Little Shop of Horror: 1960 vs. 1986 4/21/11
I remember watching the 1986 version of Little Shop of Horrors when I was a kid. I would giggle uncomfortably because the big bad plant would curse. It was a catchy musical. I still caught myself tapping my foot to the songs today. But I had come to find out that it was a remake of the 1960 version.
The 1960 version was directed by Roger Carman, who has directed other B movies like St. Valentine Massacre, and The House of Usher. There are a few differences between the two movies (of course).
The 1986 version kept your attention and was brighter. I also enjoyed seeing Tisha Campbell be one of the singers. She’s known for her role as Gina in the 90’s sitcom Martin. This gal has got some lungs on her. Also, her fellow co-star on Martin, Pam, played by Tichina Arnold was also part of that spunky trio in the 1986 version. The supporting singers in the 1986 version really made the movie pop.
The 1960 version was directed by Roger Carman, who has directed other B movies like St. Valentine Massacre, and The House of Usher. There are a few differences between the two movies (of course).
The 1986 version kept your attention and was brighter. I also enjoyed seeing Tisha Campbell be one of the singers. She’s known for her role as Gina in the 90’s sitcom Martin. This gal has got some lungs on her. Also, her fellow co-star on Martin, Pam, played by Tichina Arnold was also part of that spunky trio in the 1986 version. The supporting singers in the 1986 version really made the movie pop.
The 1960 version was not a musical. It told its story ok. It was later reintroduced in a color version. Granted both versions are corny and the “special effects” are cheap, still I found myself wanted to know what the hell was going to happen to that nerdy, dim-witted Seymour. The 1986 version wasn’t trying to hide the fact that it was a stage musical. The props, background and chorography screams “BROADWAY”! The 1960 version was just cheap.
1960 Seymour was played by Jonathan Haze, who has worked in other B Horror type movies like the Ghost of the China Sea and Forbidden Island. His portrayal of Seymour is really well and he’s a good physical actor with over the top bumps, spills, breaks, and all around goof ups. He does get cheesy towards the end when the plant just automatically hypnotizes him to bring him more food.That part lost me and was done wrong I thought.
1986 Seymour, played by the loveable, nerdiest actor, Rick Moranis, was great for the role. His singing wasn’t half bad either. I felt that he really portrayed Seymour was not over acting as much as the 1960 Seymour. Granted his role had it’s over the top moments, but like I mentioned earlier, it’s not trying to hide it’s a stage musical. I like Moranis’ version better maybe because I am secretly attracted to nerdy guys in glasses and I have a guilty pleasure for every movie he has done. MMMM Spaceballs…
1960 Seymour was played by Jonathan Haze, who has worked in other B Horror type movies like the Ghost of the China Sea and Forbidden Island. His portrayal of Seymour is really well and he’s a good physical actor with over the top bumps, spills, breaks, and all around goof ups. He does get cheesy towards the end when the plant just automatically hypnotizes him to bring him more food.That part lost me and was done wrong I thought.
1986 Seymour, played by the loveable, nerdiest actor, Rick Moranis, was great for the role. His singing wasn’t half bad either. I felt that he really portrayed Seymour was not over acting as much as the 1960 Seymour. Granted his role had it’s over the top moments, but like I mentioned earlier, it’s not trying to hide it’s a stage musical. I like Moranis’ version better maybe because I am secretly attracted to nerdy guys in glasses and I have a guilty pleasure for every movie he has done. MMMM Spaceballs…
Of course Seymour’s love interest, Audrey, his co-worker in the flower shop is well not bright, but loveable. 1960 Audrey, played by Jackie Joseph
who was in Gremlins 1 and 2 as Mrs. Futterman, was good. She seemed smarter and more compassionate than the 1986 Audrey. Plus Jackie didn’t have to wear a god awful and noticeable wig. 1986 Audrey was played by Ellen Greene. She’s been in other projects like Rock-A-Doodle as Goldie and is currently in the day time soap opera The Young and the Restless as Primarose Young. Ellen’s version of Audrey was a nit wit. She prances around the screen with her mouth always partially open pissed me off. Her singing was good and I was impressed how she can go from woman baby singing to actual belting it out from the soul. But I saw that 1986 Audrey dumber than the 1960. Half the time Moranis is trying not to look at her tits that are falling out of her dresses
who was in Gremlins 1 and 2 as Mrs. Futterman, was good. She seemed smarter and more compassionate than the 1986 Audrey. Plus Jackie didn’t have to wear a god awful and noticeable wig. 1986 Audrey was played by Ellen Greene. She’s been in other projects like Rock-A-Doodle as Goldie and is currently in the day time soap opera The Young and the Restless as Primarose Young. Ellen’s version of Audrey was a nit wit. She prances around the screen with her mouth always partially open pissed me off. Her singing was good and I was impressed how she can go from woman baby singing to actual belting it out from the soul. But I saw that 1986 Audrey dumber than the 1960. Half the time Moranis is trying not to look at her tits that are falling out of her dresses
The 1960 version had a character that was played by Dick Miller. You may know him from the Gremlins 1 and 2 as Mr. Futterman.His character goes to the shop to eat the flowers. Hey, he at least brings his own salt dammit! His character main point, besides having craving for carnations with salt, is to bring the idea that if Mr. Mushnik lets Seymour display his unique plant in the window people will come into the shop to see, which in turn may bring more customers to the store. In the 1986 version, sadly, this character is cut out and is not featured. The idea is brought up by the opened mouth Audrey.
(God, please shut your damn mouth! Flies will go in or worse!)
(God, please shut your damn mouth! Flies will go in or worse!)
The dentist role is extended in the 1986 version played by wonderful Steve Martin. 1986 dentist, Orin Scivillo, DDS, dates Audrey and enjoys getting high off nitrous oxide and beating her up as well as torturing his patients. He is the only person Seymour chops up and makes plant food out of. In 1960, Seymour kills an undercover cop by accidently hitting him in the head with a rock and the guy gets derailed at the train tracks; a hooker by being hypnotized under the plants power and throws a rock in the air; and the dentist by having a duel with drill. In the 1960 version Audrey is not dating the Satanist dentist (whose name is also different). She dates Seymour. She also goes to dinner with Mr. Mushnik, (daddy issues maybe) who forgets his money, has to go back to the shop to get some and that is where he sees Seymour feeding the plant the undercover cop.
The masochist dentist patient in both versions is great. 1960 version is played by none other than psycho-crazy looking man Jack Nicholson. Jack was a rookie in the business and was in several B type horror flicks. He was in a couple with Jonathan Haze (Seymour). Jack sold that role as a masochist. But who doesn’t love Jack? The 1986 version had legendary Bill Murray. His performance of the patient was good. It was a little bit different. Bill’s character seems to be more sexual aroused with the torture than Jack’s character. However, back it the day that was more taboo to have sexual content, so it fits. Plus, it’s Seymour in the 1960 version who performs on the patient because at this point he had already killed the dentist.
Seymour had a mother in the 1960 version. She was a hypochondriac/alcoholic who thought she was always dying and would use guilt to keep Seymour at home with her and would not let him marry Audrey (sounds like one of my ex’s mother). I was happy they cut her in the 1986 version. Seymour was an orphan and Mr. Mushnik adopted him to work at his shop. Mushnik in the 1960 version lives at the end and it seems he tries to help Seymour run from the cops. In the 1986 version he’s not so lucky. Poor shmuck gets eaten whole by the damn plant.
The plant in the 1960 version doesn’t state that the plant is an alien. It just some man eating monster (like some women I know). Towards the end, the plant blooms these disturbing flowers. In the flowers are the faces of each of its meals. Granted the faces hardly look like any of the actors. It looks like they had the producer’s kids create faces out of play dough. The 1986 version plant we are told that it is an alien even before Seymour figures it out. We are told by his little song number about going to a rare flower shop and there was a total eclipse. Then of course the plant tells us towards the end with his catchy tune of“A Mean Green Mother from Outer Space”.
The voice actor for the plant in 1960 sounded like the little possessed biznich, Regan, in the Exorcist. The voice of the plant in the 1960 version was actually louder than the actors standing and talking right next to it. It sounded like it was coming off stage by the sound guy yelling through a megaphone. In the 1986 version it was voice by Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops. Which I have to love because he made me blush as a kid when he would say shit.
The endings are different too. In the 1960 version we watch as the cops go to the store and are there to witness the blooming of the plants victims. Seymour freaks out and a chase seen ensues. Then Seymour is running back into the store where the plant is screaming to be fed and Seymour says “You’re going to get fed like you never have before”, and he grabs a knife and goes into the plant. The cops, Mushnik, Audrey and his mom come back to the store and she that there is one more blossom and it is Seymour and it says “I didn’t mean to do it”. Makes no sense, then why did he grabs a knife then but oh well. So the plant wins. 1986 version Seymour and the plant fight to the death with Seymour electrocuting the plant and it blows up. Seymour gets his girl. They get married but we are showed in their garden is a baby, man eating, alien plant prick. The Broadway version has Seymour giving the plant Audrey, and then he dies too.
Obviously, remakes are going to differ. The 1986 version is simple and easy to get into and you have to love that green, conniving, man eating, using a man as its pawn to do its dirty work alien plant jaggoff. He has a seductive voice. The characters aren’t boring and there are not a bunch of side characters that don’t need to be there. All in all, 1986 is the one to watch to be entertained. The 1960 version is cool to watch to see the other version and if you are not into musicals.
The plant in the 1960 version doesn’t state that the plant is an alien. It just some man eating monster (like some women I know). Towards the end, the plant blooms these disturbing flowers. In the flowers are the faces of each of its meals. Granted the faces hardly look like any of the actors. It looks like they had the producer’s kids create faces out of play dough. The 1986 version plant we are told that it is an alien even before Seymour figures it out. We are told by his little song number about going to a rare flower shop and there was a total eclipse. Then of course the plant tells us towards the end with his catchy tune of“A Mean Green Mother from Outer Space”.
The voice actor for the plant in 1960 sounded like the little possessed biznich, Regan, in the Exorcist. The voice of the plant in the 1960 version was actually louder than the actors standing and talking right next to it. It sounded like it was coming off stage by the sound guy yelling through a megaphone. In the 1986 version it was voice by Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops. Which I have to love because he made me blush as a kid when he would say shit.
The endings are different too. In the 1960 version we watch as the cops go to the store and are there to witness the blooming of the plants victims. Seymour freaks out and a chase seen ensues. Then Seymour is running back into the store where the plant is screaming to be fed and Seymour says “You’re going to get fed like you never have before”, and he grabs a knife and goes into the plant. The cops, Mushnik, Audrey and his mom come back to the store and she that there is one more blossom and it is Seymour and it says “I didn’t mean to do it”. Makes no sense, then why did he grabs a knife then but oh well. So the plant wins. 1986 version Seymour and the plant fight to the death with Seymour electrocuting the plant and it blows up. Seymour gets his girl. They get married but we are showed in their garden is a baby, man eating, alien plant prick. The Broadway version has Seymour giving the plant Audrey, and then he dies too.
Obviously, remakes are going to differ. The 1986 version is simple and easy to get into and you have to love that green, conniving, man eating, using a man as its pawn to do its dirty work alien plant jaggoff. He has a seductive voice. The characters aren’t boring and there are not a bunch of side characters that don’t need to be there. All in all, 1986 is the one to watch to be entertained. The 1960 version is cool to watch to see the other version and if you are not into musicals.