The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
Action-packed... lotsa larfs & sex... gorgeous gals... thrills & chills... Transylvanian parties... romance
Director(s)
Jim Sharman
Writer(s)
Richard O'Brien (play The Rocky Horror Show)
Jim Sharman and
Richard O'Brien
Producer(s)
Lou Adler executive producer
John Goldstone associate producer
Michael White producer
Cast
Tim Curry - Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Susan Sarandon - Janet Weiss
Barry Bostwick - Brad Majors
Richard O'Brien - Riff Raff
Patricia Quinn - Magenta
Nell Campbell - Columbia (as Little Nell)
Jonathan Adams - Dr. Everett Von Scott (A Rival Scientist)
Peter Hinwood - Rocky Horror
Meat Loaf - Eddie (as Meatloaf)
Charles Gray - The Criminologist
Jeremy Newson - Ralph Hapschatt
Hilary Labow - Betty Munroe Hapschatt
Perry Bedden - The Transylvanians
Christopher Biggins - The Transylvanians
Gaye Brown - The Transylvanians
Ishaq Bux - The Transylvanians
Stephen Calcutt - The Transylvanians
Hugh Cecil - The Transylvanians
Imogen Claire - The Transylvanians
Tony Cowan - The Transylvanians
Sadie Corre - The Transylvanians
Fran Fullenwider - The Transylvanians
Lindsay Ingram - The Transylvanians
Peggy Ledger - The Transylvanians
Annabel Leventon - The Transylvanians (as Annabelle Leventon)
Anthony Milner - The Transylvanians
Pamela Obermeyer - The Transylvanians
Tony Then - The Transylvanians
Kimi Wong - The Transylvanians
Henry Woolf - The Transylvanians
Gina Barrie - Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Gilda Cohen - The Transylvanians (uncredited)
Rufus Collins - The Transylvanians (uncredited)
Petra Leah - Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Frank Lester - Wedding dad (uncredited)
John Marquand - Father (uncredited)
Richard Nixon - Himself (archive audio: resignation speech) (voice) (uncredited) (archive sound)
Koo Stark - Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Review by Gary F Taylor
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Let's Do The Time Warp Again: The Cult Classic,
From absolute disaster to international success, few titles have had the roller-coaster ride of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. Originally a low-budget English stage show, it exploded into mainstream popularity and became one of London's longest running musicals--but then died a quick and very painful death in New York. As an afterthought, the American company played a limited engagement in Los Angeles and once more the show was a smash hit and soon became a motion picture--which received mixed reviews and proved a box office dud. That probably would have been the end of it, but the film suddenly and unexpectedly emerged as a cult movie phenomena and ascended to international acclaim.
The story is well known. All-American Brad Majors and Janet Weiss become engaged and rush to tell their mentor, Dr. Everett Scott. But they take a wrong turn, have a flat, and suddenly find themselves captives of a bisexual transvestite from outer space who is intent on making the perfect boy-toy lover from scratch. Although the material was considerably softened for the screen, even today it remains surprisingly sharp, and the film contains numerous references to the classic Hollywood horror films that inspired it.
The cast, most of whom played in the various stage versions, is truly astonishing. Tim Curry was little known when the film was made, but he shows tremendous talent in the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter, the bisexual transvestite from outer space; his performance is a remarkable combination of broad farce, sensuality, and dark wit. While Curry is certainly the show's centerpiece, the rest of the cast is equally effective. Both Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon are beautifully cast as the goody-goody Brad and Janet; Richard O'Brien (who wrote the stage show), Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, and Meatloaf all give memorable turns as the mad doctor's bizarre associates; and character actors Johnathan Adams and Charles Gray offer considerable drop-dead wit in supporting roles. Only Peter Hinwood seems out of his league, selected more for looks than talent--but strange to say, this actually works in the context of the film.
If you've only seen this film at an audience-participation showing, you're in for a surprise: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is wickedly funny, something you're likely to miss when every one in the audience is screaming at the screen. Although the material was toned down for the movie--song sequences were rearranged, lyrics rewritten, and script and characters softened--the whole thing still has plenty of bite. The story, of course, is intrinsically subversive; the script has a uniquely British sensibility; and the songs are catchy, bouncy, and frequently have lyrics that are very clever in an underhanded sort of way. Like most cult films, it will not appeal to everyone--but if you get it, you've gotta have it.
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