You shouldn’t be embarrassed if you’re a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” video virgin.
After all, the midnight movie sensation was a fad of the late ’70s and ’80s, and watching it at home made it less likely you’d be pelted with rice.
You’re probably a “Rocky Horror” virgin if you don’t get that reference.
The 1975 film was a flop during its initial release, but a cult quickly formed around a silly sci-fi spectacle laced with eroticism and humor.
Crowds weren’t encouraged to talk back during the film – it was mandatory. So was singing, dancing and throwing items around – like rice – at the appropriate moments. Fans called newbies “virgins,” and people would line up to see it again … and again.
WWTW caught the film four times in the ’80s, and that seemed enough for me, especially since I almost got crushed during one ” Time Warp” dance number.
Now, the movie is back with a pristine new Blu-ray release. And, of course, we get the usual array of extras including audio commentary by Richard O’Brien (Riff Raff) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta), deleted musical scenes and outtakes, an alternate credit ending and misprint ending and a music video from the Beacon Theater in New York City.
Would love to know if people ever gather at a friend’s home to watch the movie and re-create some of the old audience participation tricks. I know I’d never throw rice at my flat screen set, but I’m not above yelling “slut” at it – but only when Janet (Susan Sarandon) appears.
For proper etiquette, consider this “virgin’s guide” (content may be of a mature nature).
Or, better yet, is the movie still playing at a theater near you?
And it’s good to have the original on Blu-ray now that word is ricocheting around Hollywood that a remake is in the works to be orchestrated by “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I saw RHPS over a dozen times at midnight screenings in the early 90s (and was a member of the local “cast”, which acted out the movie, at the front of the theater while it played on the screen), and so it holds a lot of fond memories for me. But I think that once the show “Glee” devotes an entire episode to something it pretty much assures that that something has lost all possible street cred.
Oh, well. Maybe RHPS will be cool again in another 20 years.
ditto on the Glee part victor. Once something becomes mainstream, it’s loses it’s appeal. That doesn’t mean I like it any less, but the cult following, like you were a member of a secret club because you saw the film, is totally lost on the so called Glee crowd. With them it’s more like those stupid Dr. Schols ads where the one guy tries to act like he’s gellin and the others know it’s simply not true.
The Glee crowd purports to “get” Rocky Horror and acts like they’re all in the know, when in reality they haven’t a single clue. But rest assured, they never will either. So I’ll be glad to wait 20 years when Glee is barely a footnote in the History of Entertainment (if that) and Rocky Horror is still packing theaters.
Glee? What’s Glee?