Difference between revisions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Revision as of 18:06, 4 September 2016

Original 1975 A Different Set of Jaws One-Sheet featuring The Lips

Original 1975 Style B One-Sheet ("He's the Hero")

Original 1975 UK One-Sheet, with art used on The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Soundtrack Album

The film was a send up of '50s horror flicks, inspired by various RKO Pictures, and starred members from the original London Cast 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 Gray (a veteran of James Bond films), Peter Hinwood (a model) and a couple of dozen carefully chosen extras as the Transylvanians and wedding guests.

Filming began October 21, 1974 at the Oakley Court Hotel and Bray Studios with a modest budget of $1,200,000. Filming wrapped on December 19, 1974. It was first released in London with an exclusive engagement at the Rialto Cinema on Coventry Street, beginning August 14,1975, with a short run that included midnight screenings. After a sneak-preview in Santa Barbara, California in August of 1975 and special midnight preview at the Fox Venice Theater on September 25, the film had its U.S. debut at the UA Westwood in Los Angeles on September 26, 1975. The initial week had many sold-out performances, as tickets were sold in advance though a special mail-order campaign for September 26 through October 2, a marketing move that had proved successful with the play at the Roxy. There was also a radio promotion, with radio spots, and fliers passed out all over Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, October 1, the movie opened at 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 word of mouth and repeat viewings by a group of the same people. Although on a much smaller level, the same thing was happening at many of the first theaters to screen Rocky Horror. The audiences were small, but the same people returned multiple times to see the film.

In the first couple of weeks at the UA, producer Lou Adler visited many screenings, and observed the audience singing along, but was bothered by the film's down beat ending. At that point, he had the ending of the film recut to remove most of the song "Super Heroes," and replacing the slow and sad "Science Fiction Reprise" with a repeat of "The Time Warp." The result, brilliantly, had people dancing in the aisles on their way out of the theater and leaving early enthusiasts of the film wondering if there was ever a Super Heroes Cut of the film. A very limited number of prints were in the UK, but were not edited and remained in circulation in Europe and the U.K. as the film made its return over time. There was also a six week run in Canada, where the film had enough success to issue the dropped-in-the-U.S. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Soundtrack Album. The film closed quietly in most locations, though remained open in Los Angeles. On December 25th, it moved to the neighboring UA Cinema Center in Westwood, a few blocks away from the UA, where it remained through 1983 (with one six month hiatus from March 20 to October 6, 1976, when it moved to the Holly Theater on Hollywood Blvd).

Because it was noticed that the attendance was at it's peak at midnight screenings, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was tested in Columbus, Ohio in February of 1976 as well as St. Louis, Missouri and Madison, Wisconsin at The Stage Door Theater as a midnight movie in March of 1976 (with promise of a free promotional t-shirt, while supplies lasted). Less than a month later, on April 2 (Midnight on April 3, to be precise), The Rocky Horror Picture Show began screening at the Waverly Theater in New York City as a midnight movie. In May, it opened at the Riverside ll in Austin Texas, and the Gentilly Orleans Theater in New Orleans, where it played until the theater burned down in 1978 (too much Flicking your Bic during "There's a Light," perhaps?)

There were a few attempts to circulate Rocky Horror in limited engagements at various theaters from the time it opened (including a poorly received run at Arizona's UA Chris-Town Mall Cinemas 6). The biggest push came in October of 1976, when Fox Marketing decided to spark the growing interest by pairing Rocky Horror with the Fox-distributed rock musical, Phantom of the Paradise, distributing them to college cinemas across the U.S. Additionally, it was widely re-issued in Southern California as a standard release in first-run theaters (including Hollywood's famed Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd) and drive-ins for several weeks, where Rocky Horror inspired costumes popped up at Halloween events and costume contests. As was customary for the era, beginning in 1976, The Rocky Horror Picture Show played once monthly at several popular revival houses, including the Nuart Theater in West Los Angeles, and The Oriental Theater in Milwaukee,WI, both where regular Rocky Horror screenings presently continue. In Los Angeles, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has remained in circulation since its opening day, making it the longest original-release film in motion picture history.

Spontaneously, the film developed a cult following wherever it played, and there is evidence that audiences were making costumes and Audience Participation, in the form of talking back to the screen, as early as the initial run it the UA Westwood. Interestingly, the same phenomenon was experienced all the way over in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the film had opened March of 1976 and became a instant sensation, raking in over $150,000 in 12 weeks in 3 separate theaters. The most early media attention to the cult came from New York's Waverly Theater, where the film had its first long-term Midnight-only engagement, and was birthplace of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Club.

By the middle of 1977, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was playing regularly in 30 theaters in the U.S. and was starting to get media attention from a variety of publications and programs. A year later, it had expanded to 200 theaters as a Midnight movie, and the numbers grew until reaching its distribution zenith in the early 1980s. With an ever growing audience, the first Rocky Horror Show convention was held in Long Island, New York, in February of 1978, and the List of Conventions has grown to at least once annually, ever since.

Along with word of mouth and local news stories, The Rocky Horror Picture Show got a weekly boost in attention via the syndicated radio program, The Dr Demento Show. Los Angeles DJ Barry Hanson had a live, weekly 4-hour radio program that showcased novelty songs. The show was syndicated nationally in 1974, and by 1977, fans of Rocky Horror were requesting "The Time Warp" and "Sweet Transvestite" for his weekly Top-10 (and later, "Funny 5" for the syndicated 2-hour version of the show). Both songs became ongoing weekly favorites for several years, and "The Time Warp" was included on the 1970s volume of the Rhino release Dr Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty Hits of All Time.

It wasn't until 1979 that the first officially licensed merchandise for The Rocky Horror Picture Show emerged in the form of a set of 6 badges, produced by A&B Creations. Before that, aside from the soundtrack LP and One-sheet, the only official item produced was the very limited, promotional T-Shirt given out the first weeks of the films release. Not surprisingly, a tradition of bootleg and DIY merchandise appeared as early as 1975 with a bootleg T-Shirt of Frank N Furter, illustrated by art student Holly Field, who attended the UA Westwood.

Repeat viewing of the film became the norm for its fans, and audience participation became a huge part of the draw. One reason for this was there were pauses in the films dialogue that left a perfect space for a snappy retort. In the early years as the cult grew, the audience responses were spontaneous and costumed attendees generally sat in their seats to watch the film. The "call-backs" got laughs, and were repeated by folks who either made them up or heard them and repeated them at their next visit to the movie. Because patrons at the time had to travel to multiple theaters to see Rocky Horror on a regular basis, the call-backs spread quickly. It was a tradition that began with the original stage productions in London and at The Roxy, which were described as interactive experiences with people singing along from multiple visits. Present day participation has become structured with a Shadowcast performing throughout the film at most locations, and carefully scripted but ever-evolving audience call-backs to the on-screen movie. The modern, uniform structuring of the shadowcasts can be traced directly to the portrayal of the cult in the 1980 feature film Fame, which included a detailed scene involving the pre-show from the second home of the fan club, the 8th Street Playhouse.

The late '70s were filled with rumors of a Rocky Horror Picture Show sequel and several scripts surfaced, but it wasn't until 1981 that anything came to fruition. The result was Shock Treatment, which had several of the original actors, and the now married characters of Brad and Janet as its central focus. Although it was not the success the producers had hoped for, it eventually attracted a smaller, but enthusiastic, following of shadowcast performers.

Initially considered a bomb, The Rocky Horror Picture Show's current gross is estimated at $340,000,000 with an indefinite run still in effect in over 75 theaters. It hit its box office peak in 1981, when it ranked as #18 in terms of all-time box-office (compiled January, 1982), and is currently ranked 513 (for all films, of all time), with an adjusted box office take of #7 for R rated films.

Because of its ongoing, sweeping success, The Rocky Horror Show and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have had many revivals and tributes. In 2016, the movie was re-imagined as
The Rocky Horror Picture Show TV Movie with a new cast, airing on the Fox network, debuting on October 20 of that year. Although the news spawned mixed reaction from legions of fans, interest was high because of the well-publicized casting of Tim Curry in the role of the Criminologist and transgender actress Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Plot Summary

Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple, seek refuge the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter during a rainstorm after getting a flat tire. Welcomed in by handyman Riff-Raff, the couple discover a celebration in progress, where they are introduced to their host, a "Sweet Transvestite, from Transexual Transylvania." Puzzled and a little shocked, Brad and Janet are invited to stay for the unveiling of Dr. Furter's creation, a muscle-man named Rocky Horror. Over the course of the night, Frank seduces both Brad and Janet. Janet and Rocky become involved physically as well. As the drama unfolds, rival scientist (and former teacher of Brad and Janet), Dr. Everett Scott, arrives looking for his nephew, Eddie. Eddie had been victim of Dr. Furter earlier in the evening. Over dinner, Dr. Scott reveals to Brad and Janet that their host is an alien, who is developing a Sonic Transducer, ("an audio-vibratory physiomolecular transport device" capable of "breaking down solid matter and then projecting it through space and, who knows, perhaps even time itself.") The guests are then forced to participate in a kinky "floor show," where it is revealed that Brad, Janet and even Dr. Scott have been changed forever by the experience.

Cast

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 (as Little Nell)—Columbia (A Groupie)
Jonathan Adams—Dr. Everett Von Scott (A Rival Scientist)
Peter Hinwood—Rocky Horror (A Creation)
Meat Loaf—Eddie (Ex Delivery Boy)
Charles Gray—The Criminologist (An Expert)

Supporting Cast

Jeremy Newson— Ralph Hapschatt
Hilary Farr (as Hilary Labow) — Betty Munroe
Perry Bedden — Transylvanian
Christopher Biggins — Transylvanian
Gaye Brown — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest
Ishaq Bux — Transylvanian
Stephen Calcutt — Transylvanian
Hugh Cecil — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest (uncreditied)
Imogen Claire — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest
Tony Cowan — Transylvanian
Sadie Corré — Transylvanian
Fran Fullenwider — Transylvanian
Lindsay Ingram — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest
Peggy Ledger — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest
Annabel Leventon (as Annabelle Leventon) — Transylvanian
Anthony Milner — Transylvanian/Wedding Guest
Pamela Obermeyer — Transylvanian
Tony Then — Transylvanian
Kimi Wong — Transylvanian
Henry Woolf — Transylvanian
Rufus Collins — Transylvanian (uncredited)
Gina Barrie — Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Mark Johnson — Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Petra Leah — Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Frank Lester — Wedding Dad (uncredited)
John Marquand — Father (uncredited)
Koo Stark — Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Richard Nixon — (Archival VO) (uncredited)

Complete Crew

Jim Sharman — Director
Richard O'Brien — Original musical play
Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien- Screenplay
Lou Adler — Executive producer
John Goldstone — Associate producer
Michael White — Producer
Peter Suschitzky — Cinematography (director of photography)
Graeme Clifford — Film Editing
Terry Ackland-Snow — Art Direction
Sue Blane — Costume Design (original costume design)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Gowans—first assistant director
Bob Howard—second assistant director (uncredited)

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)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gillian Dods—wardrobe
Richard Pointing—wardrobe

Art Department
Brian Thomson — production design
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
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)

Editorial Department
Rodney Glenn—assistant editor
Nigel Galt—assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Richard Hartley—composer: incidental music / music arrangements / musical director / principal musician
Richard O'Brien—composer: original music and lyrics

Count Ian Blair —principal musician
John Bundrick—principal musician (as Rabbit)
Phil Kenzie—principal musician
B.J. Wilson—principal musician
Dave Wintour—principal musician (as David Wintour)
Mick Grabham—principal musician

Graeme Clifford—music editor
Keith Grant—music recording

Trevor White—Singing voice for "Rocky" (uncredited)
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)

Choreography
David Toguri—dances staged by
Gillian Gregory—assistant choreographer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Charles Cox—unit driver (uncredited)

Other
John Comfort—production manager
Susanna Merry—continuity (as Sue Merry)
Ron Swinburne—production accountant
Maureen Campbell—accounts secretary (uncredited)
Maureen White—production secretary (uncredited)
Sue Edwards—secretary to producer (uncredited)
Robin Demetriou—cast and crew chef (uncredited)

Stand-Ins
John Birkinshaw—stand-in: Barry Bostwick (uncredited)
Liz Coke—stand-in: Susan Sarandon (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)
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)

Misc Post-Production
Geoff Freeman—publicist (uncredited)