Tim Curry on the sexual whirlwind of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ then and now

by

1

To Tim Curry, the stage at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood still seems remarkably small. He famously performed there in 1974, spending almost a year playing the outrageous and seductive Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical “The Rocky Horror Show,” complete with fishnets and a tight corset.

People who saw those shows still remember how amazing it was when Curry came on stage. He’d walk from the lobby along a long platform, his tall heels appearing to meet the audience’s gaze. He’d dramatically throw off a Dracula cape and then begin singing his signature song, “Sweet Transvestite.”

Standing inside the now-empty Sunset Strip nightclub, 79-year-old Curry fondly recalls, “This place really felt like a second home to me.” He explains it became a central part of his life, a place where he felt completely comfortable and in charge. “I had to project that confidence, like I owned the place-and in a way, I did.”

Later that year, Curry returned to England to film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a fun and energetic movie that playfully parodied classic science fiction and horror films. The film quickly became a beloved cult hit and an important symbol of sexual liberation. It’s known as the first “midnight movie” and is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, holding the record for the longest-running film in theaters.

Taking on this role completely transformed Curry’s career, and he’ll be celebrating that legacy starting with a screening of a newly remastered 4K version of the film. A question-and-answer session with a panel will follow at the Academy Museum on Friday.

When “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” came out in 1975, it perfectly captured the mood of the time, blending a sense of glamour with a blurring of traditional gender roles – much like the glam-rock music scene popularized by David Bowie. The film quickly developed a dedicated following, and fans began attending weekly midnight showings dressed as characters from the movie. They even performed alongside the film as a “shadow cast,” acting out scenes in sync with what was happening on screen.

Curry explains it was a product of the changing attitudes towards sex and relationships at the time. There was a sense of openness and a willingness to try new things, and she feels she helped people embrace their true selves. She says she’s proud of the freedom she gave them to explore who they were becoming.

Entertainment & Arts

Before the iconic movie “Rocky Horror Picture Show” came out, there was a stage production in London called “Rocky Horror.” It became incredibly popular with a dedicated fanbase, and eventually led to the lead actor, Tim Curry, bringing the show to America for its first performance in Los Angeles.

After suffering a stroke in 2012, the actor began using a wheelchair and primarily worked on voiceover projects. He did make a brief on-screen appearance in a 2016 television remake of “Rocky Horror,” playing the criminologist. However, he’s best remembered for his iconic and captivating portrayal of the flamboyant Frank-N-Furter.

He was wearing black, and his auburn hair was neatly combed back. In the Roxy’s lobby hung a picture of Curry playing the mad doctor, complete with pearls – a role he’d first created in London. It started at the small upstairs stage of the Royal Court Theatre and quickly became a hidden hit.

Jim Sharman, who directed Tim Curry both on stage and in the film adaptation, recalls the performance taking remarkable bravery. He describes Curry as a thoughtful and reserved person offstage, but someone who completely transformed and unleashed his energy when performing.

The musical “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” with music and a story by Richard O’Brien – who also famously played the character Riff-Raff – starts with a young couple seeking refuge from a storm. They find a strange castle, hoping to find a phone and shelter from the rain.

Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick, both relatively unknown actors at the time, play a couple who stumble upon a wild party hosted by Frank-N-Furter. The guests? Aliens dressed in formal attire, all hailing from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy Transylvania.

The eccentric doctor eagerly presents his newest creation: a handsome, muscular man with blond hair, singing the song “I Can Make You A Man.” The scene is memorable and impactful.

Curry describes his portrayal of Frank-N-Furter as dominant and unapologetic – a character who completely owns the space around him. He found it refreshing to play someone so different from his own personality, noting that Frank-N-Furter leaves no room for others to breathe.

Interestingly, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is celebrating its 50th anniversary alongside the film “Jaws.” Tim Curry recalls that 20th Century Fox ran newspaper ads that year for “Rocky Horror,” featuring the film’s iconic red lips and a tagline playfully suggesting, “A different set of jaws.”

While “Jaws” was a huge summer hit, “Rocky Horror” had a much longer run in theaters and arguably had a bigger lasting effect. It essentially created the midnight movie phenomenon, paving the way for films like David Lynch’s “Eraserhead” and Paul Verhoeven’s “Showgirls” to find devoted audiences through continuous, open-ended showings.

This weekend, a beautifully restored version of the film will debut in 4K across the nation. There will be special showings and discussions with filmmakers on October 4th at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and on October 15th at the Grammy Museum. Following the premiere, the film will be available on Blu-ray starting October 7th, and the original soundtrack will be re-released on October 10th.

A new documentary, “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror,” is also being released to coincide with the anniversary. Directed by Linus O’Brien – the son of the musical’s creator, Richard O’Brien – the 90-minute film looks at how the movie was made, the original stage show, and the vibrant fan community that has grown around it over the years.

The younger O’Brien, who was a small child during filming, explains that a truly lasting work of art connects with people on multiple levels. It creates a desire to be part of the world it depicts, to experience its joys and even its mischief. He believes the show will continue to be discussed and enjoyed for generations to come, long after everyone involved is gone.

The story of how “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” went from a small stage production to a movie began when Lou Adler, a successful music producer and manager (famous for Carole King’s “Tapestry”), saw it while visiting London. He was immediately energized and realized the show would be a hit at his new club in Los Angeles, the Roxy. He quickly signed a deal to bring the U.S. premiere to the Roxy just two days later.

Music

In 1973, music industry leader Lou Adler and a group of talented entrepreneurs launched the Roxy Theatre. Remarkably, both the club and Adler, now 89 years old, are still thriving after 50 years.

The show at the Roxy was a huge hit right away, largely thanks to Tim Curry’s incredibly engaging performance. The opening night audience included celebrities like Jack Nicholson, John Lennon, and Mick Jagger. Los Angeles Times theater critic Dan Sullivan even compared Curry to legendary Hollywood actresses, such as Joan Crawford and Bette Davis.

I remember Adler telling me about it – he said it was truly one of the best parties ever. He was amazed by how well it was received; the reaction was just unbelievable, he told me during a video call from his home in Malibu.

Immediately after the stage musical’s success, plans for a movie adaptation began, and a deal was struck with 20th Century Fox. Producers Adler and Michael White promised to deliver the film on a relatively small budget of around $1 million.

“I’m not sure 20th Century Fox really got what the film was trying to do,” Sharman shared with a chuckle during a video call from Australia. “They were probably just happy it was being made cheaply, almost with pocket change.”

For many involved, this was their first time working on a movie. However, Adler and White were determined to keep the original creative team from the stage show intact, including director Jim Sharman, costume designer Sue Blane, and production designer Brian Thomson. Tim Curry reprised his leading role, and most of the cast came directly from the London production. They were joined by American actors Susan Sarandon and Richard Bostwick, along with singer Meat Loaf.

I was completely captivated by Susan Sarandon. She was just so quick-witted and stunningly beautiful, but more than that, she felt like a *true* actress. You could just sense she had this incredible talent and something special about her, you know?

Curry also befriended Meat Loaf, who had a memorable cameo in the film as Eddie – dramatically riding a motorcycle out of a freezer to perform the energetic song “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul.” Later, in 1981, Curry hosted “Saturday Night Live” and teamed up with Meat Loaf in a sketch where they sold merchandise related to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Curry still doesn’t think much of that sketch, calling it “dreadful.”

Curry recalls that when the movie was confirmed, many famous actors were interested in the role. Mick Jagger was one of them, and Curry believes he would have been excellent, pointing to Jagger’s performance in the film ‘Performance’ as evidence. However, the director, Sharman, specifically chose Curry for the part, a decision the studio apparently wasn’t thrilled about.

Despite being a seasoned stage director, Sharman had only directed one film before – a low-budget feature called “Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens.” For “Rocky Horror,” he wanted to create a darkly fantastical world, similar to a twisted take on “The Wizard of Oz.” He drew inspiration from classic low-budget B-movies, German Expressionist films, and his experience with stage productions. The indoor scenes were filmed at Bray Studios, which had previously been used for many Hammer horror films, located just outside of London.

We didn’t have many interesting stories from filming because the schedule was so tight,” Sharman explains. “We only had five weeks to shoot everything.

Bostwick, early in his film career, recalls the movie as a surprisingly vibrant and uplifting musical, despite its limited budget. He remembers being impressed by the skill and dedication of the entire crew – from the set designers and costume makers to the lighting, makeup, and camera teams – who were clearly experts in their fields.

When “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” moved from the stage to film, some things changed in noticeable ways. Tim Curry, who played a key role, did his own makeup for the live performances, intentionally making it look rough and unpolished. As he explains, “I wanted it to seem like the character wasn’t skilled at makeup, but was trying his best and didn’t really care.” He describes the stage look as much more ‘trashy’ and unrefined.

Pierre La Roche, a French makeup artist known for his work with David Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust period, was brought on to perfect the look of the character Frank-N-Furter for the film.

“He was indeed very French,” says Curry, campily. “He was brilliant.”

The film immediately faced difficulties, becoming apparent during a preview screening for Fox executives. Actor Roy Curry, along with producer Adler, remembers a palpable silence after the film ended. The audience didn’t seem engaged, offering virtually no reaction at all.

Entertainment & Arts

Then-L.A.

Fox showed a test screening in Santa Barbara to a group of local residents, including both retirees and college students. During the screening, many of the older viewers started leaving, until almost no one remained in the theater.

I remember hearing how, after the initial disappointment with the film’s reception, Adler and a Fox executive named Tim Deegan were outside the theater, feeling pretty discouraged. But then they started talking to people leaving, and surprisingly, a lot of young people were really enthusiastic! Adler always said Deegan was the one who figured out where the movie would *really* take off – at those smaller, independent theaters, with late-night showings. It was a totally unexpected place to find the ‘Rocky Horror’ audience, but it worked!

I remember hearing that after its initial run, the film really found its audience at the Waverly Theater in New York. It wasn’t just a screening, though – it became this whole event, blurring the lines between a movie and a live show. And get this – Tim Curry actually lived nearby at the time, so he’d often show up! It was a really special atmosphere, and the film seemed to thrive on that energy.

He describes moviegoers as people who were practically assured a good time, and if they came alone, they could easily find someone to share it with.

It was a recent weekend night at the Nuart Theater in West L.A., just five miles from the Roxy, and the lobby was buzzing. Fans and volunteers dressed in elaborate “Rocky Horror” costumes were gathering, and Kohlton Rippee, 32, was already transformed into Frank-N-Furter with his heels and makeup.

Similar to many others, he views the film as a source of both personal expression and a sense of belonging – a way to see themselves reflected in a way mainstream media often doesn’t. He describes it as finding a unique and supportive community where they feel seen and understood.

Bostwick initially learned about the film gaining a cult following from friends. He heard that audiences enthusiastically shouted “Ass-!” every time he appeared on screen. He didn’t witness this himself until a screening at the Tiffany Theater on Sunset Boulevard.

The actor jokes about the claim that Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth, saying he’s always believed a lively midnight movie screening is where true happiness lies. He’s seen so many screenings where ‘everybody was just having a ball.’

When Disney bought 20th Century Fox in 2019, it unexpectedly became the owner of the cult classic “Rocky Horror.” This was a surprising turn, as the edgy, rock-and-roll musical about a scientist who cross-dresses seemed worlds away from the family-friendly Disney brand. In fact, Disney’s big release in 1975 was the very different film, “The Apple Dumpling Gang.”

“I guess Walt is kind of revolving in his grave,” Curry jokes.

Despite any challenges, Adler praises Disney as a supportive partner for the “Rocky Horror” anniversary celebrations. He points out that Walt Disney was a true innovator, much like the film’s creator, Frank-N-Furter, who both took something unconventional and made it a success.

Read More

2025-09-25 13:33