Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Little Shop of Horrors (1960) starring Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph

Classic black comedy about young schnook who develops a bloodthirsty plant and is forced to kill in order to feed it. Directed by Roger Corman, the film was the basis for the later hit stage musical. Wrote by Charles Griffith. Infamous in its time as the “film shot in two days”, but now is considered one of Roger Corman’s most endearing classics. Later made into an Off Broadway musical and Hollywood film musical.

Product Description 

The most terrifying period in the history of my beat began in a little run-down florist shop called Mushnick’s, relates Sgt. Fink in the opening of Roger Corman’s 1960 black comedy. Seymour Krelboin works at Mushnick’s flower shop on Skid Row. To avoid the unemployment line, Seymour offers his boss a “special” hybrid plant he’s been growing at home. When Seymour pricks his finger and the plant tastes blood, he learns the secret to its growth: human flesh. With each victim Seymour supplies, “Audrey Jr.” (named after Seymour’s girlfriend) grows, and so does its appetite) begging for Seymour to “Feed me! Feeeed me!!”

The middle feature in Corman’s trilogy of black comedies (the others being A Bucket of Blood (1958) and Creature From The Haunted Sea (1961)), The Little Shop of Horrors has become a cult classic not only for its viciously funny script and improvisational feel, but also for a young Jack Nicholson’s small part as a masochistic dental patient. Although, legend has it, The Little Shop of Horrors was filmed in two days on an extremely miniscule budget, the movie’s impact generated a smash Broadway hit as well as a major studio remake in 1986. The prolific and inventive Charles Griffith wrote the screenplay, supplied the voice of Audrey Jr., and played a gun-wielding thug.

Dark Comedy

When all is said and done, The Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy. A very dark comedy, with some hilarious, laugh-out-loud moments. Such as:

• Dick Miller’s eating the flowers he just bought att Mushnik’s flower shop.
• Audrey eats at Seymour’s apartment, with his insanely neurotic mother. Where it’s a three-course meal of medicines and vitamins!
• Poor Seymour getting controlled by the hungry Audrey Jr.
• The insanely hilarious scene in the dentist office, with Jack Nicholson as the ultimate masochist patient!

Cast of characters

• Jonathan Haze (Not of This Earth) … Seymour Krelborn
• Jackie Joseph (Gremlins) … Audry Fulquard
• Mel Welles (Attack of the Crab Monsters) … Gravis Mushnik
• Dick Miller (The Terror) … Fouch
• Myrtle Vail (A Bucket of Blood) … Winifred Krelborn
• Karyn Kupcinet (The Ladies Man) … Shirley (as Tammy Windsor)
• Toby Michaels … Shirley’s Friend
• Leola Wendorff … Mrs. Shiva
• Lynn Storey … Mrs. Hortense Feuchtwanger
• Wally Campo (The Strangler) … Sgt. Joe Fink / Narrator
• Jack Warford … Detective Frank Stoolie
• Meri Welles … Leonora Clyde
• John Herman Shaner … Dr. Phoebus Farb
• Jack Nicholson (Batman; The Shining) … Wilbur Force
• Dodie Drake … Waitress

Additional cast

• Robert Coogan … Tramp (uncredited)
• Jack Griffin … Drunk (uncredited)
• Charles B. Griffith (Creature from the Haunted Sea) … Kloy Haddock – Hold-up Man / Screaming Patient / Audrey Junior (voice) (uncredited)
• Frank Mills … Man in Crowd Outside Shop (uncredited)