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The Rocky Horror Picture Show

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJim Sharman
Written byRichard O'Brien
Jim Sharman
Produced byMichael White
StarringBarry Bostwick
Susan Sarandon
Tim Curry
Richard O'Brien
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
14 August, 1975
Running time
100 min
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5,000,000 (estimated)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS) (first released in the United Kingdom on 14 August, 1975) is a science fiction-comedy-horror musical film directed by Jim Sharman from a screenplay by Sharman and Richard O'Brien. The film was based on O'Brien's long-running stage production The Rocky Horror Show. After an unexceptional first run, the movie went on to become a cult hit that continues to play weekly in many theaters (usually at midnight). Fans often attend viewings dressed as characters from the film and respond ritualistically to certain events by throwing food, using props, yelling jokes, dancing, and cheering.

The film stars Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Curry. "Little" Nell Campbell, Patricia Quinn, Peter Hinwood, Jonathan Adams, Charles Gray, and Richard O'Brien are featured in supporting roles, while British character actor Christopher Biggins appears in the chorus. Meat Loaf (then almost unknown as a singer - having recorded one obscure album with a fellow cast member from the musical Hair and being part-way through production of his iconic album, Bat Out of Hell) makes a brief appearance for one song. Curry, O'Brien, Quinn, Campbell and Adams were in the original cast of the play, and Meat Loaf joined them when the show originally went to the United States at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.

In 2005, The United States National Film Preservation Board added The Rocky Horror Picture Show to the National Film Registry.

Taglines

  • Action-packed... lotsa larfs & sex... gorgeous gals... thrills & chills... Transylvanian parties... romance.
  • A Different Set Of Jaws.
  • Another Kind Of Rocky.
  • He's the hero -- that's right, the hero!!
  • Give yourself over to absolute pleasure.
  • Let's do the time warp again!
  • Don't Dream it, Be It!
  • Dream it in your living room... Be it in the theater! (1990 15th Anniversary Video Release)
  • A Musical Dream Come True. (UK quad poster)

Plot outline

Template:Spoiler

The story begins with straitlaced couple Brad Majors (Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Sarandon) musically pledging their engagement after attending the wedding of their friends, the Hapschatts (possibly fueled by Janet catching the bouquet) (Dammit Janet). The church wardens later appear as major characters in the main part of the film. Brad and Janet decide to pay a visit to Dr. Everett Scott (Adams), their academic mentor and the man who introduced them to each other.

Directly after this scene, a Criminologist (Charles Gray) begins to narrate the entire story, revealing that the true identities of the church wardens are to meet with Brad and Janet later on, and that it would be a night both of them "would not soon forget." The Criminologist continues the narration at intervals throughout the film, a play on many 1950's and 60's sci-fi movies' faux-documentary style.

While driving through the rain to Dr. Scott's residence, Brad and Janet's car gets a flat tire; they are passed by several mysterious motorcyclists. Since their spare tire is also flat, they must walk back to a remote castle in the woods in hopes of finding a telephone (Over At The Frankenstein Place). After arriving at the remote castle, they are welcomed by servants Riff-Raff (O'Brien) and Magenta (Quinn), and are whisked into a hallucinogenic dance sequence called The Time Warp, one of the movie's trademark songs.

Afterwards, they are introduced to Dr. Frank N. Furter (Curry), who describes himself as a "sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania" who is the host of the party (Sweet Transvestite); later, it is revealed that "Transsexual" is the name of Frank's home planet in the Transylvania galaxy: he is literally from 'Transexual, Transylvania.' Brad and Janet are stripped to their underwear, and Frank immediately takes a sexual interest in both of them, which eventually leads the two to question their loyalty to each other.

File:Hotpatootie!.JPG
Meat Loaf singing Hot Patootie.

In a dramatic scene reminiscent of many Frankenstein movies, Frank re-animates a human, an attractive new strongman playmate named Rocky (Hinwood). While Rocky is initially shell-shocked by his return to life (Sword of Damocles), Frank forgives him and proceeds to showcase him to the assembled Transylvanians (I Can Make You A Man). To Frank's despair, Rocky eventually becomes more interested in Janet than him.

Another of Frank's captives, Eddie (Meat Loaf), a motorcycle-riding rocker and an ex-delivery boy (who shares half of Rocky's brain), suddenly emerges from a deep-freeze storage vault and sings his rock and roll song (Hot Patootie), making it obvious that he is Columbia's sometime lover. Frank becomes jealous and uses an ice pick to murder Eddie. Frank explains to an upset Rocky that it was a "mercy killing." Rocky is naïve and immediately responds to Frank's flattery about his physique. Frank and Rocky perform a mock bridal procession to a specially-prepared boudoir to consummate their new relationship.

During the night that follows, Dr. Frank N. Furter has sexual trysts with Janet and then with Brad, both of whom have been sent to separate rooms. In each case Frank first enters the darkened room pretending to be the occupant's love interest, managing to fool both Janet and Brad just long enough to climb into bed with them and begin fondling them before they realize his true identity, causing them to initially recoil in shock. But Frank tells them that he thinks they liked what he was doing. The victim of Frank's seduction responds by continuing to resist, albeit not quite as strongly. When Brad or Janet yells for the other to come and help, Frank quiets them by saying the person they are calling is asleep and asking if they really want their future spouse to walk in at that moment and see them with Frank. He assures them that he won't say a word about the encounter, which is what finally causes both Janet and Brad to succumb to his temptations, just as long as he promises he won't tell. The dialogue in both scenes is almost exactly the same. But late into Brad's seduction, Brad (with Frank asleep in his bed) repudiates Frank's advances and redevotes himself to Janet and his love for her, although she cannot hear this (Once In A While).

File:Patricia Quinn.jpg
Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry and Patricia Quinn in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, settling down to eat Eddie's corpse.

Rocky is then bullied and chased around by the servants, who have been spying on Frank's escapades with television monitors. After Rocky flees, Riff-Raff bites Magenta rather suggestively on the neck (there are hints that these siblings have a sexual relationship, but this is never made clear). Rocky, dirty and injured, returns and falls into the arms of Janet who is devastated after seeing Frank and Brad together on one of the monitors and in her grief makes advances on Rocky. (Touch-A Touch-A Touch Me). Their lovemaking is in turn gleefully spied on by Magenta and Columbia via a monitor in Columbia's bedroom.

A wheelchair-bound Dr. Scott arrives at the castle; he, Brad, and Frank catch Janet and Rocky together. During the very awkward formal dinner that follows, it turns out that Eddie is Dr. Scott's nephew and that Dr. Scott has come looking for Eddie. Dr. Scott is revealed to be a German-accented Government scientist studying UFOs and space travel technology for the FBI. Dr. Scott is soon at Frank's mercy. Frank, annoyed at Dr. Scott's continued mentioning of Eddie (referring to this as a "tender subject"), reveals that Eddie's dismembered body is hidden beneath the dinner table and that they have been served his flesh as the main course and to their surprise are participating in cannibalism.

Columbia, who loved Eddie and once loved Frank, has conflicting feelings about the two of them and is soon shattered and becomes alienated to Frank. Frank chases Janet (Wise Up, Janet Weiss), followed by the other characters, and then turns them into stone statues at the flick of a switch (You're A Hot Dog). While they are still petrified, Frank dresses them in costumes of lingerie and makeup and readies the Floor Show, in which each of the characters are released from their suspended situation to sing and dance in a cabaret act (Rose Tint My World / Don't Dream It Be It / Wild and Untamed Things).

Suddenly, the servants of the castle, Magenta and Riff-Raff, arrive dressed in outlandish outfits and announce that they are assuming reign over 'the mission' and will be returning the castle back to Transsexual, an announcement that Frank receives enthusiastically (I'm Going Home). However, Riff-Raff reveals that only he and Magenta are returning - Frank is to be executed. Columbia screams and Riff-Raff kills her with his ray gun. Then Riff-Raff carries out the execution of Frank. While trying to protect his creator's body from Riff Raff's rays, Rocky, although initially impervious to the ray gun, is also killed. Riff-Raff and Magenta then return home to Transsexual to once again freely dance The Time Warp. Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott are released from the spell of the castle by Riff Raff and Magenta, left lying in an empty field where the castle once stood (Super Heroes). Template:Endspoiler

Cast

Songs

Box office and theatrical run

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has taken in over $135 million in box office receipts since its release, which makes it the highest grossing movie to have never played in more than 200 theatres at the same time. The length of its run in theatres (weekly for almost 30 years) combined with its considerable total box office gross, is unparalleled by any other film. [1] The original budget for the movie was a tight $1 million. While filming, the crew went over budget, adding to the initial financial failure of the film. Many of the actors earned very little from the movie, both at its initial release and after it became popular.

The Museum Lichtspiele in Munich, Germany has been screening the movie without interruption since September 19th, 1975, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The theater has a dedicated screening room decorated in the style of the movie. The Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has the longest running United States engagement, having shown the movie since 1977. The Clinton Street Theater in Portland, Oregon, has the second longest running United States engagement and the longest continually-running showing, having shown it almost every Saturday night/Sunday morning at midnight since 1978. The Naro Cinema in Norfolk, Virginia has the third-longest running engagement in the United States and the fourth-longest in the world, having shown the movie continually since spring 1978. The theater currently shows it the second and fourth Friday of every month, in addition to Halloween. The Garland Theater in Spokane, Washington shows it at least twice a month as well as on Halloween.

Critical response

Taken at face value, the film could be considered ground-breaking for its frank (albeit comical) depiction of subjects such as transvestism, homosexuality, cannibalism, voyeurism, adultery, and even incest. In addition, the scripting and design displays the writers' knowledge of the history of cinema even beyond the horror and science fiction film genres; for example, there are references to films as diverse as What's Up, Doc?, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Rope, and Triumph of the Will. Nevertheless, the film did not do well initially when released. One reason was probably poor choice of theater placement, with the studio booking the film in socially conservative towns such as Santa Barbara, California.[citation needed]

Cult following

Despite its initial luke-warm critical and commercial reception, the film developed a cult following, becoming a midnight hit at the Waverly Theatre in New York City.[1] People began shouting responses to the characters' statements on the screen. These mostly include melodramatic abuse of the characters or actors, vulgar sex jokes, puns, or pop culture references.

Other audience participation includes dancing the Time Warp, throwing toast, water, toilet paper, hot dogs, underwear, and rice at the appropriate points in the movie (many theatres forbid throwing things that are difficult to clean up, such as confetti or buttered toast). Fans often attend shows dressed up as the characters, while an onstage "shadowcast" will act out the movie in front of the screen. At the now defunct Key Theater in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., the theatre manager would ride his motorcycle down the aisle during Meat Loaf's/Eddie's song, "What Ever Happened To Saturday Night?" Audience members also use newspapers to cover their heads and squirt guns for rain during the "There's A Light" musical sequence, and use noise makers during the scene in which Rocky is unveiled. The whole phenomenon got a boost in 1980, with the release of the movie Fame, in which some characters attend a screening of Rocky Horror at the Waverly. At times, the management of the theatres were as much a fan as the audience; for example, one could gain free entry by wearing one's underwear on the outside.

The cast has had very varied responses to the film's cult following. Sarandon, for instance, speaks of the film and its fans with affection, while Hinwood (who played Rocky) is reportedly mortified by his association with the film and has never acted or modeled since. Meat Loaf is somewhat ambivalent about it (saying that he regrets showing the crack of his behind in his one scene) while Curry has claimed that he got so tired of the film's fans throwing themselves at him that he deliberately gained weight and became "chubby and plain". Recently, however, Curry has grown more affectionate toward the film.[citation needed] Barry Bostwick later gained fame playing the mayor of New York City on the hit ABC series Spin City. On some episodes, the mayor can be seen wearing a button that says "I survived Rocky Horror". Quinn is one of the more devoted cast members, having participated in the DVD audio commentary and fan conventions, along with Richard O'Brien.

Sexual slang

  • People who have never seen the show are called "virgins". Often, before the movie starts, a "virgin hunt" is conducted, where the virgins are brought down to the front of the theatre and "have their cherries popped" or participate in ceremonial "virgin auctions". These often include faking orgasms, eating cherries, having a lipstick "v" put on their foreheads, popping balloons between their thighs, dry humping, spanking with a paddle, and condoms.
  • Those who attend the show frequently are referred to as regulars or "sluts".
  • Those who have seen the film on video or DVD, but not "live" (those who do not attend the live performance), are called masturbators.

Presentation

What were ad lib responses from the audience are now, in a few locales, as tightly scripted as any screenplay. Audience members who provide "incorrect" or poorly timed responses may find themselves angrily shouted down just as if they were being disruptive in a normal movie. However, creative new lines are usually applauded and even added to the local repertoire.

For example, one popular yell refers to the discrepancy between how the car got a flat tire and how Brad continually states that the car broke down. Every time Brad says "Our car broke down" it is a popular jeer to loudly correct him. Also, a popular yell is to scream "asshole", or "dink" whenever a character says "Brad," and to shout "slut" whenever a character says "Janet."

There have been audience participation albums recorded and scripts published. However, most fans feel that it is preferable for responses to grow organically from the local culture. For example, the audience members in Salt Lake City have utilized frequent references to the Mormon church and Brigham Young University. In most locales, new responses are regularly added to the canon (for example the introduction of references to South Park character Timmy at times when the paraplegic Dr. Scott is in a scene). Additionally, in some areas, the AP lines take note of current events (for example, the use of the name of a recent famous deceased in the line "SHOW ME NAME", when Riff-Raff opens the coffin at the beginning of the Time Warp).

Some arthouse cinemas will have a tradition of regularly playing the film on a particular date, especially Halloween. While the film — and associated live cast performances — are less popular than in its heyday, regular weekend showings can still be found in select American and Canadian cities.

In theatres where the film plays on a regular or semi-regular basis, groups of fans have formed casts. These casts act out the movie on a stage or on the floor in front of the movie scene. While some casts are very laid back, others have become very strict. Many casts require auditions to join in which a prospective member must show that he or she can perform the movie from memory without looking at the screen. Among Rocky Horror casts there is a perpetual quest for "screen-accuracy", meaning that everything from costumes to props to the motions that actors make on stage match the movie exactly.

Audience participation

The 25th Anniversary DVD includes a list of suggestions for audience participation.

  • Asshole and Slut: When the audience hears "Janet Weiss" the audience yells, "Slut!" and when the audience hears "Brad Majors" the audience yells, "Asshole!
  • Rice: At the beginning of the film is the wedding of Ralph Hapschatt and Betty Monroe. As the newlyweds exit the church, viewers throw rice along with the on-screen wedding guests. During a stage performance, when the name Hapschatt is spoken, they scream out "half-shit!".
  • Newspapers: When Brad and Janet are caught in the storm, Janet covers her head with a newspaper. At this point, viewers do the same thing with their newspapers. The newspaper seen is "The Plain Dealer", a Cleveland newspaper. Many theaters in and around Cleveland have call backs referring to this integrated into their repertoire.
  • Water gun|Water pistols: These are used by members of the audience to simulate the rainstorm that Brad and Janet are caught in.
  • Flashlights: During the "There's a light" verse of "Over at the Frankenstein Place," viewers light up the room with flashlights, lighters, etc. Since many municipalities have banned the use of lighters and matches in theaters, cellular phones can be used. (Leading to a new wrinkle on the AP - "Show asshole the phone!")
  • Whore-eating bush: When Janet and Brian come to the mansion, Janet walks into a bush. Right before she does this, the audience yells, "Watch out for the whore-eating bush!"
  • Latex glove|Rubber gloves: During and after the creation speech, Frank snaps his rubber gloves three times. Later, Magenta pulls the gloves off his hands. Audience members snap gloves in sync each time to create a sound effect.
  • Noise makers: At the end of the creation speech, the Transylvanians respond with applause and noisemakers. Viewers do the same.
  • Toilet paper: When Dr. Scott enters the lab, Brad cries out "Great Scott!" At this point, viewers throw rolls of Scott Paper Company toilet paper into the air (and/or at the screen) and scream "Great Scott! Holy Shit!".
  • Confetti: At the end of the "Charles Atlas Song" reprise, the Transylvanians throw confetti as Rocky and Frank head toward the bedroom; viewers do the same.
  • Toast: When Frank proposes a toast at dinner, audience members throw toast or bread into the air (and/or at the screen).
  • Party hat: At the dinner table, when Frank puts on a party hat, viewers do likewise (frequently constructed from the same newspaper that they covered their head with in the earlier rain scene).
  • Paper plates: Also at the dinner table, after Frank pulls off the table cloth, viewers throw paper plates and shout: "Not Meat Loaf again"
  • Bell: During the song "Planet Schmanet," audience members ring bells when Frank sings "Did you hear a bell ring?"
  • Cards: During the song "I'm Going Home," Frank sings "Cards for sorrow, cards for pain." At this point, audience members shower the room with cards.

Shock Treatment, a follow-up to RHPS, was made, but despite its appeal to cult audiences and its campy nature, it has not caught on as well as the original. It features O'Brien, Quinn, Campbell and Gray in different roles and the characters Brad and Janet, played by different actors. Two further films, Rocky Horror Shows His Heels and Revenge of the Old Queen, were written by O'Brien but never filmed. Starting around the year 2000 word on the street had it that between other projects Richard O'Brien was working on a new sequel. However, unlike previous attempts, this was to be a sequel to the original play from which the movie was based and would be performed on stage.

The title Rocky Horror: The Second Coming has been floated as a potential title but O'Brien himself seems conflicted on the issue of what the eventual title would be. O'Brien has stated that the plot would include elements from both Rocky Horror Shows His Heels and Revenge of the Old Queen. Like Rocky Horror Shows His Heels the play would be set nine months after the events of The Rocky Horror Show and would feature a pregnant Janet carrying either Frank's or Rocky's child. O'Brien also leaked that one of the songs would be called "Frankie Phoenix" and that it would illustrate Frank-N-Furter's resurrection. If the play is ever produced and becomes a financial hit, there is the possibility it could take the path of its predecessor and eventually become a film. But, after several false starts, it now looks as if the project may have fallen into development hell.

Two sets of official trading cards have been released. The first, from 1980, features 60 cards. The first ten cards feature a publicity portrait of a cast member (with the tenth card being a group shot of the Transylvanians). Cards 11-59 tell the story of the film with a picture on the front and a brief caption on the reverse. Card 60 is a checklist for the set. The second set, part of the 1995 20th Anniversary celebration, consists of 96 cards. Card 1-90 again feature publicity stills of the cast (some of them the same stills as the earlier set, re-cropped) and tell the story of the film with more extensive captioning. There is no checklist card. The set also features a three-card subset of Tim Curry in various poses and costumes, with foil imprinting, and a similar Brad and Janet three-card subset. This set was produced by Comics Images.

As part of the 15th Anniversary celebration, Caliber Press published a comic book adaptation of RHPS written and drawn by Kevin VanHook in 1990. An adventure game called Rocky Horror Interactive Picture Show was also released to much hype but very little success. It was criticized for having a clumsy interface and outdated (2D) graphics.

Also for the 15th Anniversary, a four-CD box soundtrack set was released. The set consists of: the original motion picture soundtrack; the Rocky Horror Show original Roxy cast recording; Songs from the Vaults, rare tracks from various cast members, tracks from the Shock Treatment soundtrack and radio advertising spots for the original release; and Rocky Horror International, a collection of tracks from cast recordings around the world along with the previously unreleased film cast recordings of The Sword of Damocles, Once in a While and Planet, Schmanet, Janet. Also included is a 24-page commemorative booklet.

The surround mixes themselves did not appear on early prints of the movie. In 1990, for the 15th anniversary of the film, and in conjunction with the film's first U.S. home video release, the audio for the film was remixed from mono into Chace Surround Stereo. The song dubs were replaced by the stereo version of songs from the soundtrack record; thus Rocky's singing voice part is sung by a completely different actor. For the 25th anniversary edition, both the original mono track, and a new 5.1 surround mix (also done by Chace Productions) from the original dialogue/music/effects stems was created, which was far more accurate than the earlier stereo dub.

Richard O'Brien originally intended for the film to be in black and white until Frank's appearance in the lift, the only colour in that particular shot being his red lipstick, but the studio vetoed this in favour of a more conventional look. On the 25th Anniversary DVD, an easter egg function simulates O'Brien's intended vision; the first 20 minutes are black and white, turning to colour when Riff Raff swings open the doorway during the Time Warp, revealing Transylvanians (a la The Wizard of Oz). To activate the easter egg, scroll down to Scene Selection (don't select it) and push the left arrow button on the DVD remote. This should highlight a pair of lips, which, when selected, activates it.

In September of 2006 the Rocky Horror Pod Show was born, a podcast about rocky

Trivia

  • The entire laboratory set was constructed with access only via an elevator (lift) before the team realized that Doctor Scott would need to reach it extremely quickly in a wheelchair, and that there was no door. This is the sole reason for his bursting in through a brick wall[citation needed].
  • In the stage musical, Dr. Scott does not have a German accent. The parallel to Stanley Kubrick's character of Doctor Strangelove is easily recognizable, up to and including the attempted Nazi salute. In many theatres, Curry's line referring to his fellow scientist as "Dr. Von Scott" is often followed with people doing the Nazi salute and shouting "sieg heil."
  • Sarandon caught pneumonia after filming the pool scene in the floor show.
  • During the film when Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) pulls off the tablecloth revealing the remains of Eddie, the actors did not know what was under the cloth, so their reactions are real.
  • The red lips singing against a black background in the opening song are actually Patricia Quinn's (Magenta), though the song is dubbed over by Richard O'Brien; the sequence was inspired by a painting of a pair of lips in the sky by Man Ray.
  • 31 years after its original release, Lima, Perú celebrated its first "audience participation" show. The venue was "El Cinematógrafo de Barranco", an independent arthouse theater in one of the most bohemian districts of Lima.
  • The movie was originally meant to be shown in black and white up until the song "Time Warp". There is an easter egg in on the DVD that lets it be seen this way.
  • There are many parallels between RHPS and the 1920s Soviet novel Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Similarities include the complete overlap of personality between the redheaded maid/witch Gella and the East European accented Magenta, Dr. Frank N Furter is very similar to the "magician" Voland who is the Devil in disguise (aiming to cause chaos and break taboos in Moscow). The cat-shaped demon Begemot and the fanged demon Azazello are in function and to some extent personality the same as Riff Raff. Janet echoes Margarita - who in the book is "saved" from a cold marriage by adultry with Master, just like Janet gets her "tensions relieved" by Rocky. The "mood" of the movie is the same as the anarchic, absurdist, symbolic novel.

References in pop culture

Because of the proliferation of the film into the mainstream and public consciousness, there have been numerous references to it within other media. Some notable references are listed below:

  • In the game Ghost Master there is a minor character named 'Magenta Quinn' a reference to the character in the film called Magenta who is played by actress Patricia Quinn. The game characters' bio also reads 'Magenta is tired of being thought of as Riff Raff'. Riff Raff is another character in the film.
  • In the That '70s Show episode "Too Old To Trick-or-Treat, Too Young To Die," Fez dresses as Frank.
  • Tim Curry was the guest host of Saturday Night Live with Meat Loaf as the musical guest in 1981. This show included a sketch with the two together called "Tim And Meat's One Stop Rocky Horror Shop". Eddie Murphy also alluded heavily to Rocky Horror in the show's opening monologue with Curry.
  • Randal "R.K" Milholland, creator, artist and author of Something Positive is known to be an avid fan of Rocky Horror, both on stage and on film. He both draws art for Interchangeable Parts (a Rocky Horror performance troupe based in St. Pete Beach, Florida) and promotes the group with a permanent advertisement on his site, with the characters of Something Positive as the cast of Rocky Horror. He is also a current cast member of the Boston Cast Teseracte Players of Boston and performs Rocky at their shows.
  • There is an episode of Family Guy titled "Dammit Janet!". In the episode Stewie is smittin on a toddler named "Janet" who in turn seems interested in another toddler named "Brad".
  • In Alex Ross's comic book miniseries Kingdom Come, there are two background characters visually based on Columbia and Riff Raff. They are named April Fool and Goblin Lord.
  • In the 1998 Todd Haynes film Velvet Goldmine, there are some similarities in various costumes--for example, Angel's outfit, hairstyle, and makeup in "Taking Over The World" are styled off of Columbia's during the Time Warp, and Jack Fairy's own hairstyle and lack of eyebrows are taken from Columbia.
  • In 2003, Springman Records released The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show compilation that consisted of the entire RHPS soundtrack as performed by various artists including Big D and the Kids Table, The Phenomenauts, Alkaline Trio, Swingin' Utters, and more. In addition is the Tsunami Bomb cover of "Planet Schmanet Janet," which is essentially a cover of the same song from the movie, one of the songs that did not appear on the movie's official soundtrack release thanks to the use of the word "fuck."
  • In 1980, the late night comedy show Fridays had a skit called "The Ronny Horror Picture Show," spoofing the election of President Ronald Reagan. The parts were cast to show members of the administration and songs were rewritten using the same melodies, but parody lyrics, describing the Republican "takeover" of the country. This sketch aired only once because the producer protested against the movie being parodied without his permission.
  • In Fame, Ralph Garcy, Doris Finsecker, and Montgomery MacNeil attend a showing of "Rocky Horror" at the Eighth Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, during which Doris joins the Time Warpers. Sal Piro, one of the original instigators of the "live performance/audience participation" phenomena and now the Rocky Horror Fan Club president, makes a cameo during this scene as the MC of the "Rocky Horror" performance.
  • In an episode of the Disney show Pepper Ann, the main character's grandmother dressed as a Floor Show person, and was planning to attend the "Fuzzy Terror Picture Show".
  • In an episode of The Simpsons, Dr. Hibbert arrives at a film festival dressed as Frank, mistakenly thinking Rocky Horror was playing.
  • In the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the main character, Charlie, and his friends attend and dress up for the show every Friday night.
  • In the video game Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life, Brad and Janet are the names of Murrey's two friends, who happen to be flies.
  • In the anime series G Gundam, in one episode the on-screen Narrator named Stalker begins his routine with a Japanese translation of the Criminologist's famous line "I would like, ah, if I may...".
  • An episode of the animated series The Venture Bros. depicted the Venture family and their bodyguard Brock Samson returning from a "Rocky Horror" screening in full costume.
  • An episode of the CBS series Cold Case involved a murder related to a screening of the movie. Bostwick played a serial killer who is investigated in the crime.
  • In the episode "New York and Queens" of The Drew Carey Show, Drew, Kate, Lewis and Oswald dress up for a midnight showing of Rocky Horror, only to find that the theatre no longer shows the movie. In its place, the theatre now plays The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, attended by a costumed Mimi and Mr. Wick. A dance off between opposing fans to the tunes of "Time Warp" and "Shake Your Groove Thing" ensues. The episode ultimatly ends with the police coming to the scene of the dance-off.
  • In the sci-fi stage musical Area 51 one of the characters, in frustration, shouts "Damn it!", when in quick succession another exclaims "Janet!", calling over to another character, in reference to the song from RHPS.
  • In episode 8, season 2 of Veronica Mars, Veronica and her friend Mac try to gain access to their vice principal's home by visiting him unannounced, with Veronica saying "I'm glad we caught you at home. Would you mind if we used your phone? We're both in a bit of a hurry." Mac backs up Veronica's story by adding "Right." This is a reference to Brad and Janet's similarly phrased request to use Frank N. Furter's phone, spoken during the song "Sweet Transvestite."
  • In the webcomic "Aoi House" episode 9; pages 24 and 25, the group goes to a Rocky Horror Showing and the founder of their college dorm club, Carlo, is playing Frank.
  • The film is one of the many to be reenacted by 30 Second Bunny Theater, an animated internet series where a film is reenacted in 30 seconds by rabbits. The Rocky Horror entry is different, in that a theater filled with rabbits is shown throughout the short in reference to the audience participation aspect of the film.
  • In the Tempest block of Magic: The Gathering, the card Time Warp has the flavor text, "Let's do it again!"
  • The humor magazine Cracked once ran a Rocky Horror parody that fused elements of the Rocky boxing film franchise with the Rocky Horror plot. Brad and Janet are replaced by Rocky Balboa and his wife Adrian, and Rocky Horror is replaced by Ivan Drago, the similarly statuesque and blond Russian boxer from Rocky IV. Rocky Horror's romance with Janet is replaced by Drago's mild romantic interest in Adrian and much stronger desire to engage Rocky Balboa in a boxing match, both much to Frank's dismay.
  • There are at least four adult videos with names parodying the movie: The Rock Horror Porno Show, the Rocky Porno Video Show, the Funky Fetish Horror Show and the Rock Erotic Video Show, whose box has characters costumed in a fashion that might suggest that it follows the plot of the movie somewhat, though this is not the case.
  • In Gen13 Bootleg first arc, Roxy made a reference to Frank´n Furter´s odd costume
  • It was used in a commerical for Absolut vodka where it was referred to as the "Absolute Cult Movie"
  • 31 years after its original release, Lima, Perú celebrated its first "audience participation" show. The venue was "El Cinematógrafo de Barranco", an independent arthouse theater in one of the most bohemian districts of Lima.
  • In an issue of Spider Man written by J. Michael Straczynski, there is a moment of confusion when Aunt May and Doctor Octopus recognize each other while Spider Man and Doctor Octopus are both fighting a third party. Doctor Octopus and Aunt May repeat each other's names in startled recognition, causing the new villain to exclaim "Brad! Janet! Doctor Scott!"
  • In some episodes of Spin City Barry Bostwick, while playing the mayor, sported a pin that read "I survived Rocky Horror".
  • The furry comic book Shanda the Panda features a running motif in a theater managed by the titular character that employs several of the other recurring characters. In the comic's 18th issue, the theater becomes host to a showing of "The Rocket Horror Picture Show," a parody of Rocky Horror. All of the traditional Rocky Horror characters have been turned into parodies of characters from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. The "movie" scenes are even drawn by a different artist to differentiate from the comic's normal appearance, featuring Rocky the Flying Squirrel as Frank N. Furter, Bullwinkle in the role of Rocky, and Boris and Natasha as Riff Raff and Magenta, respectively. Songs are adjusted appropriately as well to match the parody ("Let's do the Jay Ward again!") and the audience participation is present.
  • The Player's Guide for the Aberrant role-playing game includes a power called Time Travel that has multiple techniques. One of the techniques is called 'Time Warp' and its description begins with "It's astounding."

See also

Reference

  1. ^ Beale, Lewis. "John Hughes Versus the Vampires: The Dilemma Of the Midnight Movie", New York Times, June 19, 2005
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