Small Details & Trivia About 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' That Made Us Shiver With Anticipation
It's astounding, time is fleeting, and for almost five decades, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has held a magical madness on pop culture. While not fully understood or loved when it was released, the cult classic earned a loyal following over the years thanks to constant midnight screenings, complete with singalongs, shadow casts, and props for the audience to toss at the screen. Until the global pandemic, it was the longest running theatrical release in history.Â
Here is a selection of trivia, small details, and observations made by fans over the years. It will make you shiver with antici…
- 11,080 VOTES
Frank N. Furter Was Originally German
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by StrangerInAustralia on YouTube:
When Tim Curry first read for the part of Frank N. Furter, he used a German accent. As production carried on, he and director Jim Sharman tried a few other accents, including American. It was a posh passenger that he met on a bus that later influenced Curry's accent choice.
[Curry talked about the change with "Fresh Air" interviewer Terry Gross. Watch the interview here.]
- 21,803 VOTES
Famous Fans
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/manatee-calamity:
Princess Diana was a fan of Rocky Horror, and requested a meeting with Tim Curry. He recalls that she told him, with a "wicked smile," that the film had "quite completed [her] education."
- 31,419 VOTES
Pierre LaRoche
Photo: 20th Century FoxMakeup artist Pierre LaRoche not only designed the iconic makeup looks for the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but also designed David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust makeup.
- 41,116 VOTES
Oakley Court
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/can_you_dig_it:
Oakley Court, the country house used as the castle in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and several Hammer horror films [including The Man in Black and The Lady Craved Excitement] is currently a luxury hotel.
- 51,453 VOTES
The Lips
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/candace_energy_drink:
The lips that sing "Science Fiction/Double Feature" in The Rocky Horror Picture Show belong to Magenta (Patricia Quinn), but the voice belongs to Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien).
- 61,824 VOTES
Frank N. Furter's Accessories
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by a Redditor:
In The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dr. Frank N. Furter wears a triangle on his chest. This symbol was used by [the German SS] to identify gay prisoners. It has now been reclaimed as a symbol of gay pride.
- 71,505 VOTES
Easter Eggs
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/nightcheese11:
There are literal Easter eggs that can be see in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, after the cast had a hunt on set and didn't find them all.
[There are at least three visible eggs in the film: one under the throne, one by the elevator, and one in the main hall in a light.]
- 81,433 VOTES
Party Crasher
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted from MovieMistakes:
Dr. Scott crashes through the wall of the lab because the filmmakers forgot to add a door to the room, so he had to crash through the wall in order to get in.
- 9869 VOTES
Monuments To The Creator
Photo: Michael Coghlan / Flickr / CC-BY-SA 2.0Posted by the Visit Hamilton site:
"Located at the south end of Hamilton's main Victoria Street is a statue of the iconic Riff Raff character from the cult status movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
The statue comes equipped with instructions on how to do the "Time Warp" and a web cam that offers a 24/7 peek at the statue. Check it out.
- 10982 VOTES
The Skeleton Clock
Photo: 20th Century FoxIn The Rocky Horror Picture Show during "The Time Warp" number, the skeleton clock that appeared with Riff Raff contained a very real skeleton. This information was provided by the producers when the clock went up for auction as Sotheby's, where it sold for £35,000.
Sotheby's description of the lot:
12-inch annular dial inlaid into the coffin lid with ivory numerals on ebonised ground, V.A.P. movement with lever escapement, offset drive to the hands, the coffin case with panelled sides and six gilt-brass mask carrying handles, the hinged lid inlaid with an hourglass, scythes, scull and cross bones and digging implements, all surrounded by ribbon-tied laurel, opening to reveal a human skeleton, the skull visible through the dial.
- 11894 VOTES
Familiar Family
Photo: 20th Century FoxIn the opening wedding scene of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the minister is Tim Curry (Dr. Frank N. Furter), while the old man and his wife are Richard O’Brien (Riff Raff) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta). The other wedding guests are the Transylvanians from the castle. "Little Nell" Campbell (Columbia) later appears in the "Damn It, Janet" number inside the church.
- 12846 VOTES
'A Different Set Of Jaws'
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by Super Grover in MovieMistakes:
[The Rocky Horror Picture Show] premiered in the U.S. at the end of summer '75, following the blockbuster premiere of Jaws in June '75. When the studio created theatrical posters for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, one [featured] a send-up with the caption, "A different set of jaws" under the big red lips.
- 13811 VOTES
PitchforkÂ
Photo: 20th Century FoxRiff Raff's pitchfork from the beginning of The Rocky Horror Picture Show later becomes the anti-matter gun used in the finale.
- 14637 VOTES
Dinner Faux Pas
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted on MovieMistakes:
In the scene at the dinner table, you can notice Janet's look of pain as Brad accidentally slams down on her hand.
- 15886 VOTES
Frank N. Furter Is Making A Documentary
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/Elranzer:
Frank N. Furter is aware there is an audience. In fact, he's making a documentary.
Aside from the Criminologist, Dr. Frank N. Furter is the only cast member who breaks the fourth wall (except one instance by Dr. Scott).
So, why did Frank break the fourth wall? What was his experiment? And what of the "floor show" at the end of the film? Who was he performing this for?
The answer, is that Frank's purpose was to film a documentary for the Transylvanians about Earthlings. He's actually not so much breaking the fourth wall, but looking at the cameraman or hidden cameras (kinda speaking to his future audience at Transylvania).
Some nuggets of info and evidence:
- When Frank says "Well, how nice" he looks directly at the audience/cameraman.
- During "Sweet Transvestite," he says "Well, how about that?" directly to the audience/cameraman. He also smirks at the camera and throws his cup of water at us (the audience). It is rumored Frank purposely laid a trap to catch some more Earthlings, via the flat tire (see next info).
- During the opening wedding scene, the actors Tim Curry (Frank), Patricia Quinn (Magenta), Little Nell (Columbia) and Richard O'Brien (Riff-Raff) have cameos as church workers. Or are they? Some theorize those are the same characters, in disguise, looking for victims for their experiments. They were pleased to hear Brad and Janet (two ripe, young Earthlings, one of each gender) were headed in the direction of the castle.
- I believe Rocky Horror's Frankenstein's Monster type birth was the original experiment, to show what simple beings Earthlings are. But Frank's lust lead him to start with the sexual experiments, which got out of hand, made the trip to Earth last too long and p*ssed off Riff-Raff.
- The Floor Show - Going along with my theory, the floor show is simply the grand finale for Frank's documentary. He wants to show how he was able to influence and take over the Earthlings' minds and souls, nearly turning them into sex-crazed Transylvanians themselves.
- Dr. Scott - He once looks at the camera (during the dinner scene) and says "I figured he (Eddie) was in with a bad crowd but it was worse than I imagined - aliens." I figured Dr. Scott (being Frank's rival) knew about the cameras and was exerting dominance by revealing he knows the Transylvanians are aliens (he works for the FBI, after all).
- Bonus: The Criminologist - He's the other major character who breaks the fourth wall and talks to the audience. But why? Is he simply the movie's narrator? No. He has documents on Brad and Janet, Dr. Scott, and maps of their journey, after all. When the house takes off, it must have left behind the video footage. The Criminologist found this. His role? He is simple finishing Frank's work. And the final documentary? That's The Rocky Horror Picture Show itself (as released as a movie to us Earthlings).
TL;DR: Frank N. Furter was making a documentary about Earthlings. This explains Frank breaking the fourth wall, and the Floor Show. The unfinished work was left behind when the house took off. The Criminologist found the work, filled in the gaps with narration and this was released as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- 16996 VOTES
Betty Munroe Hapschatt
Photo: 20th Century FoxPosted by u/LadyBugKing:
Hilary Farr, the co-host of the HGTV and the series Love It or List It, was Betty Munroe in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- 17680 VOTES
American Gothic Foreshadowing
Photo: 20th Century FoxIn The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Magenta and Riff Raff appear early on in the movie, posing as "American Gothic." Later in the film, Riff Raff displays the painting.
- 18700 VOTES
Steve Martin As Brad
Photo: 20th Century FoxSteve Martin originally auditioned, but lost the role of "Brad" to Barry Bostwick.
