Difference between revisions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Revision as of 14:57, 2 October 2015

Original 1975 One-Sheet

The film was a send up of '50s horror flicks, 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 extras as the Transylvanians and wedding guests.

Filming began October 21, 1974 at the Oakley Court Hotel with a modest budget of $1,200,000. Filming wrapped on December 19, 1974. It was first released in London with an exclusive in at the Rialto beginning August 14, 1975 with a short run that included Midnight screenings in its schedule. After a 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. A week later the movie 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. 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 the other locations, though remained open in Los Angeles. In December, it 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.

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, The Rocky Horror Picture Show opened at the Waverly Theater in New York City as a Midnight movie, on April 1. Three weeks after that, it opened at the Riverside ll in Austin Texas, and a theater in New Orleans, also as Midnight-only screenings.

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 widely re-issued in Southern California as a standard release for several weeks. In Los Angeles, The Rocky Horror Picture Show remained in circulation since its opening day, making it the longest original-release film in motion picture history. Additionally, beginning in 1976, The Rocky Horror Picture Show played monthly or on weekends 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.

Spontaneously, the film developed a cult following wherever it played, and there is evidence that audiences were making costumes and talking back to the screen as early as the initial run in Westwood, CA. 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 phenomenon, raking in over $150,000 in 12 weeks in 3 separate theaters.

By the middle of 1977, Rocky Horror was in 30 theaters in the U.S. A year later, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was expanded to 200 theaters as a Midnight movie, and reached its distribution zenith in the early 1980s.

Repeat viewing of the film became the norm for its patrons, and audience participation became the draw. One reason for this was there were pauses in the films dialogue that left a perfect space sore a snappy retort. In the early years as the cult grew, the responses were spontaneous and costumed attendees generally sat in their seats to watch the film. Present day the participation has become structured with "shadowcasts" performing throughout the film at most locations, and carefully scripted audience call-backs to the on-screen movie.

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

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 tot heir 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 —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. Scott (A Rival Scientist)
Peter Hinwood—Rocky Horror (A Creation)
Meat Loaf—Eddie (Ex Delivery Boy)
Charles Gray—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
Ishaq Bux — Transylvanian
Stephen Calcutt — Transylvanian
Hugh Cecil — Transylvanian
Imogen Claire — Transylvanian
Tony Cowan — Transylvanian
Sadie Corre — Transylvanian
Fran Fullenwider — Transylvanian
Lindsay Ingram — Transylvanian
Peggy Ledger — Transylvanian
Annabel Leventon (as Annabelle Leventon) — Transylvanian
Anthony Milner — Transylvanian
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 — (archive VO) (uncredited)

Complete Crew

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)

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

Other

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