FILM 2182: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986)

TRIVIA: As part of the film's promotion, the "Audrey II" plant was occasionally interviewed, in character, by the press. On at least one occasion, the interview concluded with Audrey II "eating" the interviewer.

"Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" (written for this film) is the first Oscar-nominated song to contain profanity. As a result, the song was edited, replacing the more risqué lyrics with lyrics cut from the final film (though included on the film soundtrack).

Only movie in which comedy legends Steve Martin and Bill Murray appear together.

The members of the film's "Greek Chorus" are all named after '50s/'60s girl groups: The Ronettes, The Chiffons and The Crystals.

The filmmakers originally offered the role of Audrey to Cyndi Lauper before casting original stage star Ellen Greene. Lauper wanted the part, but couldn't commit due to her recording/touring schedule at the time. Madonna was also reportedly considered for the role.

The dental tools used in Orin's office during Bill Murray's famous scene would again appear in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman. They're the tools used on Jack Nicholson's Joker after he fell into the chemicals. Coincidentally, Little Shop of Horrors (1960) was Nicholson's first movie role in which HE plays the masochistic patient.

Wardrobe and props were obtained from New York thrift shops in order to attain a period realism. The most difficult items to find were garbage cans, so set decorator Tessa Daviesdrove around in a truck filled with new cans, and whenever she saw an old one outside of someone's home, she stopped and offered to trade. "People thought I was crazy!" she remarked.

Amazingly, when this came out in 1986, it was the most expensive movie Warner Brothers had ever produced. With a budget of $25 million, it even surpassed Aliens (1986), which had a budget of $18 million and was shot in an adjacent stage at Pinewood Studios.

This spawned a spinoff Saturday morning cartoon featuring Seymor and the entire shop gang along with Audrey 2, now a nicer plant, on Fox in the 90s starting in 1991 None of the movie cast participated in the cartoon TV show, which was called Little Shop (downplaying the horror element. Infact Audrey 2 is just a talking plant in the show; he doesn't eat anyone).

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