LSOH - The Movie

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 12:19pm

I just watched this again last night, and the ending change notwithstanding, I love this film.

The music is great, and it is just goofy fun (with some serious undertones if you look for them).

It also has an amazing cast - with a slew of guest appearances - John Candy, Jim Belusi, Billy Murray, Christopher Guest . . .

I am surprised that this movie has not played at some midnight showings. I was sitting there singing along and anticpating dialogue all through.

My friend had never seen it before, so I had to restrain myself.

I also loved the live show, and I know they changed the ending for the film, but I think this is one musical that got it right on film.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 12:38pm

It is one of the most faithful stage to screen transitions (though several songs did get dropped in the process). It shows, though, that most movie musicals don't need to reinvent the wheel to be entertaining and enjoyable.

And faithfulness doesn't necessarily mean following the stage show word for word, in my opinion. On the surface, Hedwig on film looks like a totally different animal from the stage version, and yet it's a really faithful adaptation.

I'm not sure where that tangent came from, but yes LSOH is one of my favorite movies.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 12:43pm

"you're sorry what?"
"I'm sorry, Docta!"

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 12:46pm

And, while I think something is lost in the cutting of the original ending, there is something satisfying about seeing Audrey actually get her dream, you know? I always wondered what Ellen Greene thought of that change, as someone who'd been playing Audrey for so long. Did she feel the new ending betrayed the character, or was it gratifying for her to have Audrey actually live in the version that's been preserved for posterity?

[roquat]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 12:53pm

Supposedly the movie tested wonderfully--until the ending. On stage, with an obviously fake cloth plant devouring actors who reappear a moment later to sing the final number, the ending works. There was just something about seeing characters you love getting devoured in closeup that killed the movie (apparently.)

Has anyone seen the original ending (it was shot and preserved on the first DVD, but then yanked.)?

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:02pm

I have the DVD. I actually got it after it was recalled. I was in a mall and found it and almost squealed with joy, as it must have been missed in the recall. I think it cost me $12.99 or so. I got very lucky.

It's just a black and white work print, so it doesn't look great, and the sound isn't totally mixed. It's overlong, though I believe on the commentary Frank Oz said that parts of it would have been trimmed. Audrey's death is really poignant. I'd like to see a cleaned up version of it. Rumor had it that a rerelease was being planned (which was allegedly one of the reasons for the recall), but I've heard no more about it.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:03pm

You got WAY lucky Kringas. That DVD goes for a fortune on Ebay these days.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:08pm

I know. I wish I'd thought to see if there were additional copies at the store. I'm sure I could make some nice pocket money off of it on Ebay, but I think the seller of this one is a little too optimistic.
Little Shop DVD

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:09pm

Gee, just a little!

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:12pm

There's another one on there going for about $73 right now, though it's got a reserve that hasn't been met. Back when it was first recalled, I remember them going for a hundred bucks or so on Ebay. I couldn't see paying (or for that matter charging) much more than that when essentially they are paying for nothing more than about 10 minutes or scratchy black and white film.

Updated On: 1/8/06 at 01:12 PM

[suddenlyseymour]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:20pm

Holy sh*t 265 bucks?! That's insane! Anyway I loove this movie, one of my favs. Ellen Greene is just stunning and mesmerizing to watch on screen, not to mention her power house voice during "Suddenly Seymour" gives me chills! I love Rick Moranis as Seymour, to me he is the ideal Seymour and who knew he could sing like that. Levi Stubbs was just awesome as Audrey 2, loved his voice and Steve Martin, the best Orin ever! "When I was younger, just a bad little kid my mama noticed funny things I did..." hehe yay little shop =)

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:22pm

And don't forget Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold and Michelle Green, who were as brilliant as the principals.

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:24pm

I love this movie too. I have the dvd and watch it often. Steve Martin if my favorite part.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:26pm

It's a really good move that holds up remarkably well twenty years later. It's a near-perfect film.

[suddenlyseymour]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:29pm

Kringas - How could I forget the 3 urchins?! thanks for reminding me and yes Tisha, Tichina and Michelle were amazing!!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:27pm

I am sure Ellen was disappointed with the ending change. I know Marty Robinson was (he designed and puppeteered the plant in it's original off-broadway version and followed it to film and the recent revival). I remeber him saying that the new ending in the film, sort of sent the message that it was OK to do anything, even kill people, to get what you want just so long as you say you're sorry. I sort of agree with him on that point.
LSOH is a little moral tale, it works well with the original ending but loses something in the movie.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:33pm

Interesting point, Snafu. And pretty spot-on. We do tend to forget (at least I do) that Seymour gets away with it all in the film, while he loses everything on stage.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:36pm

Wait, what happened with the DVD?

I own it, too. Love this movie. Love this show.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:39pm

BSO - The first dvd release had the original ending as a feature. It was a scratchy black and white work print. Frank Oz did commentary for it. It was recalled very soon after its realease. I heard various reasons, but the main one I heard was that Geffen was planning a rerelease (possibly for the 15 year anniversary) with the original ending.

The dvd was recalled and released without the alternate ending.

I have no idea if there will ever be a rerelease or even if this is movie that could succesfully be rereleased.

Updated On: 1/8/06 at 02:39 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:39pm

There is one thing I was confused about.

I saw the stage show years ago, with Ellen Greene (which made me so happy when she was cast in the movie).

SPOILER ALERT


I though that in the stage show, only Audrey died, but it has been 20 years since I saw it. In the commentary on the film, it said both of them died, and that audience reaction was so negative to the deaths of both, that they re-shot the ending (even though they were over budget and the shoot had taken much longer . . .).

Did both die in the stage show.

END OF SPOILER.

What also is amazing is how well the animation and puppetering (sp?) holds up 20 years later. It still looks pretty amazing.


Kringas - I am sooo jealous of your DVD.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:44pm

Interesting story my dentist told me. He was friends with the "dentist" (he was really an overaged orthodontist, I believe) and his huge wife, Audrey - the family on which Menken based the show.

I heard a bunch of stories about those two, that really make the show even more fun.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:47pm

Huh? Either you're pulling our legs or your dentist is.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:51pm

Ummmm - if you are not joking, because sometimes it is hard to tell, the show was based on a 1960 Roger Corman movie I think, with Jack Nicholsan as the Dentist.


The Little Shop of Horrors

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 2:54pm

Yes, both Seymour and Audrey die in the show, as well as Mushnik and the Dentist.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:01pm

Oh, my DVD only has something to read about the original ending I think.