The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 British-American musical, directed by Jim Sharman and considered by many as the most famous and iconic film of all time. The film is based on the musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, whose 1973 London premiere was also directed by Sharman.
The story centers on a young engaged couple, Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), whose car breaks down one stormy night, forcing them to seek refuge at a secluded estate, owned by a mad scientist, Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). Furter tries to seduce them both to use them in his experiment of creating an artificial being.
Even though The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially failed with both critics and audiences, years later, after being shown at the Waverly Theater in New York City’s bohemian Greenwich Village, the film began gaining popularity among a small but fanatical group of fans. Word about the film spread quickly, and it soon got its well-deserved recognition and a place on the list of the most loved films of all time, becoming the most iconic film of all the iconic films!
A well-known Australian-born director, Jim Sharman spent most of his childhood with his father and grandfather in the world of circus. As a young man, he showed interest in the dramatic arts and decided early on that that would be his life’s calling. in 1966, he graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. While there, Sharman developed a special interest in experimental theater. In 1970, he directed the Sydney production of the famous Hair. Following his local production of Jesus Christ Superstar, he met Tim Rice, who brought him to London to direct the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. That gave Sharman the opportunity to direct its film version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and its sequel, Shock Treatment (1981). With these hits under his belt, Sharman became and still is one of Australia’s most admired directors.
