STRANGE JOURNEY: The Story of Rocky Horror

 

Jeri Jacquin

The legacy comes to screens from director Linus O’Brien and Kaleidoscope Entertainment comes the story behind the story of STRANGE JOURNEY: The Story of Rocky Horror.

Linus O’Brien takes us on a journey of Richard O’Brien and I’d like, if I may (if you know you know), to talk about the life that let to the iconic ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Trixie Maxwell remembers, as many of us do, the first time he saw the film and the effect it had on his life. But let us start from the beginning, shall we?

It is 1964 and Richard O’Brien was living in New Zealand making his way to England. His jobs during those days were simple and at night was attending acting classes. Chrissie Shrimpton met O’Brien in those classes. He also met wife Kimi Wong and they had two children. O’Brien also found roles including in Jesus Christ Superstar. When that job ended, he was making the decision to return to New Zealand or keep pushing toward his acting career. That brought about sitting down to write THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW for the stage.

Jim Sharman and Richard Hartley heard a few of the songs from O’Brien and signed on. Nell Campbell as Columbia reflects on the musical and the process of putting it on the stage. Tim Curry read the script and knew how he was going to play it quickly. Patricia Quinn laughs about how she wanted to sing the songs but not necessarily play Magenta. Little could have of them know that they would take a slow skyrocket ride into the status of icon.

Opening night was a huge success and the word spread quickly as the show played for three weeks. The audience immediately fell in love with the character of Frank n’ Furter and Curry understood the power that came along with that. O’Briens openness in writing a show that was sexual in nature, he believes, came because of the close-off life he had in his younger years. It wouldn’t be until later in life that he felt it was time to be who he was.

Now, Lou Adler and the Roxy want to be a part of the Rocky phenomenon. A change in cast wouldn’t happen because Adler knew Curry and O’Brien were their characters. Adler wants to make a movie and, with the exception of Curry, O’Brien, Campell and Quinn, recast Susan Sarandon as Janet, Barry Bostwick as Brad, and Meatloaf as Eddie. Sarandon and Bostwick tell of their experience and how they got their roles which is a great story.

Oakley Court and Bray Studios became the places where the film would be shot. From the Time Warp scene to Meatloaf’s entrance that Curry called “marvelous”, it also had an impact on actor Jack Black. Of course, we can not forget Rocky himself, Peter Hinwood, as Janet takes her character of a demure boyfriend pleaser and flips the switch. Accepting her sexuality and freedom, it is Hinwood’s Rocky who becomes the conduit for the release.

The song “I’m Going Home”, Curry talks about Frank n’ Furters vulnerability, Bostwick says Curry, “sand the hell” out of the song and Jack Black says, “he wants a few more magical moments” and we can all relate to that to this very day.

Released in September of 1975, the film had a short run. Tim Deegum of 20^th Century wondered what to do in Santa Barbara. So, like anyone looking for success, they went looking for the right audience. The film began to run as a midnight showing in theatres and word of mouth about the film brought audiences in!  Like-minded people who came together to have a good time! By 1978, midnight shows are sold out, so there are 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. shows that are equally sold out. Soon, the shout-outs begin, the costumes, props, and the shadow casts sharing the stage. Spreading like wildfire and a fan club shows what is happening. O’Brien says the first time he experienced all of this that it’s, “live theatre and a live audience come together and it was quite remarkable to see.”

The film brings together those who couldn’t seem to find their place. It was, and continues for me at least, to be a safe space of fun and adventure. Creating this community that belonged to one another no matter who you were/are, what your preferences may be don’t, in the greatness of it all, matter in the slightest.

Sharing their experiences are also Michael White, Sue Blane, Austin Fresh, Richard Hartley, John Goldstone, Lillias Piro and Belinda Sinclair.

Kaleidoscope Entertainment is a global independent all-rights entertainment with theatrical, digital and physical distribution with over 2,000 features. New titles include the magical family animation A TOOTH FAIRY TALE, BORLEY RECTOR: The Awakening, THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN and the martial arts epic PRISONER OF WAR. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.kaleidoscopehomeentertainment.com

Linus O’Brien, son of Riff-Raff himself Richard O’Brien, says of the film, “I’m grateful to all those who participated, as well as the incredible crews who worked on the film, and I’m honored to have been entrusted with telling this story. We hope the audience enjoys this joyful and life-affirming celebration of a remarkable cultural touchstone – filled with amazing music, campy madness, tears, and laughter…To top it off, my own father, Richard O’Brien, was the one who created Rocky, playing a part in so many people’s lives. I knew this story needed to be told – and that it had never been explored in depth as a documentary feature.”

I was one of the first people in San Diego to see the film when it came to town in the 70’s. My sister and I ended up spending weekend after weekend to stand in line (gawd forbid it was sold out before we got there) waiting to get in. While waiting, we joked, laughed, told stories and had so much fun and could not imagine being anywhere else. Our dad asked us what we could possible see in spending so much time on one film so, we did what any good daughters would do – we took him with us. He had the best time and never asked again what we were doing on Friday and Saturday nights and often threw us a $20 to get eats after at the diner next door to the theatre.

We sang, threw rice, sang some more, held newspaper over our heads, yelled at Brad, did the Time Warp, sang some more, and hated when “I’m Going Home” was on the screen because it meant the film was almost over. What wasn’t over was the thrill of it all, the togetherness, the joy and the community that allowed all of us in the theatre to be whoever we wanted to be. Every person in this documentary expresses exactly how my family felt the first time we saw the film. Not only was this an opportunity to go down memory lane, but also hear the stories from the literal creator Richard O’Brien, the cast and those who have a history. 

On a personal note, thank you Mr. O’Brien for what you did and for who you brought along for this incredible ride. As a grandmother now, I can tell you that my kids and grandkids know of my admiration and love for THE ROCK HORROR PICTURE SHOW. Every time I watch the film, I am reminded of a time that always, always brings smile to my face and a certain song to my heart. As I write this, the words that sing out of me with a smile are, “…to the late night, double feature, picture show!”.                         

In the end – we are all freaks!