It’s official. Osama bin Laden--scourge of the American people, mastermind of the 9/11 plot that killed thousands of innocents--has been taken down in a daring commando raid. Already I suspect the wheels are turning in Roger Corman’s brain.
All of Hollywood, of course, loves topical movies. Savvy executives know that projects that capture the moment will probably capture the box office. Lucky indeed are the filmmakers, like Kathryn Bigelow (of The Hurt Locker) and Oliver Stone (of Platoon) who currently happen to be prepping thrillers about the tracking down of Al Qaeda’s #1 terrorist. And development execs throughout Tinseltown are probably leafing through their slushpiles at this very moment, frantically searching out special ops action-adventure scripts that can be adapted to reflect today’s headlines.
The trend toward turning current events into movies is hardly a new one. During World War II, big Allied victories were splashed across movie screens in quickie dramas like RKO’s Back to Bataan (1945). These projects were known by theater-owners as “exploitation films,” not because they were lurid but because they took advantage of the big events of the day. Roger Corman, whose own career began in 1954, has always been a master at seizing on subjects that people are talking about. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth. A mere three weeks later, Roger and company wrapped War of the Satellites, a rather preposterous science-fiction drama designed to cash in on young people’s new fascination with outer space. Within three months, it was on movie screens throughout the U.S.A.
While I was Roger Corman’s story editor, I saw something of the same seize-the-day mentality at work. Circa 1990, when a deposed Panamanian dictator named General Manuel Noriega suddenly escaped from his American captors, Corman sprang into action. He summoned one of Concorde’s most experienced writers, Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, and gave him until the following Monday to crank out The Hunt for Noriega. Though we were on the brink of the 4th of July weekend, Roger would not consider slowing his pace. He instructed Tom to cancel any holiday festivities, in order to spend the entire weekend at his typewriter. Then, after a pause, Roger relented just a bit: “All right, you can light one sparkler.”
A day later, though, the deal got canceled. Noriega had been found, thus ruining Roger’s plan to capture a hot topic on film before anyone else. Today, the industry has changed so much that getting a movie into U.S. theaters is no longer part of the Corman calculation. One thing’s for sure, though: the ending of The Hunt for Osama bin Laden has already been written.
I just hope whoever ends up doing this film doesn't make Obama out to be the "hero" as he made himself out to be in his speech late Sunday/Early Monday morning with all his uses of 'I', 'Me', 'My' and 'Mine'.
ReplyDeleteI do remember Stallone was at one time quick to jump on the 9/11 movie bandwagon with his intention to turn RAMBO 4 into a story about Rambo going into Iraq and tackling Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
And yet another interesting Corman story, Beverly! WAR OF THE SATELLITES is on DVD now, too, I think.
Actually, I had a different reaction to that speech, which I admired for being low-key and very short on gloating. But I share your interest in War of the Satellites, which is absolutely hilarious to see now, especially in the company of NASA engineers who howl at the absurdities of Roger's take on space travel.
ReplyDeleteWar of the Satellites is a gem - if for no other reason the casting of the incredible Dick Miller in a rare lead role! And I've commented before how much I love hearing about Mr. Corman's quick jabs into topical movies - so very cool!
ReplyDeleteI really love Dick Miller. We got friendly when I first worked for Roger Corman in the early 1970s, long before Dick became a cult favorite. Someday I'll have to tell the story of the fight Dick had with Roger during the writing of "TNT Jackson." But of course if you want to see Dick in a leading role, it's essential to watch the remarkable "Bucket of Blood."
DeleteI love Bucket of Blood - I have purchased that one twice - VHS and DVD. I love Rock All Night too. Anytime Dick Miller turns up on screen - I am having a better time watching whatever it is.
ReplyDeleteYou doubtless know, Craig, that Corman alumnus Joe Dante (Gremlins, Matinee, etc.) never makes a film without finding a role for Dick Miller.
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