Little Shop of Horrors (film)

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This is about the 1986 musical film. For other uses, see Little Shop (disambiguation). Separate articles cover the 1960 film, the 1982 musical, as well as the later animated TV series.

Little Shop of Horrors
Theatrical release poster.
Directed by	Frank Oz
Produced by	David Geffen
Written by	Howard Ashman
Starring	Rick Moranis Ellen Greene Vincent Gardenia Steve Martin Tichina Arnold Michelle Weeks Tisha Campbell Levi Stubbs
Music by	Songs: Alan Menken Howard Ashman Score: Miles Goodman
Cinematography	Robert Paynter
Editing by	John Jympson
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	December 19, 1986
Running time	94 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue	$38,747,385
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Little Shop of Horrors is the 1986 film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical comedy of the same name by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The film was directed by Frank Oz, and starred, among others, Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and the voice of Levi Stubbs. The musical was based on the famous low-budget black comedy The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. Although the basic concept of all three versions of the story is the same, the details vary between versions.

Little Shop of Horrors was shot on the Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage at the Pinewood Studios in England, where a whole area of 'downtown' was created, complete with overhead train track. The film was produced on a budget of US$30 million, in sharp contrast to the original 1960 film, which, according to Roger Corman, only cost $30,000.^[1] Like the 1960 film, the 1986 musical film did not make a big impact during its initial theatrical release, but it has gained a following overtime, and is now considered a cult film.

[edit] Plot

Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of a florist's nerdy young assistant named Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), an employee of Mushnik's Skid Row Florist Shop in an impoverished part of town. After going through yet another day without his shop making any money, Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia)decides to close shop. That is when Audrey (Ellen Greene), one of his employees, urges Seymour to bring out a mysterious new plant (which is explained as having come from outer space during a solar eclipse) he bought from a vendor of strange and unusual flora. Seymour, who has a secret crush on Audrey, names the mysterious plant "Audrey II." Mushnik gives Seymour one week to see if the new plant improves his lackluster business.

Both Seymour and Audrey are caring people who want Mushnik to succeed. In the opening song, "Downtown," both sing of their dreams of happier lives away from Skid Row, no longer stuck in the city in their dead-end skid-row jobs and dead-end skid-row relationships. An orphan, Seymour puts up with Mushnik’s orders and name-calling because the man saved him from the Skid Row Boys’ Home. Mushnik gave Seymour a home in the flower shop basement and a job with alternate Sundays off. Audrey, who has low self-esteem, stays with her job at Mushnik’s even though the man frequently calls her boyfriend a “black-leather-wearing, motorcycle-riding bum.” Audrey reveals Seymour’s unusual plant as a way to save the shop and their jobs.

Unfortunately, Audrey II refuses to grow. While singing, "Grow for Me," expressing his lament for the withering plant, Seymour pricks his finger on a [rose] thorn and begins to bleed. After observing Audrey II's reaction, Seymour discovers that it has an appetite for human blood. The plant's health and growth improves dramatically on its new diet of blood, which Seymour secretly feeds to Audrey II from his fingers. Due to the success Audrey II brings to the shop, Seymour begins to see renewed appreciation from Mr. Mushnik and more recognition from his co-worker Audrey. Unfortunately, despite his feelings for Audrey, he still feels distant from her because she is currently dating Orin Scrivello (Steve Martin), the sadistic dentist responsible for the bruises and bandages she frequently comes into work with.

Eventually, after the plant has taken on considerable size, Audrey II begins to show signs of weakness and malnutrition. One night, when Seymour is alone in the shop, Audrey II begins demanding Seymour to feed him. Seymour is shocked that it can talk, but disenchanted when Audrey II tells Seymour that blood from his fingers is no longer enough to sustain its appetite; it demands that Seymour bring it larger portions of human flesh and blood. In a duet, "Feed Me", Seymour expresses his refusal, and Audrey II tries to persuade him that it is responsible for the shop's popularity and fortune, and if Seymour brings it more food, more success will follow. Seymour's ambivalence causes him hesitation in considering Audrey II's offer, but it uses Seymour's love for Audrey against him by convincing him to feed it her cruel and abusive boyfriend, Orin.

After making an appointment with Dr. Scrivello and arming himself with a revolver, Seymour finds himself in the dentist's chair about to be tortured by the sadistic dentist. However, disappointed with his previous masochistic patient Arthur Denton (Bill Murray), Orin equips a gas mask which releases nitrous oxide with which he can better revel in the experience. However, the mask works against Orin when the nozzle breaks and he dies from an overdose.

Seymour finds himself having to chop up Orin's body with an axe before feeding it to Audrey II. Unfortunately Mr. Mushnik, coming back late to the shop that night, sees the shadow of Seymour while he is dismembering Orin's corpse, only to assume Seymour is the murderer. Mushnik does not immediately confront him but goes off without being observed. The next morning, Seymour sees the police questioning Audrey. She tells Seymour that they are investigating her boyfriend’s disappearance. She says the dentist’s office was in shambles and the police expect foul play. Seymour asks her if it would be so bad if Orin were dead; she says it would be a miracle that would release her from him, but she feels guilty for wishing him harm. She tells Seymour she is a bad person, having met Orin when she was working at “The Gutter,” where she used to wear “tacky clothes, not nice ones like now.” In another duet, "Suddenly, Seymour", Seymour tells her she is beautiful inside, doesn’t need all her makeup to be pretty, and should not feel sorry for Orin, and Audrey is thrilled that someone as good as he is will be her friend. “Suddenly Seymour” is her man!

But the following night, Mushnik finds Seymour and accuses him of being an axe murderer. However, instead of turning him to the police, Mushnik offers to pay for Seymour's exile from Skid Row, but despite Seymour's agreement, the deal falls short when Mushnik falls prey to Audrey II due to his own curiosity (as well as the inaction of Seymour, who could easily have prevented it). (Song: "Suppertime")

Seymour's fortune continues to grow even after the disappearances of Dr. Scrivello and Mr. Mushnik. Seymour now is the star of all the media. Radio, TV, movies, Life Magazine -- everyone wants him. (Song: "The Meek Shall Inherit") But it is too much for him, knowing what he does about the plant's growing appetite. He runs away from the crowded shop to escape the media, but Audrey finds him later and tells him that it was unkind to try to throw the journalists out of the shop and to run away. She tells him that if he comes back tomorrow the TV network will give him a huge check for an appearance. Seymour decides to make one appearance and use the money for him and Audrey to move out of Skid Row. As they are talking in the alley, Patrick Martin (James Belushi) from World Botanical Enterprises finds them and extends an offer to breed Audrey II and sell the buds to families across America and the world. Seymour decides that the ends don't justify the means and Audrey II must be eliminated before more lives are lost. Assured that Audrey will not leave his side even if he does become broke without the plant to maintain his fame, Seymour confronts Audrey II, who is displeased with his intentions. After withstanding the plant's assault (Song: "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space") which demolishes the shop, Seymour manages to defeat Audrey II by electrocuting it with an exposed wire.

Audrey is alarmed by the resulting explosion, but is delighted to see Seymour emerge from the rubble. Seymour and Audrey wed and move into the home they dreamed of, but in front of their picket fence is a little Audrey II bud, whose smile leaves the film with an intriguing cliffhanger.

[edit] Production and development

The character of the masochistic dental patient, played in the original by Jack Nicholson and cut from the stage version, was added back to the story and was played by Bill Murray, who reportedly ad-libbed his lines.

The film's biggest change is its ending which was re-shot when it received negative reviews from test audiences. While the off-Broadway musical version, like the 1960 film, has a downbeat ending, the 1986 film has a happy ending in which Audrey II is killed, while Seymour, Audrey and humanity survive.

The 1986 version of Audrey II was an extremely elaborate creation, using puppets designed by Lyle Conway and The Jim Henson Company. During Audrey II's final stage of growth, over 40 people were enlisted to operate the puppet.

Musically, the film differs only slightly from the stage play. The title song is expanded to include an additional verse to allow for more opening credits. The song "Ya Never Know" was re-written into a calypso-style song called "Some Fun Now," although some of the lyrics were retained. Five other songs ("Closed For Renovation," "Now (It's Just the Gas)," "Mushnik and Son," "Call Back In The Morning" and the dramatic reprise of "Somewhere That's Green") were cut from the original production score and one, "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" was written for the film. The full version of "The Meek Shall Inherit" and the "Finale Ultimo (Don't Feed the Plants)" which were recorded, but cut from the film, are included on the soundtrack album.

The 1986 movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song for the song, "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space", written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It caused a small controversy at the Academy Awards because it was the first Oscar-nominated song to contain foul language and thus had to be censored for the show.

Frank Oz cast Steve Martin as the Dentist after watching him make the role of a waiter with only three lines one of the most memorable roles in The Muppet Movie.

[edit] The alternate ending

The film has become legendary for a widely-unseen 23-minute alternate ending that retains the darkness and B-movie roots of the original source material. As originally conceived and filmed, the story follows the stage musical's plot: Audrey is attacked by Audrey II and dies in Seymour's arms, begging him to feed her to the plant so that in a way, she will always be with him. Seymour does so, and in the process ironically fulfills Audrey's great wish, that she wants to be "somewhere that's green." After Seymour feeds Audrey to the plant, he attempts to commit suicide by jumping off Audrey's apartment complex. Before he can, Patrick Martin (played by Paul Dooley in this version) climbs to the roof to persuade Seymour to let him cut samples of the plant so that they can grow into little Audrey IIs and be sold across America. Seymour quickly slides down the ladder and crosses the street to Mushnick's while Martin reminds him that plants are in the public domain and can be sold without his permission. After confronting the plant as it sings Mean Green Mother from Outer Space, the plant eats Seymour. The three chorus girls are enlisted by Patrick Martin to cut shoots from the plant in order to sell them around the world. Soon, Audrey II clones take over the planet as the song "Don't Feed the Plants" warns the audience not to give in to evil temptations.^[2]

This version of the stage ending was adapted to film, with some changes: in the film, an extended showdown between Seymour and Audrey II (featuring the new number "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space") takes place in the shop, which Audrey II eventually destroys before overpowering and devouring Seymour. Oz then took the show's apocalyptic finale far beyond the limits of the stage version by actually showing the plants' takeover of Earth (rather than just describing it).^[2]

Oz and his special effects team went to great lengths to create this dramatic finale during which Audrey II takes over New York City, attacks the Brooklyn Bridge, fights the U.S. Army, strangles the Statue of Liberty and — in an homage to the 1933 classic monster movie King Kong — scales the Empire State Building. There are various nods to the 1953 film The War of the Worlds as well. The entire action sequence cost $5 million to produce (some reports say $2 million). But 1986 preview audiences rejected this ending as too disturbing.^[2] Afterwards, director Oz commented: "They hated us when the main characters died. In the play, they're eaten... but you know they're coming out for a curtain call. But the power of movies is different."^{[citation needed]}

Oz scrapped Audrey's and Seymour's grim deaths and the finale rampage, and reshot a happier ending with Jim Belushi replacing Paul Dooley as Patrick Martin. The showdown between Seymour and Audrey II remains intact, but now Seymour wins by electrocuting the plant as Audrey is seen observing through a window. Seymour and Audrey get married and move to the suburbs, where a little Audrey II grows in the garden, paving the way for a sequel.

Oz's subsequent re-edits, while making the film lighter and thus more palatable to general audiences, had the unfortunate effect of making the film morally questionable. While Seymour never actually kills anyone in the story, he does participate in luring people to their deaths, hacking up their bodies and feeding them to the plant. In both the stage play and the original edit of the film, the song "The Meek Shall Inherit" was designed to illustrate Seymour's moral dilemma via a musical soliloquy. As his fame grows, he is tempted by offers from Hollywood, but cringes at the idea of having to continue to do evil deeds. He finally decides to destroy Audrey II, but at the last minute changes his mind because he feels that without his plant, Audrey will not love him anymore. He signs the Hollywood contracts and seals his fate. Later, when he is killed and eaten by Audrey II, it is because he made a wrong and greedy decision. The theatrical version of the film retains only the very beginning and end of "The Meek Shall Inherit," with the soliloquy cut entirely so as not to raise the idea of Seymour's moral dilemma. It is said that the alternate ending cost two million dollars, and the new ending cost five million.

Another cut sequence is seen on the blooper reel on the DVD, in which Seymour is seen running through fog and in the background are white pillars under a black sky. Director Frank Oz, who has a commentary on the reel, says this was a "dream sequence" that never made the final cut of the movie.

[edit] The DVD conflict

Little Shop of Horrors was the first DVD to be recalled for content.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, Warner Bros. released a Special Edition DVD of the 1986 musical film. This DVD included approximately 23 minutes of unfinished footage from Oz's original ending, although it was in black and white and was missing sound, visual, and special effects.

David Geffen, the film's producer and owner of the rights, apparently wanted to re-release the film to theaters with the original ending intact.^{[citation needed]} Geffen became angry at Warner Bros. for including this footage on the DVD without his consent, and as a result, the studio yanked it off the shelves in a matter of days and replaced with a second edition without the extra material. The original first edition DVD is now a much sought-after collector's item and sells for upwards of $150 on eBay, although there are copies of the ending floating around the net. Some guess that, with the coming 20th anniversary of the film's theatrical release, it will be featured on a new DVD, though with no announcement regarding this as of January 2007 this seems unlikely. Some even speculate that they're aiming for the 25th, or even the 30th, anniversary for a re-release.

On February 28, 2007 Warner Bros. hinted that a DVD re-issue featuring the original ending may be on its way[1], but this has yet to be officially confirmed.[2]

[edit] Cast

• Seymour Krelborn - Rick Moranis
• Audrey - Ellen Greene
• Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. - Steve Martin
• Audrey II (voice) - Levi Stubbs
• Mr. Mushnik - Vincent Gardenia
• Crystal - Tichina Arnold
• Chiffon - Tisha Campbell
• Ronnette - Michelle Weeks
• Arthur Denton - Bill Murray
• "Weird" Wink Wilkinson - John Candy
• Patrick Martin - Jim Belushi (Paul Dooley for the original ending)
• Flower Shop Patron - Christopher Guest

[edit] Comic book adaptation

In 1987, DC Comics published an adaptation of the movie, written by Michael Fleisher and drawn by Gene Colan. However this adaption differs from the movie, most noticeably how Audrey II's mouth comes out from any part on the bud that it feels will be most convenient. This looks like a giant worm with a big mouth coming out of Audrey II. Another significant change is the elimination of the three chorus girls, and how the dentist's hair color is an orangish blonde instead of black.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Little Shop of Horrors (1986 movie) at the Internet Movie Database
• Little Shop of Reshoots at DVDtalk.com