The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 musical comedy horror film. It is based on the 1973 musical stage production of the same name with music, lyrics and book by Richard O’Brien. It is a humorous tribute to science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s through the early 1960s.

The original Broadway production of the show received critical acclaim, winning the 1973 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical and garnering nominations for several other Tony Awards. It was also adapted for the screen, winning an Oscar for its score in 1990.

Jim Sharman directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with O’Brien. The cast included Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Charles Gray as the Narrator.

In the film, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss get caught in a storm and take shelter in the castle of a mad scientist. When they arrive, Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter is ready to unveil his latest creation, a tall, muscular, handsome blond man called Rocky. He has transformed Rocky by using the brain of a delivery boy, Eddie, who had died of an attack of tuberculosis.

When Frank shows up with Rocky, he immediately tells him that he can transform Rocky into an ideal man in a week. He also tells Brad and Janet that they are going to meet a paraplegic science tutor named Dr. Everett Scott.

During the visit, Brad and Janet are distracted by their friends’ antics and Rocky’s escapades. While they are distracted, Janet seduces Rocky and falls asleep with him. At the same time, a disgruntled Riff Raff finds out that Brad has been in bed with Janet and has become angry.

This production was a hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland, winning several awards including an Evening Standard Award for Best Musical in 1974 and two Tony Awards in 1979 and 1980. The show has toured the world and remains a cult classic.

The Rocky Horror Show opened in Australia on 19 April 1974 at the New Arts Cinema (formerly The Astor, later The Valhalla and now an office building) in Glebe. The production ran until 15 February 1976 and was subsequently moved to the King’s Road Theatre on Kings Road.

Since then, the production has been remounted regularly in the United States, with many of the original cast members appearing in various West End productions and on tour. Notable actors include Daniel Abineri, Peter Blake, Tim McInnerny, Anthony Head and Robin Cousins.

As a cult favorite, the original production has been remounted on film and television several times. It has been adapted for the stage and made into an animated short, a feature-length animated film and a feature film sequel.

It was filmed by Michael White and Lou Adler and produced by 20th Century Fox, which is the film’s studio. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2006.

The show has toured the United Kingdom regularly, with the majority of the original cast returning for the various productions. In the 1970s, the production was remounted at the Essoldo Cinema in Kensington and later moved to the King’s Road Theatre (formerly the Royal Court Upstairs) on Kings Road.