The venerable producer Roger Corman is receiving an honorary Oscar this year, less, perhaps, for his inspired, budget-maximizing direction of Attack of the Crab Monsters, Poe adaptations, and biker flicks than his nurturing of the talent that made the 70s such a watershed decade for Hollywood filmmaking. The good news is that he and a gratifyingly full slate of recipients--Lauren Bacall, John Calley, and Gordon Willis also made the cut--will get a dinner devoted exclusively to them. The bad is that they'll get scant attention on the actual telecast, due to a rules change designed to trim the running time. That's too bad; who wouldn't want to see Corman surrounded by the likes of Coppola, Scorsese, etc., and clips from pictures that never baited Oscar? But It, who conquered the world in 1956 with Beverly Garland by its side, is pleased.
2 comments:
That's great news about Corman's recognition by the Academy and it's been long overdue. By the way, do you know that Anthology Film Archives will have a very extensive film retrospective of Roger Corman for two weeks starting the last week of October to the first week of November 2009. Among the Corman films to be shown are, BUCKET OF BLOOD, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE PREMATURE BURIAL, HOUSE OF USHER, PIT & THE PENDULUM, TALES OF TERROR, THE HAUNTED PALICE, THE RAVEN, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, TOMB OF LEGIA, THE WILD ANGELS, THE TRIP, BLOODY MAMA , THE INTRUDER and THE ST.VALENTINE'S MASSACRE. Check out the Anthology Film Archives for more details about the retrospective's schedule.
Thanks for writing. I love ATA but don't get there as much as I'd like. Maybe this will get me there.
Post a Comment