Little Shop of Horrors

[Zone Fighter]

Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Produced and directed by Roger Corman

Starring:
Jonathan Haze - Seymour Krelboyne
Jackie Joseph - Audrey Fulquard
Mel Welles - Gravis Mushnik
Dick Miller - Burson Fouch
Myrtle Vail - Winifred Krelboyne
Tammy Windsor - Teenage girl
Toby Michaels - Teenage girl
Leola Wendorff - Siddie Shiva
Lynn Storey - Mrs. Hortense Feuchtwanger (Society of Silent Flower Observers of Southern California)
Wally Campo - Det. Sgt .Joe Fink/Narrator
Jack Warford - Det. Frank Stoolie
Merri Welles - Leonora Clyde
John Shaner - Dr. Phoebus Farb (sadistic dentist)
Jack Nicholson - Wilbur Force (masochistic dental patient)
Dodie Drake - Waitress

The original Little Shop of Horrors is a horror-comedy which spoofs Dragnet. The narrator is Sgt. Joe Fink, his partner is Detective Frank Stoolie. The bits with the two cops aren't funny at all.

"In just two days, Roger Corman directed this funny cult horror classic that chronicles a skid row flower ship assistant's dilemma with a demanding vociferous carnivorous planet."
-- back of DVD cover

The premise of this film is rediculous, but isn't that true of most horror movies, just go with it and enjoy the silliness.

Remade as Little Shop of Horrors (1986), a musical (I plan to rent it)

Little Shop of Horrors (1960) is available on a $1 DVD. The disc has no menu, it just automatically plays the movie. The disc is probably region free.

[Xenorama ™]

i've seen all three versions of this- the original movie, the stage play (very funny) and the musical movie (good, but not great). i like 'em all to a degree, though i think i like the play best. the remake changes the ending, but i won't spoil that for you.

[Zone Fighter]

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Directed by Frank Oz

Starring:
Rick Moranis - Seymour Krelborn
Ellen Greene - Audrey
Vincent Gardenia - Mr. Mushnik
Steve Martin - Orin Scrivello, DDS
Levi Stubbs (member The Four Tops) - Audrey II (voice)
Stanley Jones - Narrator (voice)

Introducing:
Tichina Arnold - Crystal
Michelle Weeks - Ronette
Tisha Campbell - Chiffon

Special guest appearances by:
James Belushi - Patrick Martin
John Candy - Wink Wilkinson
Christopher Guest - Customer #1
Bill Murray - Arthur Denton

In this version Audrey is dating the dentist who beats her.

From what I've read it seems the original film, the stage musical and this musical film all have different endings. This films original uhappy ending was tested on an audience which reacted very badly to it so it was changed. Apparently a DVD containing the original ending was planned but for some reason was shelved. The DVD currently available does not include the original ending only a note giving a very brief description of it.

I think Jack Nicholson was better than Bill Murray, as the masochistic dental patient.

The DVD includes a making of documentary narrated by Ed Bishop. Fiting that Commander Straker narrates a video about a movie about a maneating alien plant. An deleted scenes and outtake video includes a segment of Rick Moranis being eaten by Audrey II and shouting "What about the sequel..." They were just kidding around.

[Torgaman]

I do believe that the current dvd release of the 1986 musical does have a brief glimpse of the original ending,with what appear to be two Godzilla sized Audreys wrapped around burning buildings.

[Xenorama ™]

if i'm not mistaken they are done with stop-motion.

cross Audrey Jr with the Satan Rose and you get Biollante.

[Zone Fighter]

Oh, I did see that in the outtakes.

[Torgaman]

I think it was Frank Oz who nixed the idea of having the deleted ending on the dvd.Would've been cool to see it though.

[Torgaman]

I just noticed on the credits,the actress who played the hooker in the film has Welles as her last name.Don't tell me this was Mel Welles's wife!!!!!She was just too hot for that fat tub of lard!

[Zone Fighter]

Why would he do that? It was his original ending the one he presumably prefered.