The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

A newly engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Director:

Jim Sharman

Writers:

Richard O'Brien (original musical play), Jim Sharman (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Curry	...	Dr. Frank-N-Furter - A Scientist
Susan Sarandon	...	Janet Weiss - A Heroine
Barry Bostwick	...	Brad Majors - A Hero
Richard O'Brien	...	Riff Raff - A Handyman
Patricia Quinn	...	Magenta - A Domestic
Nell Campbell	...	Columbia - A Groupie (as Little Nell)
Jonathan Adams	...	Dr. Everett V. Scott - A Rival Scientist
Peter Hinwood	...	Rocky Horror - A Creation
Meat Loaf	...	Eddie - Ex Delivery Boy (as Meatloaf)
Charles Gray	...	The Criminologist - An Expert
Jeremy Newson	...	Ralph Hapschatt
Hilary Farr	...	Betty Munroe (as Hilary Labow)
Perry Bedden	...	The Transylvanians
Christopher Biggins	...	The Transylvanians
Gaye Brown	...	The Transylvanians

Storyline

On a wild and rain-swept late-November evening, somewhere at an empty stretch of road outside Ohio's merry Denton, the blissfully-affianced, prudish, and boringly innocent young pair of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss find themselves stranded on their way to visit an ex-tutor. Instead, the couple will inadvertently unearth the cross-dressing Dr Frank-N-Furter's spooky lair of inexhaustible oddities, just in time to partake in the out-of-this-world mad scientist's proud unveiling of his latest, delightfully extravagant, and most daring creation--the ultimate male and the perfect sex symbol: the flaxen-haired, Rocky Horror. But, little by little, as the effervescent transgressive force gobbles up whole the unsuspecting visitors of the night, Brad and Janet slowly begin to embrace the potent fascinations of seduction, while an idolised Rocky roams free in the mansion. Who can interrupt man's union with the absolute pleasure?

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Plot Keywords:

audience participation | based on stage musical | cult film | transylvania | rock 'n' roll | 

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Taglines:

Another Kind Of Rocky.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1975 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Orgía de Horror y Locura

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$139,876,417

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox,Michael White Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 98 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Chace Surround (Remix for video release) Mono (35 mm optical prints) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was given it's cinema release in New Zealand in the 1970s, it was given the Restricted 18 rating for it's sexual content, nudity, some violence and mild profanity. The film's rating was later changed to Restricted 16 in 1982 and the rating was then changed to Restricted 13 when it was released on VHS by CBS/Fox Video and when the film was released again on VHS in the 1990s and on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, it was changed the M mature rating.

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Goofs

Janet's shoes are black in the beginning of the movie, then change to white when they get to the laboratory.

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Quotes

Riff Raff - A Handyman: It's astounding... Time is... fleeting. Madness... takes its toll. But listen closely...
Magenta - A Domestic: Not for very much longer!
Riff Raff - A Handyman: I've got to... keep... control.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the film, The credits read: "The characters portrayed in this film are ENTIRELY FICTITIOUS and bear no resemblance to anyone living OR DEAD!"

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Alternate Versions

UK theatrical version includes: Opening credit- A MICHAEL WHITE-LOU ADLER PRODUCTION; complete "Superheroes" song; short end credits without cast pictures and "Science Fiction-Double Feature: Reprise" followed by an instrumental of "Time Warp" (which was traditionally played during cast bows in the play.) Prior to 1990, this was the version available on home video outside of the US.

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Connections

Referenced in Men in Black II (2002)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday
(uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

User Reviews

The Mother of All Cult Films

Or I should say, the Sweet Transvestite of all cult films!

To those who haven't seen Rocky Horror, don't bother reading reviews about it. It won't mean anything. Don't rent it on DVD which it recently came out on. It also won't mean anything, because it's missing the thing that gave it and the stage play that preceded it life... the audience. By definition, a cult film is meant to be seen by a group. Preferably, a large one.

I saw Rocky Horror 20-something years ago, and wound up playing "Brad" with the players next to the stage. Something I would normally never do. Why? The show's energy sucked me in. More accurately, the audience's energy sucked me in.

The show, with a revved-up audience, is almost like a dialogue between the movie and the people watching it. It celebrates sex, hedonism, even while playing out the danger, violence, and tragedy it can result in. It allows the audience of mostly young kids to exude and rejoice in their sexuality, whatever it is. And without ever taking their clothes off. I think that is the real appeal of the show. There's a joyousness, and a strange innocence, in throwing raunchy comments at the screen, watching the live performers on-stage act out the scenes in racy costumes, and sharing the energy anonymously in the dark with strangers.

The live show with the original actors must have been electrifying. Plays always have more energy than films because of the immediacy of the live actors, and the energy must have been even more intense. I'll always regret not having the chance to have seen it.

The movie itself has been described too many times for me to give a synopsis. I will however say that it is really a collage of feelings, ranging from fear, trepidation, excitement, lust, joyous sexual fulfillment, more lust, tragedy, and a strange sadness at the end. Basically, all the emotions that make life worth living, in an hour and a half. However, the visceral enjoyment of this film, and the emotions it brings, will only be experienced with a large, highly energized audience. If you get a chance, and if you can get your reserved ego out of the way, go to a midnight showing in your area when you know there's going to be a big showing. Don't go expecting a logical, coherent storyline. Its about experience, not narrative. You'll get an experience that you've been missing your whole life. At the end, there is a message here, hidden under all the seemingly blissful hedonism. It takes a long time for it to become clear, however.

I wonder if O'Brian, its creator, was clever enough to have put it there all along?

By the way, there is no nudity or actual sex in the entire movie. For a movie with its reputation, that's pretty amazing. Compared to the slasher/gore fests passing themselves off as film these days, the movie is strangely quaint and innocent. But then, that's what true enjoyment of sensuality should be.

For a cult film, 10 out of 10 stars. It doesn't get any better than this as cult films go.