Whether you know or not you have seen one of the films of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman. If not for him a lot of the actors and directors of today would not be where they are. In this new documentary Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel we get an inside look at his career that goes all the way back to the 1950’s and shows no sign of stopping.
On the surface this could be seen as just another documentary, but what it really is, is a homage to a man who deserves more than the credit he is given. From famed Vincent Price Poe films, to the over the top monster movies Corman has delivered films in every genre you can think of and then some. This film not only gives you an inside look at how he built his film empire, but how he built careers and affected an industry. There are some great interviews here from some top people in the industry including Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, William Shatner, the late David Carradine, and many more that shows how much this man has affected an industry that refuses to give him his just rewards. One interview in general shows Jack Nicholson, who spends most of the film speaking about Corman in a generic way, but ends with an emotional moment that shows the respect and appreciation that Corman has developed through his career. Yeah he received an Honorary Academy Award in 2009, but how much of an insult that it not only took that long, but had to be an honorary status as opposed to lifetime achievement. This man has given his whole life to film and is respected by everyone in the industry, yet seems to still fall through the cracks.
Sadly most young people have no idea who he is, but its films like this that will keep his name where it belongs in lights Corman isn’t the big budget directors most would like but without him there would be no Little Shop of Horrors, Death race 2000, Sharktopus, or any of the other 300 plus films he has produced. If you’re a Corman fan or never heard of him, this is a well-crafted documentary that gives credit to a man who lives to make movies, his way.
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