American Dreamer

And the Academy Award goes to… Roger Corman!

Imagine those words being spoken in the 1960’s, after Corman had directed films like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, THE INTRUDER, and THE WILD ANGELS. His progeny of talent, including Jack Nicholson, Francis Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Robert De Niro, Peter Bogdanovich, Bruce Dern, Robert Towne, Jonathan Demme, Stephanie Rothman, Ron Howard, Joe Dante, John Sayles, James Cameron and many others, evolved into the foundation for the New Hollywood of the 70’s and beyond. Without Corman’s belief in fresh ideas and visions, however exploitive at the root, many talented and important filmmakers might not have had the chance to break celluloid ground. So it’s apropos that one of the industry’s biggest outsiders was finally awarded an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Oscar on Saturday along with Lauren Bacall and Gordon Willis. As when Ray Harryhausen was presented with one after decades of envy and indifference, it’s good to see the Academy acknowledge artists who created outside its respect or attention. Though I’m disappointed the statue wasn’t presented to Roger Corman during the live broadcast — just to see a cavalcade of Panavision AIP images before the world.