Title: Flowers in the Attic (1987) Rated: PG-13 Written by: V. C. Andrews (novel) Jeffrey Bloom (screenplay) Directed by: Jeffrey Bloom Starring: Louise Fletcher as Grandmother Victoria Tennant as Corrine Kristy Swanson as Cathy Jeb Stuart Adams as Chris Lindsay Parker as Carrie Marshall Colt as Father
By Shelley Stillo
Pre-screening memories: As with most American households in the 1980s, Shelley’s family bookshelf had room for a few titles from V. C. Andrews. The author was on her way to becoming a vertible literary industry, not unlike a certain ‘Twilight’ author today.
But Andrews tawdry Gothic tales were much more enticing to young readers, like Shelley, who would pull the copy down, crack the spine and read aloud some of the book’s more lacivious passages with her young friends.
Their mix of Southern Gothic, romance, fairy tale and horror were like a literary burrito for young Shelly.
New memories: After watching the film for the first time in 20 years, did it result in a flood of raunchy memories of late-night readings with friends? And, perhaps more importantly, just why the hell was such a novel that featured rape, incest, child cruelty, incest, death and a little more incest so popular in the first place?
You can download Natsukashi’s ‘Flowers in the Attic’ podcast here
or you can simply head to our basement below to listen on the site
Our featured guest: Director Jeffrey Bloom
Jeffrey Bloom does not count Flowers in the Attic as a high watermark in his directing career. Bloom’s cinematic career began in the early 1970s, writing made-for-TV films such as Snow Job (aka The Great Ski Caper) and 11 Harrowhouse (aka Anything for Love).
His first time behind the lens was the 1975 comedy Dogpound Shuffle, followed by Blood Beach and a host of made-for-TV films.
Flowers in the Attic was the last feature film Bloom directed, and once you hear all the behind-the-scenes events that took place, you may understand why.
Jeffrey pointed us to a student-made video of the film Flowers in the Attic, which will gladly repost here:
Jeffrey is now a professional photographer in Studio City, California.
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natsukashi 
That was awesome! Many thanks to Jeffrey and the website for the podcast, and yeah, it’s too bad the movie didn’t go Jeffrey’s way, it would’ve been obviously better than what we got. I’m not saying the movie is bad, in fact, it’s anything but bad, in my opinion. There is quality in it, a great Gothic drama.
The video below is brilliant too. It might be the 100th time I watch this and I never got bored of it, the song has so much emotion in it.
Again thanks to the website and Jeffrey!
Great job with the interview, especially given that Mr.Bloom obviosuly isn’t too fond of his time on the film, which often makes such interviews more difficult.
I recall watchnig the film though I’ve not read the novel. I didn’t care much for it, and only the always-great Louise Fletcher made it watchable.
Thanks all. Jeffrey is an awesome guest who we will have back very soon. As he readily agrees, the film was a mess, but it was interesting to hear the adaptation process from his perspective.
Enjoyed listening to Mr. Bloom’s comments. I attended a film screening of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” with a Q&A after session with Louise Fletcher. Naturally, I didn’t attend to see the film but to ask Louise about Flowers In the Attic. When I asked her to comment on the film, she kind of siged and said it was her least favorite film. She said she has people write and tell her how much Flowers In the Attic is their favorite film…..and she can’t understand why! When I approached her face to face for an autograph on my Flowers 8×10…she wanted to know why I liked the film so much. I fumbled for words, but asked her what SHE thought of the final film. She replied saying the director wanted a fairy-tale quality. Overall, it was an interesting connection between the two fo us: a small fan meeting someone from the film (let alone my favorite character). Louise Fletcher was absolutely delicious in this film—-and I’ll always cherish “my little Q&A” with her. Thanks again for the interesting Jeffrey Bloom podcast.