For some, it’s the quintessential Hallowe’en classic. For many more, it is the first and foremost midnight movie. And then there’s that percentage of people who find it to be the most overrated musical in existence (personally, I prefer Phantom Of The Paradise, but we'll save that argument for another time). But, either way you slice it, you cannot deny The Rocky Horror Picture Show has earned itself a considerably noticeable place in cult movie history.
The story takes your typical pair of ‘50s science-fiction flick “teenagers” Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) and traps them in a mansion full of hypersexual aliens. Running the show is Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry’s most popular performance), a mad bisexual scientist who is assisted by his faithful (?) incestuous servants, Riff-Raff (Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn). Brad and Janet’s arrival couldn’t be any more serendipitous for Dr. Furter: it’s the night that his muscle-bound Aryan plaything, Rocky (Peter Hinwood), is to be born, much to the dismay of former playthings Columbia (Nell Campbell) and Eddie (Meat Loaf) — the latter of whom unwillingly donated half of his brain so that the crazed scientist’s creature could be brought to life.
Things go from bad to worse for poor Brad and Janet: they are both seduced by Dr. Furter’s charms, which removes them from their once “wholesome” existence (Adam and Eve, anyone?), and compels them to give themselves over to a life of absolute pleasure. Will the arrival of the earnest Dr. Scott (Jonathan Adams) — their former professor (who also happens to be Eddie’s uncle) — save them from the depravity? Probably not, no. But at least it makes for some smashing song-and-dance (and sex) entertainment all-around. The entire story is presented to its viewers by a criminologist (Charles Gray), who serves as the film’s onscreen narrator.
In addition to being the longest-running theatrical release in the entire history of cinema, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is also a regular on the home video market. In 1990, 20th Century Fox released the very first US incarnation of Richard O’Brien’s musical on VHS. Twenty years after the celebrated 15th Anniversary, Fox Home Entertainment has unleashed what may very-well be the ultimate fan favorite release (for now, that is): The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 35th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray.
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Article comments
1 - El Bicho
good review.
"Things go from bad to worse for poor Brad and Janet"
Or do they?
"“Vintage Callback Track” (recorded by"
When you write "recorded" did you mean you got audio? I only got title cards popping up in the corner