Underneath It All
I recently watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show on TV. I think it's the first time I saw it all the way through without sitting amidst people screaming at the screen. I realize those fans made it an event, but stripped of all that noise, there's a decent little film underneath.
Rocky Horror started as a spunky little show playing the equivalent of an off-off-Broadway in early-70s London theatre. Not a lot of money behind it, but it was fun and smart and its reputation grew. It moved to a bigger theatre and ran almost 3000 performances. Written by Richard O'Brien and directed by Jim Sharman (just like the movie), they brought it to Broadway where it laid an egg.
Predictably, it flopped. A little-known rock musical/horror film parody with no stars and kinky sexual implications didn't have a built-in audience. But it started playing midnight shows and became the biggest hit ever of that genre, making well over $100 million domestically.
Watching it as if I'd never seen it before (if that's possible--I saw it at many a midnight show and it's hard not to talk back), it was very entertaining. The plot is silly, even campy, but the actors commit to their characters and the parody works. Holding it together are the catchy rock songs (even if the lyrics are abysmal). I can see how a little show like this got a reputation as the smart thing to see.
Especially good are the leads. Tim Curry holds the film together as an upper-class British mad scientist (and transvestite). Susan Sarandon is sexy and funny as the outraged Janet who learns how to give in to her impulses. Barry Bostwick is especially good as the square-jawed and square Brad. (Quite the opposite of the lead role in Grease he created on Broadway, Danny Zuko.)
A lot of people think the whole Rocky Horror phenomenon happened because it's a bad movie. They don't get it. Why it really plays is, underneath, it's a film that works.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:05 AM
4 Comments:
The trailer ends with "starring . . . Susan Saradon"
I love it.
Curious- why do you find the lyrics abysmal- some don't scan, some are nonsensical (I put that down to it being 1975 and everyone being high) and some are outrageous. My neighbor actually talked to me about hearing "Sweet Transvestite" out the window one Sunday afternoon. I like Theme song (SF double feature), Meat Loaf's song and Time Warp lyrics particularly. God Bless Lily St. Cyr. There were also two good songs in the film that didn't make the album (Wise up, Janet Weiss & something about the Sword of Damocles)
OK "Don't get hot & flustered, use a bit of mustard. You're a hot dog but you better not try and hurt her, Frank Furter" are pretty abysmal but otherwise on average an OK effort I think.
neg
I thought the Glee treatment of RHPS demonstrated that it isn't a bad musical. As you say, the songs are catchy and they fit the plot appropriately.
Personally, I don't like when musicals insert numbers that take you out o fthe story - that are there just to add another good song (even if the song is good). For example, "Who's Got the Pain" in Damn Yankees.
P.S. There's a song on the album of the film that is only partially in the original US release of the movie (Super Heroes). I guess it's restored on the DVD - may have to rent that.
NEG: I could get into particular examples, but really, is it necessary? As a whole, the lyrics are awkward, full of poorly expressed ideas, not to mention bad rhymes and improperly stressed words. Admittedly, they're often about unusual subject matter, which perks the ear up a bit.
DG: Older musicals regularly had numbers that were performed straight out to the audience, rather than moving the plot forward. Later, more integrated shows would sometimes include a specialty number like "Who's Got The Pain" or "Steam Heat" (from the same team)--as long as the number is fun, I don't mind a brief break. I suppose some would claim that Rocky Horror's biggest number, "Time Warp," is that sort of thing.
By the way, there's a number sung by Brad that was shot but cut completely from the movie. Wonder if that's on the video.
Post a Comment
<< Home