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:

Don't Dream it, Be It!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard O'Brien was concerned that Meat Loaf might not be able to handle "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul". O'Brien brought out the music and handed it to him, saying "It's okay to flub a few lines. No one in the London cast has ever sung the whole thing correctly anyway." He looked at it, replied "What's the problem?", then sang the whole thing without skipping a beat.

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Goofs

Janet lifts her heel when she is supposedly stuck to the floor.

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Quotes

Lips: [first lines; in song] Michael Rennie was ill The Day the Earth Stood Still / But he told us where we stand / And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear / Claude Rains was The Invisible Man...

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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

In the version shown on VH1, Rocky Horror's real voice is heard during "Rose Tint My World", the nude statues and Columbia's breasts were blurred, and a line in "Wise Up, Janet Weiss" where Frank-N-Further says "mind-f**k" is deleted.

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Connections

Referenced in Jane the Virgin: Chapter Sixty-Seven (2017)

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Soundtracks

Dammit Janet
(uncredited)
Written by Richard O'Brien
Performed by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon

User Reviews

Yes, it really is the greatest cult-film of all-time.

It's fairly easy to see why "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" became such a huge cult-favorite so quickly... So huge even that the fans went to screenings all dressed up like drag-queens, singing along with the songs and waving around cigarette lighters. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" simply is a tremendously inspiring movie and it's almost impossible not to start swinging yourself when the legendary songs such as "The Time Warp" and "Touch Me" are being sung by the vivid cast. The screenplay is adapted from Richard O'Brien (who also co-stars) play and it still comes across as very wit and all-knowing in its humor. There's spoofing and referring to everything from Universal and RKO-Pictures horror movies over typically 50's science-fiction to Hammer horror and the filming locations & set pieces are leftovers from other classic genre titles. The story is ridiculously simple and merely just introduces a young couple whose car breaks down near a ominous dark castle. When they go there for help, they're sucked into the eccentric world of transvestite Dr. Frank 'N Furter and his bizarre collection of servants and friends. The frenzied doctor created himself a muscled and blond-haired toy-boy and he's in the middle of presenting his creation when Brad and Janet (a great early role for Susan Sarandon) stumble in. The lines and song lyrics are often hilarious and far from politically correct and the lingerie costumes are quite nifty. All the acting performances are terrific but immensely divergent, since Tim Curry's Frank 'N Furter is extremely grotesque whereas Charles Gray's narrating character is straight-faced.

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:

$113,217,909

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