In the busy years of 1962 and 1963, the late B-movie king made a statement that failed and a transcendent science fiction film. Both captured a filmmaker working at top form.
The early ’60s was indeed the prime time for Corman as a director. These two, along with his Poe films, should be enough proof of his talents for anyone.
If any Corman film is destined to be enshrined in the Criterion Collection, I hope it’s THE INTRUDER. Shatner is still with us. Sit him down and interview him about it. Get me to write the booklet essay. Let’s do this!
My notes when I watched The Intruder a couple of years ago: "Corman just going for it without any couching or metaphor or subtext, and some serious wildcat filmmaking. Shatner is much more like an evil Kirk here than in either of the "evil Kirk" episodes of Star Trek. Ending seems quaintly pat now."
Saw for the first time last weekend NOT OF THIS EARTH, an early (1957) Corman about an alien agent on Earth to determine if the human race could be the raw material required to save his planet. It was a much smarter film than I was expecting, Paul Birch was really a standout as the alien, successfully living among humans while just being a little weird and consistently behaving in a smart and professional manner. If his goal wasn't the extinction of humanity I would have been on his side.
And Dick Miller (as "Richard" Miller in this one) has a small scene as the world's unluckiest door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman.
I’m glad to see THE INTRUDER getting recognition here. It’s of a piece with stuff like FACE IN THE CROWD where you get to see an actor best known for one role in a wholly different - and more viciously cynical and nasty - performance, and you’re left kind of wishing more people tapped into it. THE INTRUDER may be blunt, but it’s also pretty dead on.
Also, if anyone is interested, Valancourt Books is currently selling the ebook of THE INTRUDER - complete with introduction by Corman - for two bucks. I have not read it, but that was an instant buy.
I'm a graduate of the Roger Corman Film School. I wrote a movie Roger pitched to me as "I have this house set, and we can turn it into an underground lab. We'll call it The Terror Within. I want it post-apocalypse and I'm tired of nuclear war. Do you have any ideas?" And that little "programmer," written between drafts of the script Roger and I and everyone else who read it just knew would be a "hit", became Roger's biggest hit of the late period - even getting solid reviews for the "underlying pro-choice message of the film" - and still stands up 36 years later (while the "hit" became the biggest flop of that period, proving that William Goldman definitely knew what he was talking about when he described the three rules of Hollywood). I am glad to see people finally recognizing Roger for the genius he was. Knowing him and working for him was the best part of my time in Hollywood.
Back when makin' mo'om pitchas was fun. Fun fact about Tough Guy George Kennedy: he was the most shy person I ever met. I was down at the set (the Lumberyard, shot during the 18 hottest days of the year with no A/C) and Thierry Notz introduced me to George. I put out my hand and wanted to say I'd been a fan since "Lonely Are The Brave" but he kept backing away, down the hallway till he got to the men's room and disappeared inside. Emerged 10 minutes later, fully "in character" as Tough Guy George Kennedy. Accepted my fandom, laughed and joked about the script (he was doing 5 days on the set for $50K) and overall the guy you'd like to meet.
Watched THE INTRUDER last night. Thanks for the recommendation - solid film! Between the small town setting, the morality, the actors, and the pedigree it feels very much like a Twilight Zone episode and I mean that in a good way
The early ’60s was indeed the prime time for Corman as a director. These two, along with his Poe films, should be enough proof of his talents for anyone.
If any Corman film is destined to be enshrined in the Criterion Collection, I hope it’s THE INTRUDER. Shatner is still with us. Sit him down and interview him about it. Get me to write the booklet essay. Let’s do this!
My notes when I watched The Intruder a couple of years ago: "Corman just going for it without any couching or metaphor or subtext, and some serious wildcat filmmaking. Shatner is much more like an evil Kirk here than in either of the "evil Kirk" episodes of Star Trek. Ending seems quaintly pat now."
Bosley Crowther's review for the NYT shows us that the ending was definitely pat for the time too
Saw for the first time last weekend NOT OF THIS EARTH, an early (1957) Corman about an alien agent on Earth to determine if the human race could be the raw material required to save his planet. It was a much smarter film than I was expecting, Paul Birch was really a standout as the alien, successfully living among humans while just being a little weird and consistently behaving in a smart and professional manner. If his goal wasn't the extinction of humanity I would have been on his side.
And Dick Miller (as "Richard" Miller in this one) has a small scene as the world's unluckiest door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman.
NOT OF THIS EARTH is a good one. I love Beverly Garland in it. And there’s a plum role for Jonathan Haze, too.
I’m glad to see THE INTRUDER getting recognition here. It’s of a piece with stuff like FACE IN THE CROWD where you get to see an actor best known for one role in a wholly different - and more viciously cynical and nasty - performance, and you’re left kind of wishing more people tapped into it. THE INTRUDER may be blunt, but it’s also pretty dead on.
Also, if anyone is interested, Valancourt Books is currently selling the ebook of THE INTRUDER - complete with introduction by Corman - for two bucks. I have not read it, but that was an instant buy.
I'm a graduate of the Roger Corman Film School. I wrote a movie Roger pitched to me as "I have this house set, and we can turn it into an underground lab. We'll call it The Terror Within. I want it post-apocalypse and I'm tired of nuclear war. Do you have any ideas?" And that little "programmer," written between drafts of the script Roger and I and everyone else who read it just knew would be a "hit", became Roger's biggest hit of the late period - even getting solid reviews for the "underlying pro-choice message of the film" - and still stands up 36 years later (while the "hit" became the biggest flop of that period, proving that William Goldman definitely knew what he was talking about when he described the three rules of Hollywood). I am glad to see people finally recognizing Roger for the genius he was. Knowing him and working for him was the best part of my time in Hollywood.
Wow, fantastic! A pro-choice post-apocalyptic movie starring George Kennedy sounds absolutely fascinating. So glad you got to have that experience.
Back when makin' mo'om pitchas was fun. Fun fact about Tough Guy George Kennedy: he was the most shy person I ever met. I was down at the set (the Lumberyard, shot during the 18 hottest days of the year with no A/C) and Thierry Notz introduced me to George. I put out my hand and wanted to say I'd been a fan since "Lonely Are The Brave" but he kept backing away, down the hallway till he got to the men's room and disappeared inside. Emerged 10 minutes later, fully "in character" as Tough Guy George Kennedy. Accepted my fandom, laughed and joked about the script (he was doing 5 days on the set for $50K) and overall the guy you'd like to meet.
Watched THE INTRUDER last night. Thanks for the recommendation - solid film! Between the small town setting, the morality, the actors, and the pedigree it feels very much like a Twilight Zone episode and I mean that in a good way