When acting became too real
I’m not sure if you noticed this, especially if you’re a true Rocky Horror fan, but during the iconic dinner scene, Barry Bostwick really got wound up and accidentally slammed his fist on the table – right on Susan Sarandon’s hand. Her reaction?
Absolutely real pain. But she got her revenge (unintentionally) later in ‘The Floor Show’ when she stepped on his foot with her stiletto heel. His grimace caught on camera? Also 100% genuine. Talk about casual revenge – with a dash of glamour…..
Susan Sarandon
The film was shot in the autumn and winter of 1974 in the UK, mostly at Bray Studios and an old country estate called Oakley Court.
Apparently the film set was cold and had no bathrooms. Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors, says he was wet the whole time because the castle was leaking. The cast had one ‘warm room’ with space heaters to keep them warm, but guess what, that room actually caught fire.
Tim Curry, Peter Hinwood and Susan Sarandon / Getty Images
When Susan Sarandon voiced her concerns, studio executives brushed them off. After filming a pool scene in a revealing outfit, she developed pneumonia. Richard O’Brien recalled that she was ‘shaking with fever’ and ‘had to be under a doctor’s care,’ but she refused to stop working, and her battered body and health were not noticed by anyone in the cinema.
Speaking of Barry Bostwick: he and Susan Sarandon actually dated during filming. Richard O’Brien accidentally revealed this back in 2013.
A scene that almost became nude
Playing Janet Weiss, the film’s sexy lead character, Sarandon was in various states of undress throughout the film. One of Janet’s most memorable moments is her sexual awakening during the song ‘Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me,’ performed opposite Rocky by Peter Hinwood, who was a model at the time.
‘Peter, of course, was the shyest and quietest. I think he was traumatised by having to do that scene with me,’ Sarandon recalled.
The film makers wanted Susan Sarandon to go completely nude for this scene, but she refused – despite having already appeared nude in other films.
However, they hoped she would indeed get completely naked for that iconic song in Peter Hinwood’s Rocky Horror. Sarandon stuck to her opinion and did not go completely nude.
However, her daring performance caught Playboy’s attention and for several years afterwards they tried to persuade her to star nude. In a 1991 interview she said: ‘They’ve been after me since The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’
Susan Sarandon doesn’t want to talk about the film
Susan Sarandon revealed that she never planned to try out for the role of Janet. She just stopped by the film set to visit her friend Tim Curry.
The producers noticed her and asked her if she wanted to try out. They had heard some good singers but couldn’t find anyone who could bring the humour Janet needed. Sarandon initially declined, saying she didn’t really like singing and was even a little afraid to sing.
Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn and Jonathan Adams in a scene from the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1975. (Photo: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images)
When they asked if she could at least sing Happy Birthday, she said yes – and that was enough to convince them. They liked her performance and cast her, but Sarandon admits it was a fluke. She also expresses frustration that none of the cast received royalties from DVD sales, which sometimes makes her reluctant to talk about the film.
Rain or no rain?
In the scene in ‘In Frankenstein’s Place’ when Janet uses newspaper to protect her head from the rain, the prop was specially coated with plastic to withstand repeated getting wet.
However, the plastic didn’t cover the entire newspaper – one corner, where Susan Sarandon was holding it, was left uncovered to preserve the natural look. While water is visibly dripping off most of the newspaper, the corner in her hand remains dry, making it clear that part of the prop didn’t actually get wet.
Also, Janet’s cardigan during the song ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place’ starts out blue, but when she meets Riff Raff, it magically turns white.
And there’s another fun detail of Janet’s wardrobe that’s worth pointing out the next time you see the film. Her shoes are black at the beginning, but by the time she and Brad get to the lab, they mysteriously turn white.
An unexpected twist in a wheelchair
At the climax of the film, as Magenta and Riff Raff prepare to transport the castle, Brad and Janet carry Dr Scott away from the scene. After the castle explodes and blows up, all three lie scattered about the grounds.
Interestingly, Dr Scott is resting on the shattered remains of his wheelchair – even though he wasn’t using it just a few minutes ago.
Mistaken for an imposter
When Tim Curry was living in New York, he noticed fans dressing up for midnight sessions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Curious, he called the theatre and asked if he could join one of the shows. Fans were happy to see him, but the theatre staff didn’t believe it was really Tim Curry and called him an ‘imposter,’ even kicking him out.
After Curry confirmed his identity, the staff apologised, but by then he had decided not to return. Just imagine how embarrassing it was for those staffers who misjudged the star….
What are your favourite memories from this classic film? Are there any bloopers or behind-the-scenes stories you think I missed that should definitely be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!