Utah Tech University professor and author Stephen Armstrong holds his book on “New World Pictures and Roger Corman” in St. George, Utah, May 9, 2023 | Photo by St. George News , Chris Reed
ST. George — For a Utah Tech professor, a hero died over the weekend.
Stephen B. Armstrong, a professor of English at the university, not only admires film director Roger Corman, but last year published two biographies about him and a book about Corman. “Rock and Roll High School” is a movie produced by Roger Corman.
Corman is known as the “King of B” in B movies. passed away last thursday At 98 years old.
Corman is known for producing or directing low-budget films such as the original “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Death Race 2000,” “Pilhana,” and “Battle Beyond the Stars.” I did. He started Jack Nicholson’s acting career, Robert De Niro, Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn. And, according to the Associated Press, he nurtured the directorial careers of James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Joe Dante and Martin Scorsese.
Armstrong, who is known for cutting corners financially by using the same stock footage and musical scores in multiple films, actually found there was nothing cheap about Corman.
“He was a fundamentally decent man… certainly strict with money, but generous with his time,” Armstrong said in an email with the St. George News. “He answered my calls, met with me in person, and answered my questions about his career as an independent producer.”
In addition to his recent book on “Rock and Roll High School,” Mr. Armstrong also wrote the first two volumes of “Roger Corman’s New World Pictures: An Oral History.”
Mr. Armstrong was particularly fond of one particular time he spent with Mr. Corman at his office in Brentwood, California.
“We covered the films he directed, like the William Shatner drama ‘The Intruder,’ and his hugely successful production company, New World Pictures,” Armstrong said. “For a film historian to sit in the office of one’s heroes for an hour is a unique experience for me, and one I will always be grateful for.”
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