Editing Roger Corman (section)

=== 1950–1959: Early film career ===
Corman worked his way up to a story reader. The one property that he liked the most and provided ideas for was filmed as ''[[The Gunfighter]]'' with [[Gregory Peck]]. When Corman received no credit at all, he left Fox and decided he would work in film by himself. Under the [[G.I. Bill]], Corman studied English literature at the [[University of Oxford]] and lived in Paris for a time.<ref name="VarietyObit">{{Cite news |last1=Natale |first1=Richard |last2=Gray |first2=Tim |title=Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98 |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/roger-corman-dead-producer-independent-b-movie-1235999591/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512020254/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/roger-corman-dead-producer-independent-b-movie-1235999591/ |archive-date=2024-05-12 |url-status=live |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=2024-05-12}}</ref>

Corman then returned to Los Angeles and tried to re-establish himself in the film industry. He took various jobs, including television stagehand at [[KCOP-TV|KLAC-TV]] and a messenger at Fox. He worked as an assistant to literary agent Dick Hyland.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=1952-02-13|page=74|title=Hollywood}}</ref>

Corman wrote a script in his spare time and sold it to [[William F. Broidy]] at [[Allied Artists Pictures Corporation|Allied Artists]] for US$2,000 ({{Inflation|US|2000|1954|fmt=eq}}). "Dick thought it was funny and let me pay myself a commission," said Corman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/features/king-of-bs-roger-corman-started-out-with-an-agency-gig-1201506765/ |website=Variety |date=May 29, 2015 |title='King of B's' Roger Corman Remembers His Stint as an Agent Vice President |first=Steven |last=Gaydos |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213200704/http://variety.com/2015/film/features/king-of-bs-roger-corman-started-out-with-an-agency-gig-1201506765/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Originally called ''House in the Sea'', it was retitled ''[[Highway Dragnet]]'' (1954) and starred [[Richard Conte]] and [[Joan Bennett]]. Corman also worked as associate producer on the film for nothing, just for the experience.{{fact|date=June 2024}}

Corman used his script fee and personal contacts to raise US$12,000 ({{Inflation|US|12000|1954|fmt=eq}}) to produce his first feature, a science-fiction film, ''[[Monster from the Ocean Floor]]'' (1954). It was produced by Corman's own company, Palo Alto, and released by [[Robert L. Lippert]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMYf7vlGQn0C&pg=PA94|pages=94–95|title=Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup|first=Tom|last=Weaver|publisher=McFarland|date=2006|isbn=9780786428588}}</ref>

The film did well enough to encourage Corman to produce another film, the racing-car thriller ''[[The Fast and the Furious (1954 film)|The Fast and the Furious]]'' (1955), directed by its star, [[John Ireland (actor)|John Ireland]], and co-starring [[Dorothy Malone]]. (Decades later, the title would be licensed from Corman for [[The Fast and the Furious (2001 film)|a blockbuster film of the same name]].) Corman sold the movie to a new independent company, the [[American Releasing Company]] (ARC), run by [[James H. Nicholson]] and [[Samuel Z. Arkoff]]. Although Corman had a number of offers for the film from Republic and Columbia, he elected to go with ARC, because they undertook to advance money to enable him to make two more movies.<ref>{{cite book|pages=120–121|title=The Directors Take Three|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Directors_Take_Three/page/n129/mode/1up/search/%22fast+and+the+furious%22?q=corman+%22fast+and+the+furious%22|first=Robert J.|last=Emery|publisher=Allworth Press|year=2003}}</ref>

Corman's second film for ARC was one he decided to direct, ''[[Five Guns West]]'' (1955), a Western, made in color for around $60,000, with Malone and [[John Lund (actor)|John Lund]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Seven Theaters Offer 'Sabrina'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 24, 1954|page=14}}</ref> The script was written by [[Robert Wright Campbell]], who worked with Corman on several more occasions. Corman announced he would make four more projects for ARC: ''High Steel'', ''Cobra'', ''Fortress Beneath the Sea'', and an untitled film from Campbell.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul Schofield Gets Huston Attention|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 9, 1955|page=21}}</ref> Instead, Corman did some uncredited directing on ''[[The Beast with a Million Eyes]]'' (1955), then made another Western, ''[[Apache Woman (1955 film)|Apache Woman]]'' (1955), starring [[Lloyd Bridges]], written by [[Lou Rusoff]]. Rusoff and Corman reunited on ''[[Day the World Ended]]'' (1955), a postapocalyptic science-fiction film, which was popular.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety201-1956-02/page/n208/mode/1up/search/%22apache+woman%22+?q=%22apache+woman%22+variety|magazine=Variety|title=$65,000 'Day' may hit $1,000,000|date=February 22, 1956|page=3}}</ref>

Corman was to make ''The Devil on Horseback'' by [[Charles B. Griffith]] about the [[Brownsville Raid]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Story of Ex-Fighter to Be Dramatic Film|author= Hopper, Hedda.|work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 12, 1955|page=12}}</ref> but it was too expensive. The [[Woolner Brothers]], Louisiana drive-in owners, financed Corman's ''[[Swamp Women]]'' (1956), a girls-on-the-lam saga. He returned to ARC for two Westerns, ''[[The Oklahoma Woman]]'' (1956) and ''[[Gunslinger (film)|Gunslinger]]'' (1956) (with Ireland); ''Gunslinger'' was co-written by Griffith, who became a crucial collaborator with Corman over the next five years. He bought a script from [[Curtis Harrington]], ''The Girl from Beneath the Sea''.<ref>{{cite news|title='Matador' is eyed by two studios: Allied and United Artists Are Discussing Plan to Sponsor Jointly Conrad Novel R.K.O. to Share Arness Of Local Origin|first=Thomas M.|last=Pryor|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 12, 1956|page=23}}</ref> Harrington made it for Corman years later as ''[[Night Tide]]'' (1961).

[[Beverly Garland]], one of Corman's early regular stock players, recalled working with him:

<blockquote>Roger made us work hard and long, I remember that! He was always fascinating to me, a fascinating man – and a good businessman! He had such incredible energy, it was tremendous – he was a dynamo to be around. I always knew he was going to be a huge success because there was no stopping him. He just made up his mind that he was going to be a success and that was it.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weaver|first1=Tom|title=Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup|url=https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/interviews-with-b-science-fiction-and-horror-movie-makers/|year=1988|page=54|access-date=February 16, 2023|archive-date=February 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216005921/https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/interviews-with-b-science-fiction-and-horror-movie-makers/|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Baseline Drive-in Ad - 5 April 1957, Highland, CA.jpg|thumb| left|[[Drive-in theater|Drive-in]] advertisement from 1957 for the double feature, ''[[Attack of the Crab Monsters]]'' and ''[[Not of This Earth (1957 film)|Not of This Earth]]''. Corman films were popular on the drive-in circuit, and generally marketed towards a teenage audience.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dirks|first=Tim|title=The History of Film The 1950s|url=https://www.filmsite.org/50sintro.html|website=[[Filmsite]]|access-date=March 1, 2023|archive-date=March 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301055511/https://www.filmsite.org/50sintro.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
ARC changed its name to American International Pictures. Corman was established as their leading filmmaker. They financed Corman's next film as director, the science-fiction story ''[[It Conquered the World]]'' (1956). Co-written by Griffith, it was a follow-up to ''The Day the World Ended''. It was a big hit.

He optioned a TV play, ''The Stake'', and hoped to get [[Dana Andrews]] to star.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: Gable, Turner Costar Deal Foreseen; Andrews Indicated for 'Stake'|author=Schallert, Edwin.|date=April 24, 1956|work=Los Angeles Times|page=21}}</ref> It was never made. Instead, [[Walter Mirisch]] of [[Allied Artists Pictures Corporation|Allied Artists]] hired Corman to make ''[[The Undead (film)|The Undead]]'' (1957), inspired by ''[[The Search for Bridey Murphy]]''. Griffith wrote the script. In June, Corman made a science-fiction film for Allied Artists,  ''[[Not of This Earth (1957 film)|Not of this Earth]]'' (1957), written by Griffith. In August 1956, AIP financed a Corman heist movie shot in Hawaii, ''[[Naked Paradise]]'' (1957), co-written by Griffith. Corman shot it back-to-back with a movie made with his own money, ''[[She Gods of Shark Reef]]'' (1958). Corman wound up selling the movie to AIP. Corman and Griffith reunited in ''[[Attack of the Crab Monsters]]'' (1957) for Allied, which wound up being one of his most successful early films.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Flynn, Sanders, Raft Sought as Stellar Trio; 'Sheep Man' Keel Film|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 28, 1956|page=25}}</ref>

For his own production company, Corman made a rock-and-roll "quickle", ''[[Carnival Rock]]'' (1957), released by Howco. ''[[Rock All Night]]'' (1957) was a heist film written by Griffith expanded from a TV play, "The Little Guy", with musical acts inserted.<ref>{{cite news|title=Film Events: Prize TV Play Will Be Filmed|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 6, 1956|page=B2}}</ref> He was meant to make ''Rock'n'Roll Girl'' for AIP in December 1957.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Tin Star' Filming Set in Black and White|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 11, 1956|page=F12}}</ref> In April 1957, Corman announced he would try to make two films back-to-back from then on to save costs.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety206-1957–05/page/n9/mode/1up/search/%22roger+corman%22?q=%28%22roger+corman%22%29+AND+creator%3A%28variety%29|title=Shoot Two Features Together|page=10|date=May 1, 1957}}</ref>

Corman made two "teen girl noirs", ''[[Teenage Doll]]'' (1957) for the [[Woolner Brothers]] and ''[[Sorority Girl]]'' (1957), starring [[Susan Cabot]] for AIP.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brian Donlevy Will Do 'Golden Spur' on Own; Schell Term-Pacted|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 14, 1957|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A9}}</ref> For AIP, he made ''[[The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent]]'' (1957), shot in August 1957.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Movieland Events: 'Viking Women' Soon Descending on Films|work=Los Angeles Times  |date=June 17, 1957|page=C12}}</ref> He was meant to follow this with ''Teenage Jungle'' by Tony Miller.<ref>{{cite news|title=Movieland Events: 'Tomorrow's Miracle,' Masaryk Story Set|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 18, 1957|page=C6}}
</ref> The success of ''Not of this Earth'' and ''Crab Monsters'' led to Allied offering Corman a four-picture deal for 1958.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Movieland Events: Hollywood Story Promises Novelty|work=Los Angeles Times  |date=September 6, 1957|page=24}}</ref>

Corman received his first serious critical praise for ''[[Machine-Gun Kelly (film)|Machine-Gun Kelly]]'' (1958), an AIP biopic of [[Machine Gun Kelly (gangster)|the famous gangster]], which gave [[Charles Bronson]] his first leading role and co-starred Cabot. Campbell wrote the script. Also for AIP, he did ''[[Teenage Caveman (1958 film)|Teenage Caveman]]'' (1958), with [[Robert Vaughn]], originally titled ''Prehistoric World''. He helped produce two films for Allied Artists, both from scripts by [[Leo Gordon]]: ''[[Hot Car Girl]]'' (1958), directed by [[Bernard Kowalski]] and produced by his brother Gene (the first film they made together) from a script by Gordon; and ''[[The Cry Baby Killer]]'' (1958), which gave [[Jack Nicholson]] his first starring role.<ref name="HRObit">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/roger-corman-dead-independent-director-producer-king-of-the-b-1235896846/|title=Roger Corman, Giant of Independent Filmmaking, Dies at 98|date=May 12, 2024 |publisher=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 12, 2024|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512032035/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/roger-corman-dead-independent-director-producer-king-of-the-b-1235896846/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He had his biggest budget yet for ''[[I Mobster]]'' (1958), a gangster story, co-produced by [[Edward L. Alperson]] and Corman's brother Gene for 20th Century Fox. In September 1958, he was reported as scouting locations in Australia to do a remake of [[H. Rider Haggard]]'s ''[[She: A History of Adventure|She]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shocker Pioneers Tell How to Make Monsters: Want to Make a Monster? Experts Tell How It's Done|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=September 21, 1958|work=Los Angeles Times|page=E1}}</ref> ''[[War of the Satellites]]'' (1958) was conceived and shot in record time to take advantage of the Sputnik launch; it was his first collaboration with art director [[Daniel Haller]]. Corman also produced, but did not direct, ''[[Stakeout on Dope Street]]'' (1958), directed by [[Irvin Kershner]], ''[[Night of the Blood Beast]]'' (1958), directed by Kowalski for AIP, using leftover costumes from ''Teenage Caveman'', and ''[[Crime and Punishment U.S.A.]]'' (1959), directed by Dennis Sanders with [[George Hamilton (actor)|George Hamilton]] in his first lead role.<ref>C. Gerald Fraser, obituary of Denis Sanders in ''New York Times'', Dec. 15, 1987. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/88130/Crime-and-Punishment-USA/overview {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709135734/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/88130/Crime-and-Punishment-USA/overview |date=2012-07-09}}.</ref>