Difference between revisions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Revision as of 13:39, 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 Gre], 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 when it moved to the Holly Theater on Hollywood Blvd) 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, also as midnight-only screenings. 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 Rocky Horror presently continues.

Initially considered a bomb, The Rocky Horror Picture Show's current gross is estimated at $139,876,417 with an indefinite run still in affect.

CAST

Tim Curry
Richard O'Brien

Little Nell (aka Nell Campbell)
Jonathan Adams
Barry Bostwick
Susan Sarandon
Meat Loaf
Charles Grey
Peter Hinwood

COMPLETE CREW Lou Adler—executive producer
John Goldstone—associate producer
Michael White—producer Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky—director of photography Film Editing by
Graeme Clifford—Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow—Costume Design by
Sue Blane—(original costume design) Makeup Department
Ramon Gow—hairdresser
Pierre La Roche—original makeup designs creator
Peter Robb-King—makeup artist
Graham Freeborn—assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Ernest Gasser—assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Helen Lennox—assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Mike Lockey—assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Jane Royle—assistant makeup artist (uncredited) Production Management
John Comfort—production manager Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Gowans—first assistant director
Bob Howard—second assistant director (uncredited) Art Department
Dick Frift—construction manager
Ian Whittaker—set dresser
Don Bradburn—dressing props (uncredited)
Norman Dorme—assistant art director (uncredited)
Bob Douglas—stand-by props (uncredited)
Bob Hedges—stand-by props (uncredited)
John Leuenberger—property master (uncredited)
Bryn Siddall—property buyer (uncredited)
John Siddall—draughtsman (uncredited)
Bob Spencer—scenic artist (uncredited) Sound Department
Ron Barron—sound recordist
Ian Fuller—dubbing editor
Bill Rowe—dubbing mixer
Peter Glossop—boom operator (uncredited)
Doug Smith—sound maintenance (uncredited)
Len Tremble—assistant dubbing editor (uncredited) Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers—special effects
Wally Veevers—special effects
Roy Spencer—standby special effects (uncredited) Stunts
Ken Shepherd—stunt double: Eddie (uncredited) Camera and Electrical Department
Dennis C. Lewiston—camera operator (as Denis Lewiston)
Mike Roberts—camera focus
Fred Anderson—electrician (uncredited)
John Jay—still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Roche—grip (uncredited)
Ronnie Fox Rogers—camera operator: second unit (uncredited) Casting Department
Celestia Fox—casting consultant: (UK) Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gillian Dods—wardrobe
Richard Pointing—wardrobe Editorial Department
Rodney Glenn—assistant editor
Nigel Galt—assistant editor (uncredited) Music Department
Count Ian Blair —principal musician
John Bundrick—principal musician (as Rabbit)
Graeme Clifford—music editor
Mick Grabham—principal musician
Keith Grant—music recording
Richard Hartley—composer: incidental music / music arrangements / musical director / principal musician<p> Phil Kenzie—principal musician
Richard O'Brien—composer: original music and lyrics
B.J. Wilson—principal musician
Dave Wintour—principal musician (as David Wintour)
Helen Chapelle—background singer (uncredited)
Brian Engel—background singer (uncredited)
Barry St. John—background singer (uncredited)
Liza Strike—background singer (uncredited)
Clare Torry—background singer (uncredited) Transportation Department
Charles Cox—unit driver (uncredited) Other crew
Susanna Merry—continuity (as Sue Merry)
Ron Swinburne—production accountant
David Toguri—dances staged by
John Birkinshaw—stand-in: Barry Bostwick (uncredited)
Maureen Campbell—accounts secretary (uncredited)
Liz Coke—stand-in: Susan Sarandon (uncredited)
Robin Demetriou—cast and crew chef (uncredited)
Sue Edwards—secretary to producer (uncredited)
Geoff Freeman—publicist (uncredited)
Gillian Gregory—assistant choreographer (uncredited)
Alan Harris—stand-in: Peter Hinwood (uncredited)
Eric Kent—stand-in: Meat Loaf (uncredited)
Dave Murphy—stand-in: Richard O'Brien (uncredited)
Gerry Paris—stand-in: Tim Curry (uncredited)
Janette Scott—logo and title design (uncredited)
Erica Simmons—stand-in: Little Nell (uncredited)
Melita Smith—stand-in: Patricia Quinn (uncredited)
Richard Smith—stand-in: Richard O'Brien (uncredited)
Tuppence Smith—stand-in: Patricia Quinn (uncredited)
Maureen White—production secretary (uncredited)