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| The Little Shop of Horrors | 
 enlarge | Director: Roger Corman
Actors: Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles, Dick Miller, Myrtle Vail
Studio: Legend Films, Inc.
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.99
You Save: $6.96 (47%)
New (6) Used (6) from $7.13
Avg. Customer Rating:  216 reviews
Sales Rank: 34667
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 72
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 79464
UPC: 796019794640
EAN: 0796019794640
ASIN: B000FAOCFE
Theatrical Release Date: September 14, 1960
Release Date: June 27, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
Hilarious, cheapie black comedy from 1960 that may be the best film by B-picture master Roger Corman, other than Bucket of Blood, made about the same time with the same writer, Charles Griffith. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) is an assistant in a skid-row flower shop who's on the point of losing his job when the unusual plant he's developed turns the store into a major attraction. The only problem is that the plant needs human blood to live, all the while crying, "Feed me! FEED ME!" Luckily, Seymour causes a series of inadvertent deaths that more than make up for the food shortage. Jack Nicholson provides a comic sidebar as a nutjob masochist visiting a dentist's office. Giggling and wild-eyed from the same impulse that might lead others to read scandal sheets, he can be seen in the dentist's waiting room reading aloud from Pain magazine. Famous for having the shortest shooting schedule on record (two days and a night), The Little Shop of Horrors spawned an off-Broadway musical that was in turn made into a successful film in 1986, starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. It was in just this quick-shoot atmosphere that Corman nurtured the careers of many of America's most celebrated film directors; this little shop of honors included Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, and Jonathan Demme. The DVD has optional Japanese subtitles, very generous bios of the stars and filmmakers, and a clean, crisp transfer. --Jim Gay
Product Description
King of the B's director Roger Corman shot this crazy beat-era classic in a mere two days but it packs plenty of inspired lunacy and clever bits in its 70-minute running time. Jonathan Haze stars as clumsy assistant florist Seymour who saves his job in Mr. Mushnik's skid-row flower shop when he brings in a unique man-eating plant. The problem is it's a very hungry plant; every night it opens its huge jaws and demands to be fed forcing poor Seymour to take to the street in search of victims lest he disappoint his boss and his adoring girlfriend Audrey (Jackie Joseph). From a zingy script by Charles Griffith this hilarious black comedy overflows with great ideas and characters: Corman regular Dick Miller plays a hipster who eats flowers and a very young Jack Nicholson takes a memorable turn as a masochistic dental patient. DRAGNET-style detective Joe Fink (Wally Campo) narrates as he slowly begins to track the killer down. This oft-revived favorite still generates plenty of laughs and chills deserving of repeat viewings. A musical version debuted off-Broadway in 1982 and led to a film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin.System Requirements:Running Time 70 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: R UPC: 796019794640 Manufacturer No: 79464
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| Customer Reviews: Read 211 more reviews...
 GoodTimes' Little Shop DVD is the one to beat July 13, 2002
47 out of 48 found this review helpful
Unfortunately, Little Shop of Horrors and every other Roger Corman Filmgroup production lapsed into public domain years ago and have generally been available on VHS and DVD only in poor-quality editions ranging from merely bad to atrocious. (The only Filmgroup features to get a decent official or semi-official release so far are Bucket of Blood, Beast from Haunted Cave, and Night Tide.) After researching every DVD version of Little Shop of Horrors available (there are at least eight!) I played a hunch and went with GoodTimes to replace my VHS copy, and I'm very pleasantly surprised at the overall excellent quality of the source print. When I saw the "preserved using the best available elements" line at the beginning of this disc I thought 'yeah, right,' but I have to admit that this is the brightest, cleanest, sharpest (if not exactly razor-sharp) print of this film I've ever seen. The black level, contrast, gray values, and shadow/highlight detail are fine, and physical damage is limited only to some very light speckling and blemishing (!!). On the downside, the transfer itself seems to be somehow deficient (low bit rate?), causing areas of flat white or smoothly gradated grays in the image to exhibit some very faint but noticeable pixelation or banding, especially during the opening credit sequence (areas of flat color seem to be DVD's Achilles Heel). The casual viewer probably won't notice this phenomenon unless it's pointed out, but it's there. That said, the superior quality of the source print more than makes up for this one barely noticeable flaw; this is still most likely the best edition yet available of this classic 'sick humor' gem and well worth the bargain price. It definitely blows away every TV print and cheapjack PD video version I've ever eyeballed. Grab this before it goes out of print.
The movie itself still entertains tremendously today, a funny, goofy (dare I say charming?) horror-comedy that basically plays like a stage farce (most of the action takes place on one or two sets). The story is essentially a remake of Bucket of Blood with a change in locale and a few fresh twists. This time Jonathan Haze portrays everyschlep Seymour Krelboine, who lives with his alcoholic hypochondriac mother (she listens to KSIK radio) and works at Mushnick's skid row flower shop. Seymour (temporarily) finds fame, fortune, and romance by nurturing (and eventually murdering for) an exotic talking cannibalistic plant. Mel Welles, in his finest hour (literally), steals nearly every scene with his droll portrayal of perpetually exasperated Gravis Mushnick, and Jackie Joseph (Andy Griffith Show, Who's Minding the Mint) seems born to play pretty, ditzy Audrey. Corman regulars adding to the fun include Dick Miller (Walter Paisley in Bucket of Blood) as Fouch, a flower-eating client, John Shaner as a sadistic dentist, and 14th-billed Jack Nicholson (featured prominently on most tape and disc box art) as his masochistic patient. Shot on a shoestring in just three days (at least all the interiors), Little Shop holds up better than many big-budget comedies of the day (anyone watched Story of Mankind lately?). Much credit must be given to Charles B. Griffith, unsung hero/architect of the AIP/Allied Artists/Corman style. His list of credits reads like Corman's greatest hits: It Conquered the World, Attack of the Crab Monsters, The Undead, Not of This Earth, Teenage Doll, Bucket of Blood, Beast from Haunted Cave, Wild Angels, Death Race 2000, etc. Griffith's clever, witty screenplay is a model of late-50s sick humor, working in a dead-on Dragnet parody, some wonderful malapropisms and bits of wordplay, lotsa Yiddish humor, and a handful of his patented icky-creepy moments. (Griffith also voiced the plant, Audrey Jr., played a few walk-ons, and directed some second unit scenes, all uncredited.) Fred Katz's memorable score is alternately goofy and spy-jazzy, and, unlike some of Roger Corman's other attempts at comedy (e.g. Creature from the Haunted Sea), I find his touch just right here, ably supporting Griffith's verbal bits with complementary editing patterns (check Sgt. Joe Fink and Det. Frank Stoolie's hilarious introductory scene). Lighter in tone and a bit broader and more farcical than Bucket of Blood (which I personally prefer), Little Shop, judged on its own terms, is still fresh and engaging, though the low budget is obvious at times. I'm not sure how fans of the Broadway show or movie musical will react to the original (I admit to being a purist myself), but if they share a taste for low budget horror or 50s-style sick humor they'll probably find it an offbeat treat.
Feed Me Seymour! May 17, 2002
21 out of 25 found this review helpful
What can I say, I think that this is a wonderful movie and musical. The setting takes place in a plant shop that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Mr. Mushnik is the boss and Audrey and Seymour work for him. Seymour buys a human eating plant for Audrey and names it Audrey 2. Seymour is hopelessly in love with Audrey, but unfortunately Audrey already has a boyfriend, Orin. Orin is a dentist and treats Audrey like dirt. Deep down, Audrey would rather be with Seymour than wit Orin. Finally Seymour kills Orin and feeds him to Audrey 2.OK, here is why I did not give this movie five stars. As I imagine you all know, the play and the movie are different. In the play at the End Audrey 2 eats Audrey and Seymour feels so lonely without her that he commits suicide by feeding himself to the plant. In the movie on the other hand the shop caught fire and the plant didn't survive, but Audrey and Seymour got married. Another problem with the movie was that the poignant love song, "Suddenly, Seymour," was well overdone. Missing also is the catchy song "Closed For Renovation." Other than that, this is a wonderful movie, and I would chose to watch it time and again. So go ahead, buy it. You will not be sorry.
 Best-Looking Restoration Of A Legendary Cult Classic Comedy ! July 10, 2006
17 out of 20 found this review helpful
Roger Corman's Original 1960 version of "The Little Shop Of Horrors" is considered by many as a true cult classic comedy of B-Movies,even the most respected of film critics.Unfortunately depending on the tastes and opinions of film fans that were used to seeing this legendary film comedy through the public domain since there was a lack of copyright in the titles,(same thing had happen to "Night Of The Living Dead") and for many years since the dawn of the videocassette and late late movie shows,those versions were vastly inferior and often poor-looking in terms of presentation and contrast.Now the great folks at Legend Films have finally put out a brand-new definitive and excellent restored presentation of this cult hit on DVD in both the original black & white version as well as the disc's main presentation of showcasing a brand-new restored digitally colorized version too.As with previous selected Legend releases of classic horror/B-movies in their DVD series,the disc features a well-done and at times hilarious commentary by MST3K's Mike Nelson and the great thing is that you can listen to the track on both versions of the film,giving the b&w version sort of a MST3K-flavor to it (I love how he refers to the opening Filmgroup logo as little Reese Cups !).Despite packaging claims that is the first time the film has been colorized,it's actually the second colorized incarnation of the film.First colorized on videocassette in the very late '80's with lousy and at times amateur results,this Legend version completely blows away the first attempt and looks like it was actually filmed in color,but of course this films' legendary budgetary constraints prevented from actually filming it in color.Of course lets not forget that the film features a very very young Jack Nicholson,in his fourth film role,in a memorable role as a crazy dentist patient.I must say,this Legend version of "Little Shop" is probably the most superior and sharpest looking out of all the previous versions of the film that you're possibly going to see and no wonder it was transferred from an excellent 35mm print of the film ! Other extras,besides the Nelson commentary,round out the package including both restored color/unrestored b&w trailers to "Little Shop",and the following colorized trailers for "Plan 9 From Outer Space","House On Haunted Hill","Carnival Of Souls",and "Reefer Madness".Plus a gallery of nine man-eating plants,if any kids are planning to do a school project on man-eating plants,this could actually be a fun reference guide,and also a very short clip called "Man Eating Plants" which is actually the president of Legend Films Barry Sandrew vigorously eating vegetable plants such as celery (always eat your vegetables folks !).Well-done packaging,excellent eye-catching menus and a sparkling transfer of both versions will definitely please any film buff,both Hollywood and B-Movie fans alike ! This is by far one of the first best DVD releases of 2006 and is highly recommended for old and new fans alike instead of those who only prefer the 1986 spectacular Frank Oz musical remake with Rick Moranis and Steve Martin.Highly recommended !
UPDATE 11/24/06:
Just Recently,Buena Vista Home Entertainment in association with Roger Corman have finally released an "authorized" DVD release of "Little Shop Of Horrors" as well as a nicely restored original black & white version of Nicholson's debut film "The Cry Baby Killer".Unfortunately,the recent disc's presentation of "Little Shop" is in fact the ORIGINAL colorized version,slightly mentioned above,that was first produced and eventually released to video in 1987 by Color Systems Technology.The source print used for the color version (other than the fact that the quality was directly copied off a video master for the DVD) is surprisingly in quite good condition,but it really truly is one of the worst examples of 1980's colorization technology I've ever seen and will probably be the last.The colors are often the same as certain objects (ie: the outside of Mushnick's Shop and the greens for the flowers,etc.),tons of continuity errors (ie: clothing,signs,etc.) and does anybody wish to care seeing Audrey Jr. looking like a talking watermelon plant? Reportedly,that color version was authorized by none other than Corman himself and it's easy to see why many directors above his stature hate and disregard colorization.Nicholson/Corman fans alike aren't going to be impressed with that bust of a release and it's very easy to see why the '87 colorized version was out of circulation for many years.Easier said than done,the newly restored Legend Films release is by far,hands down,the real winner due to the technology,version options,and bonus materials !
Offbeat, engaging and delightful July 10, 2000
12 out of 16 found this review helpful
"Little Shop of Horrors" is a movie like no other. You're slyly drawn in by a cute little musical that progressivley gets more and more "weiEIeiEIerrRRrd" (to quote Wink the radio guy, played by John Candy.)Candy, Jim Belushi, Steve Martin and Christopher Guest show up here to add their talents to outstanding performances by Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene. The music is great! I'm not a huge fan of 50's and 60's style do-wop stuff, but if your feet can stay still during the tunes in this show, forget it--you're dead already and it doesn't matter. The arrangements are excellent. The Greek Chorus Girls add style, panache and polish as well as harmony. One of my favorite things about this film is finding someone who hasn't seen it yet and sharing it with them. They always say, "When was this made? How could I not hear about this movie? It's great!" The DVD version is excellent. I've owned the VHS for years, but the DVD sound and picture are far superior. The documentary on the making of the film is a nice extra and makes you appreciate what you see that much more. My confession? I've probably watched this movie thirty or more times. If you ask to watch it again tonight, would I do it? You bet. Just buy it. You won't be sorry. The DVD lets you show off your home theater system with hardly an explosion. It's a gem.
Best presentation of LITTLE SHOP yet!!!! July 10, 2006
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
Legend Film's DVD of Little Shop of Horrors easily has THE BEST picture/sound quality I've seen for this title.
There have been dozens upon dozens of public-domain VHS releases, and many DVD releases too. All poor quality. This transfer blows away ALL of those.
I could care less about the "colorized" version, even if Legend's technique is good, it still looks like pastel-crap to me.
The black and white version (also featured on the disc), is gorgeous. Crisp, and full of detail. The 35mm source materials are in great shape (except Nicholson's line "I'm looking for Dr. Farbe", which is missing frames.. why they didn't restore them with 16mm/video is beyond me). I'm a big fan of this movie, and overall was VERY impressed with the transfer.
The DVD does include the original theatrical trailer, and a "restored" colorized version of the trailer (recreated to look like the original b&w trailer). The Mike Nelson commentary is decent (I'm a huge fan of MST3k), but usualy just makes fun of the movie, rather than any real information. Too bad, since the movie is in a higher class than some of Legend's other titles.
An audio commentary with Jonathan Haze, Roger Corman, Jackie Joseph, or Charles B. Griffith (depending on who's alive still) would have been a better choice.
Legend has done a supurb job, finally giving this movie a proper DVD presentation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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