#richard o brien

[sarnie-for-varney]

I just noticed something about some of the actors in Granada Holmes.

A few of the actors (I've only noticed two so far) starred in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

Charles Gray, who plays Mycroft Holmes (and was first introduced in the The Greek Interpreter episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes), also played The Criminologist in Rocky Horror Picture Show.

While watching the The Norwood Builder episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I noticed that Jonathan Adams portrays Jonah Oldacre. Jonathan Adams plays the role of Dr. Everett Scott in Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[bradassholemajors]

Wtf Is Shock Treatment’s Deal? (Or, Local Critic Discovers Escapism and Having Fun In The Midst of Late Stage Capitalistic Dread)

Watched Shock Treatment for the first time this week, and I am a changed man lol. Here are some disorganized thoughts:

I think something that makes Rocky Horror so special is that it can be as deep or not-deep as you want it to be. Like, if you want to think about the cultural implications of the themes portrayed (hedonism, gay & trans liberation, gender roles, the Invasion-of-the-Body-snatchers style infiltration of outside queer forces, the downfall of the safety contained within a collective identity), you can absolutely do that! There’s so much to be interpreted there!! But if you are just here to see Tim Curry looking incredibly sexy and violently thrust along to the Time Warp at a midnight showing with a bunch of cool strangers, that is absolutely awesome, too. Slay!! Take what you want.

BUT SHOCK TREATMENT MANNNN??? Shock Treatment is a whole different ballgame lol. Like, it is also a thematically rich goldmine, if you’re willing to squint a little— in terms of content included, not necessarily how it’s portrayed within the narrative. In the words of Barry Bostwick here, “it was a statement about the future that we weren't quite ready to explore. We didn't really even have the mental emotional vocabulary to understand what Richard [O’Brien, the creator] was trying to say.” I think this is spot-fucking-on!!! It’s absolutely frighteningly prescient, especially today in terms of the commodification of mental health. Like, woah. Janet being crowned “Miss Mental Health” felt like such a Gwyneth Paltrow moment. Cultural prophet Richard O’Brien saw the dark cloud of Betterhelp and wellness culture galloping over in the horizon in the distance of the American landscape, and he set out to warn us.

I still don’t quite understand what happened in the movie. I still don’t know what my takeaway was supposed to be. And I guess if you’re a little insane and love having fun doing thematic analysis with weird media (like me), taking Shock Treatment seriously may be right for you, lol. But thematically overall I think it’s safe to say: it’s a lot less coherent than its predecessor. It’s messy. It’s not interested in being flawless. It’s not interested in appealing to an audience. It’s barely interested in being a sequel. Shock Treatment is lowkey pointing and laughing in the face of those who showed up expecting a masterpiece— which admittedly was me, because I take Rocky Horror pretty seriously. (I put off watching Shock Treatment for a while bc I wasn’t sure about how it would affect the Rocky Horror Universe I had in my head.) If not for the internet reviews prepping me, I would have walked in completely expecting another nuanced perfect symphony of a movie to measure up to Rocky Horror’s magic.

But the thing was? Watching Shock Treatment, it ended up I did not really care!!!!! I was having the time of my life!!!!!

(more under the cut whoops)

Wtf was going on!!!!!!!!!!! Who knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still don’t quite know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I loved it!!!

This reaction of such joy, just letting myself vibe out made me think because when did I start getting surprised when watching a movie is more pleasurable than not??? Isn’t that the entire point of media??

I think with the modern commodification of media analysis and examining pop culture up close, I’d argue that Fun Media without a message is actually pretty hard to come by— at least in mainstream culture. Even stuff as sanitized as Disney movies are now digging into like generational trauma, appealing to what seems to be a collective search for depth (or at least the appearance of depth.) Modern neo-nazi brands of fascism wields power like never before, horrific images of violence follow everyone left and right. Sometimes it seems like this open secret, that everyone knows there’s this looming darkness at the forefront of our minds at all times.

So this transition from Rocky Horror to Shock Treatment felt actually sort of powerful to me. Rocky Horror’s generation-long reverberations of shamelessly depicting sensual revelry are so powerful; it’s bold even for today! (Of course, we all know transvestite isn’t a term commonly used today, but looking at it through the lens of its time, it becomes clear what a miracle the movie is. Knowing what it must have meant to queer people at the time it became a phenomenon— giving them a real space to be themselves in a hostile world criminalizing who they were, in a time of oppressive pressure to stay silent — that is the type of brave blatant acceptance hard to come by in any era.) Rocky Horror is something I don’t know if will ever happen again, and its sequel seems to concur.

Shock Treatment has been called a cash grab but I beg to differ. If you’ve seen it, no offense: but does this seem marketable to you??? It seems like it’s a Richard O’Brien project (already wacky) that went through several levels of development hell and heavy modifications through the creative process. Said with the utmost respect… it may have got away from them a bit. Put lovingly, Shock Treatment lowkey kinda sucks a little at times. It’s silly, it’s got a huge cast and musical fun galore. It’s serving B-movie realness. I don’t say this to bash on it, I say this with a bemused respect— I think the existence of Shock Treatment is as much a miracle as Rocky Horror (aren’t all creations???)

So in the first iteration, we have advocacy and fighting for freedom for those long silenced… but also, Shock Treatment seems to allow the creators to just let themselves have fun. Aren’t they both revolutions in their own right? Does everything have to be lasting cultural milestones or does our enjoyment matter in the moment? I’d argue we need both as human beings to thrive. It comes back to that Rocky-Horror-experience philosophy I covered where you’re taking what you feel you need most from the media you consume: a message or a celebration of just being here.

In conclusion, sometimes shit doesn’t have to be that deep. More movies should just say “fuck it, we ball” and give you the most absolutely incoherent fun time of your life. I love not taking things seriously, and I love creators willing to not take their work seriously. Perhaps Richard O’Brien also had a premonition with Shock Treatment in the sense of how he just had fun with it! Maybe we need less attempts at masterpieces and more attempts at just creation for the joy of it— or both, because joyful creation makes masterpieces!!! I’d love to see more creators of every skill level and every background, known and not known, say fuck you to capitalism and expectation and marketability and just say, we’re gonna do it anyhow, anyhow!!!

[j-tillow]

[incorrect-ink-thief]

Take a look at this!! Tony White, the director of The Ink Thief, just posted this compilation of his favorite shots from the show! In the description he mentions that he still has interest in the concept, and he hopes to someday make a film based on it!

[ninbinary]

sillydark rabbit...

[cherry-flavored-sigh]

y'all know he's said some really shitty things about trans women, right

[miksweety]

Super Heroes - The Rocky Horror Picture Show, intimate piano / vocal cover 👄

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1318 – Richard de Clare, Lord of Thomond, a descendant of Strongbow, is killed while commanding his forces at the Battle of Dysert O’Dea.

The Normans were very unsuccessful in trying to establish themselves in Clare. They had but one small section in Bunratty guarded by a strong Castle of the same name. In 1318 Richard DeClare occupied the Castle of Bunratty. In May of that year he was joined by some Irish traitors and they proceeded with a very strong Army of English and Irish to attack Conor O’Dea of Dysert O’Dea and establish…

[streamondemand]

Leaving soon: 'Fantastic Voyage' on HBO Max

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) took the world on a mind bending trip to outer space, but Fantastic Voyage (1966) is the original psychedelic inner-space adventure. When a brilliant scientist falls into a coma with an inoperable blood clot in the brain, a surgical team embarks on a top secret journey to the center of the mind in a high tech military submarine shrunk to microbial dimensions. But…

[cultfaction]

Preview- Elvira's Haunted Hills (Bluray)

Elvira’s back and she’s fabulous! With her voluptuous figure, voluminous black hair and hilarious one-liners, the essence of camp oozes from her pores. Elvira’s Haunted Hills culls its outrageousness from the classic Vincent Price / Edgar Allan Poe / Roger Corman films of the early ’60s, along with a little Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fearless Vampire Killers. The tale begins in 1851, when…

[raynbowclown]

The Admiral Was a Lady

In The Admiral Was a Lady, a post-World War II comedy, Wanda Hendrix (Prince of Foxes) stars as Jean Madison, a former WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) ensign taken under the wings of a rowdy group of former airmen, who affectionately dub her the “Admiral.” Handily directed by veteran filmmaker Albert S. Rogell (Li’l Abner), the film is bolstered by the crackling chemistry…

[saxafimedianetwork]

Liverpool City Council Re-Recognizes Somaliland: A Historic Moment

Historic moment! #Liverpool @lpoolcouncil unanimously passes motion re-recognizing #Somaliland as independent nation. Calls on @GOVUK to follow suit, acknowledging SL's democratic progress & contributions to the city. Thanks to @CllrLHarvey & @triciaobrien24

Continue reading Liverpool City Council Re-Recognizes Somaliland: A Historic Moment

[ronnydeschepper]

Veertig jaar geleden: "The Rocky Horror Show" (Theater Arena)

Het is vandaag al veertig jaar geleden dat ik in het Gentse Arenatheater de première meemaakte van “The Rocky Horror Show”. (Bovenstaande affiche is wel van de film uit 1975, van de Arena-productie heb ik geen foto in de breedte.) Continue reading Untitled

[sanguinaryrot]

um. my mood plummeted really hard. so I guess I will watch Rocky Horror to cheer me up

[thealmightyemprex]

Halloweenathon:Elviras Haunted Hills

So a few years ago I watched Elvira Mistress of the Dark and was utterly enchanted by it ,a well deserved cult classic that I found very endearing and heartwarming.So this year I decided to check out Elviras second feature ,which is very diffrent .....But still charmed the hell out of me

This 2001 film follows Elvira (Cassandra Petersen ) and her servent Zhou Zhou (Mary Jo Smith ) as on her way to a show in Paris finds herself in Castle Hellsubus where resides the tortured and brooding Lord Vladimir Hellsubus (Richard O'Brien )

OK so....I hvae to explain what this film is,cause it is NOT a Mistress of the Dark sequel and that might dissappoint some people......What it is ,is something definately in my wheelhouse but kind of niche.....A parody of the Roger Corman/Vincent Price Poe films (With a dash of Hammer ,though mostly Corman ).ITs basically a mix of Fall of the House of Usher and Pit and the Pendulem but Elviras there .Now I LOVE the Corman Poe films and this is a brillaint parody .The common thing said about parody is you MUST parody something you love ,and this is one of the most loving parodys I have seen since Young Frankenstein ,not the funniest,but so loving,with scenes taken directly from USher or Penfulum,the convulated plot ,the crumbling castle ,and especially the hammy acting .I think the most brillaint choice in the film has to be the casting of Richard O'Brian as the Vincent Price type character....Cause he NAILS it ,I mean O'Brian is a spooky cult icon in of himself(I mean he created Rocky Horror for crying out loud ) ,but he absoultely gets the angsty torment and maniacal villainy of a Price character while gobbling up bits of scenery and nailing the humor of the part ,all while doing his own spin,hes not imitating Price ,but he nails the type of character Price excelled at ,he gets the vibe down .The rest of the cast is pretty fun especially Mary Scheer as the villinous wife who is wonderfully over the top and Scott Atkinson who plays the conniving Doctor while doing an impression of George Sanders .Elvira is Elvira ,despite it being a period film she plays it totally modern and I think it works as if Elvira is stuck in one of the movies shes used to hosting on her show .As a comedy it worked for me,mainly cause I got what they were spoofing ,I laughed a good bit ,my three fave bits where the doctor explaining the depraved history of the family and all the ancestors are Richard O Brien while Elvira comments on their activities,O BRiens take on the Vincent Price Pit and the Pendulem monologue ,and especially the handsome heroic stabkle hand played by Gabriel Andronache  who isintentionally dubbed badly by voice acting legend Rob Paulsen

Not all the jokes land and Zhou Zhou feels like a bit of a one note and kind of mean joke .....But those are my only complaints

This is a very fun love letter to the Vincent Price movies of the 60's.If you are a fan of the Corman/Price/Poe films,this is a must watch ,if you like Elvira its a must watch ,if you like Richard O Brian its a must watch and if you are looking for a horror comedy this is a good one .ITs not for every one but its a fun time

@ariel-seagull-wings @themousefromfantasyland

@the-blue-fairie @countesspetofi

@theancientvaleofsoulmaking @filmcityworld1

@amalthea9 @barbossas-wench

@princesssarisa

[banduckoot]

Here is my current music playlist for Dr. Cortex:

"The Superior One"

Chonny Jash - Ruler of Everything Aurelio Voltaire - When You're Evil Oingo Boingo - Weird Science Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World Richard O-Brien - Science Fiction/Double Feature Chet Baker - Everything Happens To Me Candy Coated Chaos - Taking over the World Tonight Billie Eilish - you should see me in a crown Coldplay - The Scientist Scissor Sisters - I Can't Decide Tim Curry - Sweet Transvestite The Orion Experience - The Cult of Dionysus Lady Gaga - Boys Boys Boys Cascada - Evacuate the Dancefloor Smash Mouth - All Star Britney Spears - Toxic The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army "Weird" Al Yankovic - White & Nerdy Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) The Police - Every Breath You Take Chris Isaak - Wicked Game Set It Off - Who's In Control Neoni - DARKSIDE Elton John - The Bitch Is Back Engelbert Humperdinck - A Man Without Love The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra - Horny Old Man Billie Eilish - bad guy Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Bad Reputation

Some of these songs came from suggestions I'd asked for on Twitter some time ago, so I can't take full credit for this... but I may add more to this playlist later.