Difference between revisions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
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| − | + | ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' is a 1975 British-American musical comedy horror film produced by [[Lou Adler]] and directed by [[Jim Sharman]]. | |
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| + | The film was based on the Richard O'Brien-penned stage show, [The Rocky Horror Show], which had its initial run in London in 1973, and was imported to Lou Adler's [Roxy Theatre] in Los Angeles in 1974. | ||
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| + | The film was a send up of '50s horror flicks, and starred members from the original stage production including [Tim Curry], [Richard O'Brien], [Patricia Quinn], [Little Nell] (aka Nell Campbell), and [Jonathan Adams] joined by American actors [Barry Bostwick], [Susan Sarandon] and [Meat Loaf] (from [The Roxy Cast]). The cast was rounded out by [Charles Grey], [Peter Hinwood] and a couple dozen extras as the Transylvanians and wedding guests. | ||
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| + | Filming began 21 October 1974 with a modest budget of $1,200,000. Filming wrapped on 19 December 1974. It was first released in London with an exclusive in at the Rialto beginning August 14, 1975. The film had its U.S. debut at the [[UA Westwood]] in Los Angeles on September 26, 1975 and was distributed to 10 other theaters in the U.S., with no fanfare or success outside of Los Angeles, where the attendance was healthy, and grew steadily--mainly due to repeat viewings by the same people. The film remained open in Los Angeles, and moved to the neighboring [UA Cinema Center] in Westwood, a few blocks away from the UA, where it remained (with one brief hiatus in 1976) through the early '80s. | ||
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| + | ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' was tested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Oriental Theater as a midnight movie in March of 1976, and a month later opened at the Waverly Theater in New York City as a midnight movie on April 1. Three weeks later, it opened at [The Sombrero] in Arizona, followed by a theater in New Orleans. Spontaneously, the film developed a cult following wherever it played. In October of 1976, in an effort to spread the growing new market for the film, it was paired with another Fox-distributed rock musical, ''Phantom of the Paradise'' and distributed to college cinemas across the U.S. Additionally, it was re-issued wide in Southern California, including several locations in Los Angeles, where it has played continuously since opening, making it the longest original-release film in motion picture history. Additionally, beginning in 1976, Rocky Horror played monthly or on weekends at several popular revival houses, including The [Nuart] (in West Los Angeles) and The [Oriental] (in Milwaukee) where to still plays to this day, forty years later. | ||
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| + | Initially considered a bomb, the current gross is estimated at $139,876,417 and has a healthy following in many theaters in various locations. | ||
Revision as of 10:40, 9 September 2015
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 British-American musical comedy horror film produced by Lou Adler and directed by Jim Sharman.
The film was based on the Richard O'Brien-penned stage show, [The Rocky Horror Show], which had its initial run in London in 1973, and was imported to Lou Adler's [Roxy Theatre] in Los Angeles in 1974.
The film was a send up of '50s horror flicks, and starred members from the original stage production including [Tim Curry], [Richard O'Brien], [Patricia Quinn], [Little Nell] (aka Nell Campbell), and [Jonathan Adams] joined by American actors [Barry Bostwick], [Susan Sarandon] and [Meat Loaf] (from [The Roxy Cast]). The cast was rounded out by [Charles Grey], [Peter Hinwood] and a couple dozen extras as the Transylvanians and wedding guests.
Filming began 21 October 1974 with a modest budget of $1,200,000. Filming wrapped on 19 December 1974. It was first released in London with an exclusive in at the Rialto beginning August 14, 1975. The film had its U.S. debut at the UA Westwood in Los Angeles on September 26, 1975 and was distributed to 10 other theaters in the U.S., with no fanfare or success outside of Los Angeles, where the attendance was healthy, and grew steadily--mainly due to repeat viewings by the same people. The film remained open in Los Angeles, and moved to the neighboring [UA Cinema Center] in Westwood, a few blocks away from the UA, where it remained (with one brief hiatus in 1976) through the early '80s.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was tested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Oriental Theater as a midnight movie in March of 1976, and a month later opened at the Waverly Theater in New York City as a midnight movie on April 1. Three weeks later, it opened at [The Sombrero] in Arizona, followed by a theater in New Orleans. Spontaneously, the film developed a cult following wherever it played. In October of 1976, in an effort to spread the growing new market for the film, it was paired with another Fox-distributed rock musical, Phantom of the Paradise and distributed to college cinemas across the U.S. Additionally, it was re-issued wide in Southern California, including several locations in Los Angeles, where it has played continuously since opening, making it the longest original-release film in motion picture history. Additionally, beginning in 1976, Rocky Horror played monthly or on weekends at several popular revival houses, including The [Nuart] (in West Los Angeles) and The [Oriental] (in Milwaukee) where to still plays to this day, forty years later.
Initially considered a bomb, the current gross is estimated at $139,876,417 and has a healthy following in many theaters in various locations.
