The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Directed by Jim Sharman
Written by Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien from O’Brien’s original musical play
1975/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Michael White Productions
Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Lips: [singing] Science fiction… double feature/Dr. X… will build a creature/See androids fighting… Brad and Janet… Anne Francis stars in…”Forbidden Planet”/Whoa-oh-oh-ohh/At the late-night double feature picture show[/box]

This movie loses a lot when not viewed at a midnight showing with a lot of similarly loaded fans.

Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (a nubile Susan Sarandon) are stereotypical young sweethearts from middle America.  After she accepts his marriage proposal, they set off in search of the professor whose class brought them together.  On a dark and stormy night, their car breaks down on a deserted road.  They see a light in the window of a castle in the distance and decide to walk there in search of a phone.

On arrival, they find a party in progress.  Weird guests are joining tranvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) to celebrate the animation of his creature, Rocky.  Brad and Janet’s sexual initiations and assorted mayhem follows.  With Meat Loaf as an “ex-delivery boy”.

I had an almost shot-for-shot memory of every detail of this movie.  Most of it is quite stupid and out of control.  However, the songs are still wonderful and it was a fun blast from the past.  Tim Curry is amazing!

Trailer