Most movies that bomb fade away after a short time. Once in a full moon, however, the perfect audience combines with the right film to create something truly magical. Even if that magic involves rice, toast, water, newspapers, playing cards, costumes, and a live cast singing along with the show. It's the midnight movie that arguably has the largest single-movie cult following of all time. For after all, it's just a jump to the left, then a step to the right. Put your hands on your hips and lock you knees tight. You do the pelvic thrust, it really drives you insane. Let's do the time warp again today on Flashback Friday's look at The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
No, this movie is not a critical masterpiece, in any stretch of the imagination. But in terms of pure theater enjoyment, pure longevity, and pure madness, there's hardly a film like it. It's an acid-trip of a plot, nightmarish yet thoroughly enjoyable. From the crazy songs to trippy story-lines, you will have more fun watching and participating in The Rocky Horror Picture Show than any other horror-fest this Halloween. There's a reason 20th Century Fox has kept it in limited release for almost 40 years... longer than any movie in the history of cinema.
Director Jim Sharman had no idea the sensation he was making, a film based on the successful stage musical The Rocky Horror Show. Richard O'Brien, the brainchild of the theater production, helped Sharman to write and develop the feature length adaptation.
The movie follows Brad Majors ("ASSHOLE!") and ("Dammit") Janet, a couple who get lost on their way home from a wedding. They make their way to a mysterious castle, the home of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). But the couple quickly learns that this is no ordinary castle, and after a dance rendition of "The Time Warp", find themselves coming face-to-face with the "sweet, sweet transvestite" himself.It was the film debut of Tim Curry, who played the iconic Dr. Frank N. Furter on Broadway and in the motion picture. Curry was highly involved in crafting the character, and played him throughout several productions of The Rocky Horror Show all over the world. His appearance in the movie made him an international celebrity and cult icon.
Brad Majors is played by Barry Bostwick, best known for this and his role as the Mayor on the '90's television sitcom Spin City. Janet is played by none other than Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, thrust into the world of the bizarre. Charles Gray (best known for playing Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Diamonds are Forever) plays the narrating criminologist, Meatloaf cameos as "the ex-delivery boy" Eddie, and Richard O'Brien rounds off the main cast as the Igor-like Riff Raff.
As shocking as it may seem, a movie that featured transvestites, dance numbers, and Meatloaf did not do well in theaters during it's initial run. Halloween theater runs in 1975 were cancelled after it became a commercial bomb in the locations it did open at. Distributer 20th Century Fox even tried to release it for cheap at colleges for a double feature, but it flopped there as well.
Then, as if almost instantly, the movie had midnight performances in New York City throughout April 1976, and eventually many of the same patrons kept returning to see the show again. As this developed, audience members began shouting at the screen, talking back to characters and singing/dancing alongside them. By Halloween of 1976, people arrived at The Rocky Horror Picture Show in costume, and within two years it became a national midnight sensation.
Critics have always looked favorably on the film, with nearly unanimous praise for Curry. However, many agree that the film needs to be seen on a big screen with audience participation to truly appreciated as a cultural icon. Seeing the film by itself is kind of weird, and almost laughably bad.The midnight shows continue to this day, with each theater having a unique set of shouts, props, costumes, and interactions. Oftentimes, a shadow cast mirrors the movie onstage. No experience is doubled from theater to theater- a very rare feat when it comes to movies. Seeing it annually under these conditions makes for a wonderful perk, and people have been watching this film for the past forty years. It's a part of their Halloween tradition as much as watching It's a Wonderful Life at Christmastime.
The words "cult following", "midnight showings", and The Rocky Horror Picture Show are synonymous. It's a Halloween experience not to be missed. So find a local theater playing it, buy tickets, dress up in drag, and check it out.
And in case you don't know it:
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