Member-supported news for Southern California
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Support for LAist comes from:

Filmmaker Roger Corman talks about his lovely LSD trip

Ways to Subscribe
The Trip (1967) is a cult film released by American International Pictures, directed by Roger Corman, written by Jack Nicholson, and shot on location in and around Los Angeles, including on top of Kirkwood in Laurel Canyon, Hollywood Hills, and near Big Sur, California in 1967. Peter Fonda stars as a young television commercial director, Paul Groves.

"The billowing of the sails moved from diamonds to the curves of a woman's body. And it was really a tremendously erotic experience."

With Halloween right around the corner, we decided to ring up Roger Corman, the king of low-budget cult films and spooky classics like "Tales of Terror" and "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Corman's influence on Hollywood is undeniable, with some of his disciples, including James Cameron, going on to create some of the all-time great films.

Another student of Corman, Joe Dante, is developing a screenplay about Corman's experience making the movie "The Trip." Dante's screenplay is called "The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes," and it details Corman's experience tripping on acid in Big Sur, which helped him better understand how to make the film.

Alex Cohen spoke with Corman about the film industry, why he hasn't retired yet (he's 90) and, of course, his journey on LSD.

"There is a moment...this clipper ship was sailing through the sky coming towards me and the sails were billowing and they seemed to be incrusted with diamonds," said Corman. "And then the billowing of the sails moved from diamonds to the curves of a woman's body. And it was really a tremendously erotic experience."

Click the blue audio player above to hear the full interview.

Stay Connected