Buzz
The Rocky Horror Picture Show serves as a vibrant tribute to the unconventional cinema of yesteryears, crafted with a daring flair. Devotees of Frank-N-Furter know it originated from Richard O’Brien’s quirky stage production, where he also portrays Riff Raff in the movie. A true aficionado of B-movies, O’Brien embedded countless cult film references into his theatrical masterpiece and its subsequent film adaptation. However, The Rocky Horror Picture Show goes beyond a single genre, offering subtle acknowledgments to a French crime classic, a chilling tale of a killer priest, and one of Roger Ebert’s most bizarre collaborations. As Fox’s live Rocky Horror revival prepares to take us on another time-warping journey, let’s revisit the clever tributes that enriched the original.
1. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
Universal Studios struck gold twice in 1931 with their fresh adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, following the massive success of Dracula earlier that year. Boris Karloff’s unforgettable portrayal of the monster propelled Frankenstein to become one of the decade’s top-grossing films. The Rocky Horror Picture Show pays homage to this iconic movie when Riff Raff intimidates Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s creation with a candelabra, mirroring a tense moment in Universal’s Frankenstein. In the original, Fritz, the hunchbacked assistant, provokes the monster with a flaming torch, causing it to retreat in fear—a scene echoed in Rocky’s reaction.
2. DOCTOR X (1932)
The opening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show sets a bizarre tone with a pair of floating red lips singing “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” packed with nods to legendary B-movies like 1932’s Doctor X. This thriller, centered on a deranged scientist and his monstrous creation, is celebrated as the first horror film filmed in color, though most theaters screened it in black and white.
3. THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)
The Invisible Man, another gem referenced in Rocky Horror’s opening, is an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, directed by James Whale, the mastermind behind Universal’s Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein. The film tells the story of Dr. Jack Griffin, a scientist who turns invisible and spirals into madness. Whale’s team employed groundbreaking techniques, like using black velvet tights and superimposing footage to create the illusion of invisibility, alongside practical effects like wires to make objects move mysteriously.
4. KING KONG (1933)
In 1932, producer Merian C. Cooper enticed Fay Wray with the promise of working with “the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood.” While she assumed it was Cary Grant, she instead found herself starring alongside the legendary eighth wonder of the world. Released by RKO Pictures during the depths of the Great Depression, King Kong stands as one of the most groundbreaking films in history. It pioneered the use of an entirely original score, was the first movie to be re-released, and broke new ground by blending live actors with stop-motion creatures. The Rocky Horror Picture Show pays homage to this classic in multiple ways: the floating lips sing about it, Dr. Frank-N-Furter admires Fay Wray’s iconic Kong dress, and Rocky scales a model of RKO’s radio tower before meeting his demise. As King Kong famously concludes, “It was beauty killed the beast.”
5. THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
Magenta’s striking hairstyle in Rocky Horror’s climactic scene is a direct nod to The Bride of Frankenstein. In this iconic sequel, the titular character sports a dramatic, streaked hairdo inspired by the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Contrary to appearances, the Bride’s hair wasn’t a wig. Actress Elsa Lanchester revealed, “[It was] my own hair. They lifted it up, placed a wire cage on my head, and combed my hair over it before adding gray-streaked hairpieces.”
6. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
The opening song “Science Fiction/Double Feature” references 1951’s The Day the Earth Stood Still, a politically charged sci-fi film from the Cold War era. The story follows Klaatu, a peaceful alien (played by Michael Rennie), who warns humanity that its nuclear aggression could provoke other planets to destroy Earth. Due to its controversial themes, the Production Code Administration heavily scrutinized the script, even altering Klaatu’s final anti-war speech to avoid offending audiences by softening any perceived criticism of the United States.
7. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951)
“But when worlds collide, said George Pal to his bride, I’m gonna give you some terrible thrills,” sang the Rocky Horror lips. Pal, a renowned animator and producer, was a master of sci-fi thrillers. He was the visionary behind the first cinematic adaptation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds in 1953. Similarly, When Worlds Collide presents a catastrophic scenario where humanity faces annihilation, not from alien warships, but from a rogue planet on a collision course with Earth. As a potential new home is discovered, global leaders race to launch a “space ark” with a chosen few to colonize this new world. Will this daring mission succeed, or is humanity doomed? Watch the film to uncover the fate of our species.
8. IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953)
The lips in “Science Fiction/Double Feature” pay homage to this groundbreaking film. In 1950, Universal Studios commissioned Ray Bradbury to draft a story outline about an alien spacecraft. However, Bradbury, overflowing with creativity, submitted a full-length script instead of the expected synopsis. His innovative premise reimagined alien encounters, suggesting that extraterrestrials might not be inherently hostile. The story revolves around an alien ship crashing in Arizona, with its crew striving to repair their vessel while evading wary humans. Although Universal embraced the concept, they assigned another writer to finalize the script, much to Bradbury’s dismay.
“With the treatment in hand,” Bradbury later reflected, “they dismissed me and brought in Harry Essex to complete the screenplay (which, he admitted, was merely adding the finishing touches).” The resulting film, It Came From Outer Space, left an indelible mark on aspiring filmmakers of the era.
In 1977, Bradbury was present at the global premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Following the screening, Bradbury expressed his admiration for the film to Spielberg, who responded, “Close Encounters wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t watched It Came From Outer Space six times as a child. Thank you.”
9. THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
Charles Laughton’s only venture into directing, The Night of the Hunter, features one of cinema’s most iconic antagonists. Robert Mitchum delivers a chilling performance as Reverend Harry Powell, a murderous preacher who targets wealthy widows. His knuckles bear the tattoos “love” and “hate,” symbolizing the perpetual battle between good and evil, as he explains in the film. Eddie from Rocky Horror shares the same knuckle tattoos, though their meaning remains a mystery, likely tied to rock ‘n roll or hot patooties.
10. TARANTULA (1955)
The 1950s saw a surge in popularity for giant insect movies, sparked by Them!, a 1954 Warner Bros. hit about colossal, radioactive ants wreaking havoc in New Mexico and beyond. This success inspired a wave of similar films, including The Deadly Mantis and The Black Scorpion (both 1957). Among these, Tarantula stands out, featuring Clint Eastwood piloting a fighter jet to confront a massive spider. Unlike Them!, which used puppetry, Tarantula incorporated real spider footage for its effects. The film stars Leo G. Carroll, known for his roles in North by Northwest and several Alfred Hitchcock classics, as the lead scientist.
11. FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)
Gene Roddenberry openly acknowledged that Star Trek drew significant inspiration from Forbidden Planet. This grand space adventure, reminiscent of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, boasted an unusually high budget for a 1950s sci-fi film, totaling approximately $2 million. The film dazzles with cutting-edge miniatures and matte paintings, showcasing its visual splendor.
Special attention was devoted to creating the film’s standout non-human character, the endearing robot Robby. An actor donned a suit crafted from “thermo-formed” plastics to bring Robby to life. The costume was far from static, featuring an intricate array of spinning buttons and gears. Neon light tubes illuminated whenever Robby spoke, adding to his charm. The suit, costing at least $100,000 and containing 2600 feet of wiring, contributed to the film’s groundbreaking special effects, earning Forbidden Planet an Academy Award nomination. The film’s brilliance is also celebrated in the lyrics of “Science Fiction/Double Feature.”
12. CURSE OF THE DEMON (1957)
Some references are more nuanced. The iconic lips never directly mention this film but hint at it with the line, “Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes and passing them used lots of skill.” Starring Andrews, Curse of the Demon is based on M.R. James’ 1911 short story, “Casting the Runes.” This understated monster film follows a demonic creature stalking cursed individuals. Director Jacques Tourneur aimed to keep the monster largely unseen to heighten suspense and ambiguity. However, the producer insisted on showcasing the creature, leading to explicit scenes of its attacks. Decades later, debates continue over whether this choice enhanced or detracted from the film’s impact.
13. THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (1962)
The opening lyrics, “And I really got hot when I say Janette Scott fight a Triffid that spits poison and kills,” introduce the menacing Triffids. These fictional, human-sized plants can move on their roots, wield venomous stingers, and feast on human flesh. Originating from John Wyndham’s 1951 novel The Day of the Triffids, the story revolves around a meteor shower that blinds onlookers, leaving humanity vulnerable to the advancing killer plants. The novel inspired two BBC miniseries and a 1962 film starring Janette Scott, and it even influenced Alex Garland’s screenplay for 28 Days Later.
14. BAND OF OUTSIDERS (1964)
Brad Majors’ question, “Say, do any of you guys know how to Madison?” pays tribute to a classic scene. The dance sequence in Rocky Horror, “The Time Warp,” was inspired by a similar moment in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1964 French crime film Band of Outsiders. The movie, a hallmark of the French New Wave, follows three aspiring criminals planning a heist. In one iconic scene, they perform the Madison in a Parisian café.
15. BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1970)
Roger Ebert—the renowned film critic—collaborated on the screenplay for this unique cult favorite. Known affectionately as BVD by its admirers, the film was initially intended as a follow-up to the poorly received Valley of the Dolls (1967). However, director Russ Meyer had different plans. According to Ebert, Meyer envisioned a film that combined satire, melodrama, rock music, comedy, exploitation, and moral commentary on the dark side of Hollywood, as described in the opening crawl.
The film transformed into a parody centered on an all-female rock band striving for success in Hollywood. While they achieve fame, the group quickly discovers the harsh realities of stardom, leading to a series of misfortunes involving drugs, fleeting relationships, and even a gruesome beheading.
Ebert’s chaotic creation resonated with Richard O’Brien, who took the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to a midnight screening of BVD during rehearsals. O’Brien sought to capture the same campy essence for his production. This influence carried over to the film adaptation of Rocky Horror, which pays a subtle tribute to BVD by featuring a poster of the film in the background during Dr. Scott’s scene.
