The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Jim Sharman

Writers:

Richard O'Brien (original musical play)
Jim Sharman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

25 Years Of Absolute Pleasure! (2000 25th Anniversary Tagline)

Plot:

A newly engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Plot Keywords:

Castle | Transvestite | Transylvania | Time Warp | Alien

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

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	...	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 Labow	...	Betty Munroe Hapschatt
Perry Bedden	...	The Transylvanians
Christopher Biggins	...	The Transylvanians
Gaye Brown	...	The Transylvanians

Runtime:

100 min | USA:98 min (edited version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Chace Surround (Remix for video release) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (1991) | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:X (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | New Zealand:M (re-rating) | Australia:M | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | India:A | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:(Banned) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1998)

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the scene near the end of the film where the house takes off, the 'house' is actually a cardboard cutout. Parts of the real house can be seen behind it.

Goofs:

Continuity: The red carpet disappears momentarily during Columbia's tap dance.

Quotes:

Frank: I hope you're adaptable, Dr. Scott. I know Brad is.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Band Candy (#3.6)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Dammit Janet

dammit Janet!

Moving on from the riotous cult stage show which was born in a small studio theatre in the early 70s, this movie version is a well-cast, outrageous romp showcasing the absurdity and sci-fi obsession of Richard O'Brien's inventive musical.

The small cast - the wonderful Tim Curry as Frank 'n Furter (the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania'); Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as the odd science students Brad and Janet; Patricia Quinn as Magenta ('a domestic'); Little Nell as Columbia ('a groupie'), Jonathan Adams as Dr Scott; Meat Loaf as Eddie; Richard O'Brien himself as the handyman Riff Raff; Peter Hinwood as the muscle man Rocky, created by Frank in a spoof on Frankenstein; and Charles Gray having a great time as the Criminologist - are all really good, and the songs are terrific, from the madness of 'The Timewarp' and 'Sweet Transvestite', to the ethereal 'There's a Light' and 'I'm Going Home', by way of the rocky 'Whatever Happened To Saturday Night?' and the film-reference heavy 'Science Fiction Double Feature'.

Great, great fun and the floor show sequence in particular, showcasing Frank's obsession with Fay Wray and the RKO cheapies, is exceptional, with its statues in basques and its huge swimming pool. Trash, yes, but classy trash, and most enjoyable.