The movie's in public domain, but the screenplay is not. Ashman had to credit Corman for the musical, and it was Corman's involvement that got the cartoon made.
I do love the debate over what the "right" ending was for the movie-musical version. On the one hand, the original ending fits the themes of the story and was shot so spectacularly that it's impossible not to love it for all of that...but at the same time this version of Seymour is just generally more sympathetic than he is in the stage version. I mean, he's still sympathetic on stage, but you get more of a premonition that he's dooming himself and his loved ones, he plays a more active role in Mushnik's death, and he even gets to go down fighting, whereas the original theatrical cut has a more passive, thoroughly likable Seymour who gets a prolonged, really terrifying death to dwell on, which is a tough ask for your audience after giving them a chance to get to like the guy over the course of the movie. It's part of the movie's legend, though; not many films can generate a real conversation over a creative choice like that!
Love this! Little Shop of Horrors is probably my favorite IP ever so I was actually pretty surprised that it’s origins go back even further than I initially thought :)
Given how comprehensive this video essay, I’m shocked to see how few views it has. Really great work-and it brought to mind a cartoon I only vaguely remember, as even the child version of me didn’t care for it.
There's another channel that's pointed out why the ending in little shop of horrors was changed. And it has to do with the way that Seymour is characterized in the movie versus the musical. His greed and moral decline are more shown in the stage version, while the movie tones him down and makes him nicer and meek. When I watch the scene of Seymour becoming famous and wealthy, he's never comfortable. He comes off as overwhelmed and hating every minute of it. It's also different as Mushnik in the movie had witnessed the chopping up of Orin, made it clear that he was going to tell the cops - but then blackmailed Seymour, trying to gain profit alone from the plant. This makes his death more in line of self-defense. And Seymour doesn't even tell him to enter the plant - he just distracts Mushnik until he's close to the plant and bows down into its trap. Mushnik doesn't know that the plant eats people unlike the 1960s version. That Mushnik wants to tell the cops, but realizes he's making money out of it. He tries to keep it under control by constantly interrogating Seymour and eventually feeding the plant through self-defense himself. In the musical, Mushnik doesn't know for sure that Seymour killed Orin - he doesn't know about the plant feeding on people. He knows something is wrong and is determined to do the right thing. He gives Seymour a chance to simply talk with the cops. There's not much that can prove he's complicit in Orins death. Seymour however sees him as a risk and feeds Mushnik to the plant, deliberately telling him to enter the plant since "he hid money in there." 1986 movie Seymour is too meek and kind, it doesn't feel like he deserves to be punished and he doesn't even fight the plant, he gets tossed around by it. Musical Seymour delved into the faustian bargain, became deplorable and then redeem himself when he tried to kill the plant no matter the risk so that the world would be safe. The video that talks about this is by Aaron Lockman - "Little Shop of Horrors, the Faust Myth and the American Dream". It's a neat analysis of the endings and characters.
I will always prefer a sincerely played Audrey to one that just speaks every single line in the most exaggerated way possible. I get Little Shop is a dark comedy, but 98% of the time, her role definitely airs on the “Dark” side of that dynamic. She really is this story’s heart and there’s no faster way to kill my interest in a production than reducing her to a dumb blonde stereotype. Ellen is great because despite her put on voice, the emotions still come through. Tell that to every actress doing a screeching impression of her.
Thank you! I won’t lie the cartoon started to grow on me 😂 Looking back, the section of this video where I make fun of the cartoon is probably my favorite even though it was my biggest hurdle with editing this
Lots of great research here, thanks! A couple of nitpicks: 1. Unless I missed something, Howard Ashman is only credited here as the director of the original off-Broadway production of the musical; of course he also wrote the book and lyrics for the show. And he did the screen adaptation as well. It's impossible to overstate his brilliant contribution to Little Shop, the musical. 2. Ellen Greene never played Audrey on Broadway (the show didn't reach Broadway until a revival in 2003).
I *VAGUELY* remember Little Shop. I remember watching like 10 minutes of it and then changing the channel. I never watched a full episode. Whenever it was on, I just turned the TV off and pulled out my homework. 😐
The biggest problem with the bad ending, and perhaps why audiences didn't like it, was not only that it dragged on and on and on, but it didn't show Seymour taking responsibility for his sins. He grabs a machete and literally dives into the plant's maw, hacking at it from the inside. He fails, obviously, but he dies doing a heroic action. The "bad ending" of the film doesn't show this. It shows Seymour getting battered and beaten by the plant over the course of several minutes before being eaten. Seymour is a coward here. That isn't satisfying, especially when shown with an overlong taking over the world montage that could have had at least two minutes cut out of it so that it didn't drag on and on.
I'll admit I assumed I was going to already know most of the history because of how much of an obsessive fan I was/am, but I was more than happy to be humbled and learn about the three other original sources that predated and inspired the 60s movie This was a great video, awesome stuff! Also, probably the best review for the Little Shop cartoon, imo. Also also, Hercules from The Reluctant Orchid sounds like a miserable little asshole, but his aunt sounds h̶o̶t̶ awesome.
honestly, hot take, I prefer the bad ending. it may just be because Im also a Sweeney Todd fan and am a sucker for tragedy and metaphors for anti capitalism stuff but idk
this video is so damn good. i didnt know there was a fucking cartoon and im enamored by it. this is like if they made Longlegs Babies and longlegs was a wacky sidekick
In all honesty, I actually like Little Shop and I feel that it's severely over hated. I will say, not all the music is great, but it's still a fun watch. Also it did annoy me a bit to see you think it was in the same timeline with the 1986 musical/ constantly compare it to that film, because it's based off the 1960 movie due to it being public domain, but this video was still a fun watch and pretty informative.
Yes, in Gremlins, Mr. Futterman was the flower eater, and Mrs. Futterman was Audrey. That was the joke. In most of Joe Dante's movies, he played a character named Walter Paisley, which originated in Bucket of Blood, a very similar movie featuring a lot of the same cast/crew of Little Shop.
You forgot to mention how they didn't copyright the 1960 movie and so it went I to public domain, allowing for the musical and 1986 movie to be made.
I didn't know it was a original movie
The movie's in public domain, but the screenplay is not. Ashman had to credit Corman for the musical, and it was Corman's involvement that got the cartoon made.
I do love the debate over what the "right" ending was for the movie-musical version. On the one hand, the original ending fits the themes of the story and was shot so spectacularly that it's impossible not to love it for all of that...but at the same time this version of Seymour is just generally more sympathetic than he is in the stage version. I mean, he's still sympathetic on stage, but you get more of a premonition that he's dooming himself and his loved ones, he plays a more active role in Mushnik's death, and he even gets to go down fighting, whereas the original theatrical cut has a more passive, thoroughly likable Seymour who gets a prolonged, really terrifying death to dwell on, which is a tough ask for your audience after giving them a chance to get to like the guy over the course of the movie.
It's part of the movie's legend, though; not many films can generate a real conversation over a creative choice like that!
Love this! Little Shop of Horrors is probably my favorite IP ever so I was actually pretty surprised that it’s origins go back even further than I initially thought :)
Thank you! Im glad you like the video! It was definitely a shock to hear that its roots go back to the 19th century lol
Given how comprehensive this video essay, I’m shocked to see how few views it has. Really great work-and it brought to mind a cartoon I only vaguely remember, as even the child version of me didn’t care for it.
Thank you! And Im definitely interested to here a first person perspective of the 90s cartoon, its such a surreal piece of media
The 1986 version is the one that will always be engrained in my mind. I was 10 years old when this musical version with Rick Morranis,
Phoebus Farb is the dentist in the original; Wiĺbur Force is Jack Nicholson's character.
There's another channel that's pointed out why the ending in little shop of horrors was changed.
And it has to do with the way that Seymour is characterized in the movie versus the musical. His greed and moral decline are more shown in the stage version, while the movie tones him down and makes him nicer and meek.
When I watch the scene of Seymour becoming famous and wealthy, he's never comfortable. He comes off as overwhelmed and hating every minute of it. It's also different as Mushnik in the movie had witnessed the chopping up of Orin, made it clear that he was going to tell the cops - but then blackmailed Seymour, trying to gain profit alone from the plant. This makes his death more in line of self-defense.
And Seymour doesn't even tell him to enter the plant - he just distracts Mushnik until he's close to the plant and bows down into its trap.
Mushnik doesn't know that the plant eats people unlike the 1960s version. That Mushnik wants to tell the cops, but realizes he's making money out of it. He tries to keep it under control by constantly interrogating Seymour and eventually feeding the plant through self-defense himself.
In the musical, Mushnik doesn't know for sure that Seymour killed Orin - he doesn't know about the plant feeding on people. He knows something is wrong and is determined to do the right thing. He gives Seymour a chance to simply talk with the cops. There's not much that can prove he's complicit in Orins death.
Seymour however sees him as a risk and feeds Mushnik to the plant, deliberately telling him to enter the plant since "he hid money in there."
1986 movie Seymour is too meek and kind, it doesn't feel like he deserves to be punished and he doesn't even fight the plant, he gets tossed around by it. Musical Seymour delved into the faustian bargain, became deplorable and then redeem himself when he tried to kill the plant no matter the risk so that the world would be safe.
The video that talks about this is by Aaron Lockman - "Little Shop of Horrors, the Faust Myth and the American Dream". It's a neat analysis of the endings and characters.
Wow this video is amazing! Really love Little shop of Horrors.
Thank you! Im glad you dig it
I will always prefer a sincerely played Audrey to one that just speaks every single line in the most exaggerated way possible. I get Little Shop is a dark comedy, but 98% of the time, her role definitely airs on the “Dark” side of that dynamic. She really is this story’s heart and there’s no faster way to kill my interest in a production than reducing her to a dumb blonde stereotype. Ellen is great because despite her put on voice, the emotions still come through. Tell that to every actress doing a screeching impression of her.
This was wonderful! I was 9 when I saw this in the theater and its been a favorite ever since! You really did a great job on this little documentary!
Great video! Deserves way more attention!
@@pigeonsouup7856 thank you!!
We are currently doing the little shop of horrors in our local theatre group . It is such a fun show to be involved in ❤
@@aussiecoastie72 best of luck to you and your group! I hope you all have a great time and put on an amazing show!
@@Pineapple8-Ball thank you 🙏
This is so underrated but thanks for making this I love little shop of horrors (except the cartoon 😭)
Thank you! I won’t lie the cartoon started to grow on me 😂 Looking back, the section of this video where I make fun of the cartoon is probably my favorite even though it was my biggest hurdle with editing this
Love this documentary, especially once we got to outer space. I'm over 68% satisfied! Great job
Lots of great research here, thanks! A couple of nitpicks: 1. Unless I missed something, Howard Ashman is only credited here as the director of the original off-Broadway production of the musical; of course he also wrote the book and lyrics for the show. And he did the screen adaptation as well. It's impossible to overstate his brilliant contribution to Little Shop, the musical. 2. Ellen Greene never played Audrey on Broadway (the show didn't reach Broadway until a revival in 2003).
I *VAGUELY* remember Little Shop. I remember watching like 10 minutes of it and then changing the channel. I never watched a full episode. Whenever it was on, I just turned the TV off and pulled out my homework. 😐
God thats how you know its bad when homework is more engaging
Cool video!
Thank you!
The biggest problem with the bad ending, and perhaps why audiences didn't like it, was not only that it dragged on and on and on, but it didn't show Seymour taking responsibility for his sins. He grabs a machete and literally dives into the plant's maw, hacking at it from the inside. He fails, obviously, but he dies doing a heroic action. The "bad ending" of the film doesn't show this. It shows Seymour getting battered and beaten by the plant over the course of several minutes before being eaten. Seymour is a coward here. That isn't satisfying, especially when shown with an overlong taking over the world montage that could have had at least two minutes cut out of it so that it didn't drag on and on.
Now we had the english version of little shop cartoon of the ninth episode. 😅😅😅😅 Seymour wishes he never existed. But Junior is dreaming about this
I'll admit I assumed I was going to already know most of the history because of how much of an obsessive fan I was/am, but I was more than happy to be humbled and learn about the three other original sources that predated and inspired the 60s movie
This was a great video, awesome stuff! Also, probably the best review for the Little Shop cartoon, imo. Also also, Hercules from The Reluctant Orchid sounds like a miserable little asshole, but his aunt sounds h̶o̶t̶ awesome.
honestly, hot take, I prefer the bad ending. it may just be because Im also a Sweeney Todd fan and am a sucker for tragedy and metaphors for anti capitalism stuff but idk
this video is so damn good. i didnt know there was a fucking cartoon and im enamored by it. this is like if they made Longlegs Babies and longlegs was a wacky sidekick
i really like that audrey ii is willing to wipe out humanity but draws the line at lying
@@scrimblocoded LMAO you make a good point! And thank you for your comment!
I love Little Shop of Horrors
Great video, thank you!
In all honesty, I actually like Little Shop and I feel that it's severely over hated. I will say, not all the music is great, but it's still a fun watch. Also it did annoy me a bit to see you think it was in the same timeline with the 1986 musical/ constantly compare it to that film, because it's based off the 1960 movie due to it being public domain, but this video was still a fun watch and pretty informative.
Turn up your brightness
24:29
58:08
🐡 🐡
I thought I was experiencing a Mandela effect! 😅
I hadn’t seen the movie in decades and was like.. WTF!
I like the happy ending 🤷🏻♂️
“Orin Schrivello is replaced with a bully named Pain Driller.”
Drilling the cringe right into my head with that name, oww
It's weird how the flower eater is the grumpy old man in Gremlins.
Thats wild! I never knew
Yes, in Gremlins, Mr. Futterman was the flower eater, and Mrs. Futterman was Audrey. That was the joke. In most of Joe Dante's movies, he played a character named Walter Paisley, which originated in Bucket of Blood, a very similar movie featuring a lot of the same cast/crew of Little Shop.
The only thing I don't like about the alternate ending is how do the plants get so big? I mean that's a lot of blood and bodies.
I have been hearing they where going to remake the movie will it be good no clue. But if it's not good than we still have the original
I was with you until the Johnny Test slander, that is unforgivable
The film from the 60's hasn't been featured on MST3K
0:37 what show is this and cool vid :)
Thank you! And the show is That’s So Raven from Disney Channel
@@Pineapple8-Ball Thank you 😁
23:15 I was 10 years old...
dont apply politically correct
2024 politics to the past
@@BruceAlarie For what? The racism? Because people in the past knew racism was bad too
Also I made this in 2023