Before there was King of the "B rate" films, there was Roger William Corman born April 5th, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan who many would soon learn in his astonishing career that he was in fact, the King of the B's (no matter how many times he rejected this nickname). An American producer who has managed to stagger a lifetime of work has been best known to express the importance of a budget for any task taken on, and the resourcefulness that many film makers tend to lack. 



The son of William Corman (an engineer) and Anne, Roger Corman never hit the film scene until 1953 but when he did, he opened everyone’s eyes to how low budget films could still be made quite entertaining and well appreciated by their fan base. Corman can bring his twist to producing and even writing to movies for a long time to come.



During the busiest time of his career Corman had ended up doing seven movies in one year. He is also known for his quickest movie made, The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) - with Jack Nicholson and Seymour Krelboin - which he ended up shooting in two days and one night. The movie starred soon to be up and coming Jack Nicholson, Jonathan Haze and Jackie Joseph (among many others). There has always been much debate as to how the movie came out in barely three days time, things from Corman having rented a set for one month with a couple of days to spare, thus allowing the time needed for this new movie. Even stories of Corman making a bet with others that no one could finish a full movie in that amount of time. No matter what the truth is, the movie is still an all time classic.



Also known for his Edgar Allan Poe stories, Corman worked with writer/scenarist Richard Matheson (an American author and screenwriter, best known as the author of I Am Legend) on a number of films. House of User in 1960, The Pit and the Pendulum, Tales of Terror in 1962, The Raven (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964) - all of these starred Vincent Price. Both Corman and Price were at the time well respected in their fields of work, both involved with the start of shocking horror movies. During that time, you really could not think of a good horror movie that would not have one of these two men in their respected roles. 



Corman had has the chance to work with some of the best names in the industry, many thought he had a good luck charm about him as once someone had been in contact with Corman, they were on their way blooming in their careers. One of William Shatner's first leading roles in The Intruder during 1962 was directed by Corman; the film barely broke $80,000USD but at the same time gained the attention of all with its treatment of the civil rights and segregation.



He could be very frugal or just plain cheap, but when Corman is involved in a movie you know it will be a long lasting one. By the time 1970 rolled around Corman had decided to found New World Pictures (independent motion picture and television Production Company). Well before Corman sold a little over a decade later (in 1983) the company produced many cult films like Death Race 2000 (1975) starring David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone (remade in 2008 starring Jason Statham) and also Piranha (1978) which was the comedy horror flick with a swarm of killer piranhas that was a parody of the 1975 film Jaws.




Roger Corman has worked with some of the best of the best, and many early on into their careers. Directors alone include Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard. If you look at the actors who have been touched by the Corman charm those like Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Robert De Niro ring as well. Even David Carradine has been quoted saying "It’s almost as though you can’t have a career in this business without having passed through Roger’s hands for at least a moment." Three cameos of Corman's protégés are The Godfather Part II; The Silence of the Lambs, and Apollo 13 which all involved noted and rewarded Corman with this honor.

In 1990 Roger Corman wrote the book "How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime", with this he notes how on small budgets he was able to make dozens of full length films within days, yet still come out profitable in the end, many of the budgets being just barely $100,000USD. Not all movies may have been large hits, but they helped to launch the careers of so many in the business it’s no doubt that he will go down in the history books as part of what motivates American movies today and for the last 50 years.



Many of Corman’s protégés note that they all attend the Roger Corman Film School, just a handful to mention that have won Oscars so it just shows that even a little knowledge from a legend can go a long way. Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Corman’s Dementia 13 won the Oscar for The Godfather Part II. Jack Nicholson who has been in four of the movies financed by Corman (The Cry Baby Killer, The Little Shop Of Horrors, Ride the Whirlwind and The Shooting) landed his first large role in The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. He was also allowed the honor to direct on Corman’s The Terror (1963) - with Jack Nicholson and Boris Karloff - during the last two days of shooting. Martin Scorsese who directed Corman’s Boxcar Berta (starring David Carradine) went on to win an Oscar for The Departed. If the person was an actor, actress, director or another producer – all have learned a little “know how” from the King of the B’s.



From just 1954 until 2008 Roger Corman has produced over 350 films, directed over 50 and been in association with some of the top names around Hollywood. He has worked on some of the best movies around, B-rate or not and always had high standards even on a low budget. Films like Gunslinger and Machine-Gun Kelly are favorites from the 1950’s, then moving into the 1960’s with movies like The Raven and The Masque of the Reach Death – all will be remembered as Corman classics. Even when he was producing alone, Boxcar Bertha, Hellfire and Raptor will all be listed in the history books. This man has had his hands in all areas in the world of film, even some acting and writing, it is no wonder everyone knows his name. Who else could do so much to impact the movie business for the span of the next 50 years or even longer?



Corman has even jokingly stated that he could “Corman once joked he could make a film about the fall of the Roman Empire with two extras and a sagebush”, while he can take many things and turn them into classics, this could very well test even his limits with creativity, though we all know if anyone could do it, he could.



Corman has always been known not necessarily to make “block busters” but to make enough turning a profit in order to make the next film. He always made sure his operating expenses were taking care of, which allowed him to make sure he would still make profit from the movies he took part in. With this smart business plan early on, he was able to budget for just about any project that he took on in his career, making him not only a profitable director and screen writer, but also a wise business man in a harsh industry.

It is well noted in history that Roger Corman may be the only man that has turned down a large studio production due to the movie having “too large” of a budget to take one. Anything over a ten day time period was “too much” for this one and would be tossed into the extravagant area of movies. If it could not be done quick and to the point, it was not worth the money spent. Also noted, has been Corman’s views for a “politically liberal point of view” for any movie he has dealt with and spanning over five decades, that’s a great deal of views for just one man who spawned off the careers of many others.



When asked about his role that he directed, Roger Corman has been noted to answer with “If they got their lines right and the camera was in focus, the scene was printed”, he has been a quiet man, only shown to his fan base by the movies he has taken part in, though not with full control of any. He offers feedback when needed, otherwise he lets each person do their “own thing” and as long as it works with what he envisions, it becomes a classic in its own right. Simple in his own right, a master with the experience to continue on and teach those who wish to follow in his footsteps just the same.