The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

A newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter at 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

4 wins & 5 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)
Pierre Bedenes	...	A Transylvanian (as Perry Bedden)
Christopher Biggins	...	A Transylvanian
Gaye Brown	...	A Transylvanian

Storyline

On a wild and rain-swept late-November evening, somewhere at an empty stretch of road outside Ohio's merry Denton, blissfully-affianced, prudish, boringly-innocent young pair Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) 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 (Tim Curry'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, most daring creation: the ultimate male and the perfect sex symbol: the flaxen-haired Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood). 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 idolized Rocky roams free in the mansion. Who can interrupt man's union with the absolute pleasure?

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Plot Keywords:

transvestite | audience participation | dance | castle | transylvania | 

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Taglines:

A Musical Dream Come True (UK quad poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Richard O'Brien, it was actually Riff Raff who did most of the work on Rocky Horror. Riff's line "Everything is in readiness, master. We merely await your... word". is pretty clearly a stab at Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

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Goofs

Wire pulling Doctor Scott up the stairs the second time.

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Quotes

Lips: [last lines; in song] Science fiction... double feature/Frank has built and... lost his creature/Darkness has conquered... Brad and Janet/The servants gone to... a distant planet/Whoa-oh-oh-ohh/At the late-night... double feature... picture show/I wanna go/Ah-ohh/To the late-night... double feature... picture show.

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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

The 2000 two-disc DVD includes the complete "Superheroes" and the original English mono film sound (with Trevor White as Rocky's vocals), a 5.1 Surround mix enhanced from the mono sound, a commentary track by Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn, and an "audience participation" track as sound options. The two-disc set also includes: a 1995 36-minute documentary; VH1 interviews with O'Brien, Quinn, Meat Loaf, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick; deleted "Once in a While" song; outtakes; TV and theatrical trailers; alternate endings and more (the DVD single disc was released in 2002 without the extras).

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Quest of the Delta Knights (1998)

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Soundtracks

Over At The Frankenstein Place
(uncredited)
Written by Richard O'Brien
Performed by Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, and Richard O'Brien

User Reviews

"Don't dream it, be it!"

As an 18 y/o stranded in a small, bible belt town in the sticks of Missouri, I would drive 120 miles every two weeks to St. Louis to the Varsity Theater to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show during the early 80's. For me, it was a chance to live, to breathe free, as anything went; there was no need to conform to any narrow minded conventions, as I felt I had to survive at home. The first time I witnessed Tim Curry flinging open his cape, proudly proclaiming "I'm just a sweet transvestite, from Transsexual Transylvania," I knew I'd found a place to be myself. Even now, some 18 years later, that sight still gives me a thrill. Sure, the plot is ridiculous (on second thought, it had more to offer than 80 percent of the crap coming out of Hollywood then and now) and it is loaded with technical flaws. Still, I consider it the greatest film of all time. How many films draw a crowd of regulars weekly, create a sense of community, especially for people who, more than likely, felt as if they were not a part of any community, as I felt? Over the years, I've seen the film 64 times, and when I'm 80 I plan on getting up on my arthritic legs and doing the "Time Warp."

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [United States] Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1975 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$112,892,319

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$113,218,150

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:

1.66 : 1