The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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 Grey], [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. 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 to still plays to this day, forty years later.
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 Patricia Quinn Little Nell (aka Nell Campbell) Jonathan Adams Barry Bostwick Susan Sarandon Meat Loaf Charles Grey Peter Hinwood
COMPLETE CREW Produced by 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 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 ... adr singer (uncredited)
