film directed by Frank Oz.

• Roger Corman's efficient shooting schedule and budget-conscious methods became legendary in Hollywood, showcasing his ability to create entertaining films under tight constraints.

• The character of Audrey Jr. was voiced by writer Charles B. Griffith, adding to the film's unique and humorous tone.

• "The Little Shop of Horrors" is often cited as an example of a film that achieved cult status despite—or perhaps because of—its low-budget production and unconventional approach to storytelling.

• Howard R. Cohen learned from Charles B. Griffith that during editing, a shot of the moon was used to bridge a visual gap, which later led to interpretations about the moon's symbolism in the film.

• The film's budget was $30,000 (equivalent to nearly $315,000 in 2024).

• Dick Miller, who played Fouch, genuinely ate flowers during filming.

• The origin of Audrey Jr. in the film, linked humorously to a cranberry farm, referenced a real-life herbicide contamination scare in 1959.

• Charles B. Griffith appeared off-screen to voice Audrey Jr., a role intended for another actor in post-production but retained due to Griffith's humorous performance.

• Jack Nicholson's role as Wilbur Force marked one of his earliest in film and was promoted in later releases to capitalize on his rising stardom.

• Roger Corman's rapid filming style, including using two cameras simultaneously and minimal retakes, was notable during production.

• The famous scene where a character is run over by a train was achieved by reversing the shot.

• Several of Charles B. Griffith's relatives appeared as extras in the film, including his grandmother.

• The film was predominantly shot in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row district, lending authenticity to its setting.

• Roger Corman's decision to shoot the film quickly was partly to avoid new industry rules on actor residuals, which were set to change shortly after filming wrapped.

• Despite its rapid production and initial reception, the film's lasting impact led to adaptations and continued cultural references.

"The Little Shop of Horrors" from 1960 remains a cult classic known for its dark humor, quirky characters, and unique premise involving a man-eating plant named Audrey II, continuing to entertain audiences with its offbeat charm and enduring appeal in the realm of black comedy and horror cinema.