The Rocky Horror Picture Show(1975)- User Reviews

I am almost 40, and my first "Rocky" experience...or "when my Rocky cherry was popped" was way back when I was in high school in the early 1980's. After a school dance, a group of friends asked me if I had ever seen it, and when I said no, I was practically dragged out the doors of the school and made to see it. I was a little scared, but hey, it was just a movie, right? Well, The State Theater in Newark, Delaware was mobbed, and we all ended up sitting pretty much in the middle of the theater, with the balcony above and behind us. The movie began, and what was about to happen changed my movie viewing life, and the rest of my life forever! As the audience yelled out lines in between the actors lines, I felt like I had become part of something huge! It was like being out at the beach, floating quietly and then all of the sudden huge waves carry you along for a wonderfully exotic ride! I could actually feel the energy in the room, and when I left, I was a different person. Kind of like losing your virginity, and that is why your first time they ask if if there are any virgins in the audience.

That started my love/lust affair with RHPS. After that, I went every Friday and Saturday night with my school friends, and when I started college at Cecil Community, While relaxing in the student lounge, I met who would become one of my all time greatest friends...and she still is. Together, we played many of the parts...did I mention they also have people playing in a cast acting to the movie. Yes, a fully "un"dressed cast, and for many years I ran around in fishnets and teddys and loved each and every minute of it!

Through her, I met another friend that knew the cast at the 8th street playhouse in New York City. If any of you have seen the movie "Fame" and remember the Rocky Horror scene when they go to see it, the guy on the stage announcing is named Sal Piro. Well, the three of us all got to go to see Sal's 1000th performance, and afterwards we stayed for a champagne and pizza party with none other than Richard O'Brien! Someone had stepped on my sunglasses when I dropped them, and he offered me his! I have not only a program but a champagne bottle signed by Sal and Richard ( Who wrote the script and played Riff Raff in the movie!).

I stopped long ago counting after my 500th viewing, and that was just movie theater viewings. I have introduced many people to the film by having movie nights and letting them sit through the movie once without using the audience lines. Then I put it on again with me doing lines...and a lot of parties Rio was there to do them as well, and hooked them all! I even took her mother to see it!

Sadly, The State Theater in Newark, DE. theater is no longer there, but Rio and I each have a brick from the demolition and our memories of Rocky. I have seen the film at approximately 10 theaters, and every theater has a different set of lines they use to respond. I have literally let other casts needing to gasp for air when I do certain lines and I have gotten huge applause. So when I say that this is the greatest movie of all time, I am not lying. However, In the last 10 years, I have seen the decline in theaters allowing the audience to use the props we have all come to know and love. YES, I said PROPS! When the word "TOAST" is used, people throw actual toast. Cards, rice, newspapers, water guns, and lighters are among the dedicated RHPS goer, or at least were in my youth. When my son is older, I will take him to RHPS, but probably not until he is 17.

I hope this review helped non RHPS people, and those who have seen it without all the fanfare, hoopla, extra lines, props and cast, and persuaded you to see it when you get the chance with all of those fun things...it might change your life forever! I know it changed mine!

Among the movie cast you will find Barry Bostwick (Spin City, Law and Order SVU) and Susan Sarandon (The Client, Stepmom, Witches of Eastwick, Enchanted) who basically started their careers with this movie. They are both still acting and both have become very sucessful! Yes, Rocky Horror has become a cult classic, but through this movie, many people have gone on to acting careers, such is ther case of Tim Curry (Clue, Legend and an enormous amount of voice work)and Richard O'Brien (Ever After, Dungeons and Dragons).

I do not suggest young kids seeing this at the theater, although I do know some who have, mainly because some casts get as little over the top with the raunchiness, but I highly recommend it as (to quote a phrase from Real Genius,) a "moral imperative...(or immoral in this case)in their movie viewing repertoire.

Enjoy, and remember...Don't Dream It, BE IT!!!!

Wendy Meserve