Film is at its most powerful, I suppose, when it is able to get under your skin, and stays in your mind - and with musicals, it is when the songs linger, and linger and 25 years after you've first seen the show, you still remember them.
My dad probably used film as a babysitter, and I was possibly around 10 or 11 when I first watched, 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. I didn't know what a 'Sweet Transvestite' was, but I knew it was a catchy song. As Janet sang, 'Touch me, I want to get dirty' - I thought, how bizarre, why would you want to be covered in mud.
The characters were larger than life, and the costuming over the top in such a quirky way. Was a feather boa and a glitzy hat necessary? No, but wow - what an impact. Did Brett have to wear underpants? No - but how isolating.
I knew something odd was happening the whole way through this film, and I just couldn't help tap my feet. Or, in the case of the 'Time Warp' - move it to right and so forth. And the red lips singing the intro song - do you remember that? Of course you do, it was unforgettable!
That first viewing was 25 years ago, and I have watched it once or twice since - I even watched the sequel, which wasn't great and I can't remember it's name, but I remember it was playing out on a Television set (see, not as good, no long term impact), and I got the adult references (although, the Meatloaf scene never made any sense).
I remember the songs. I can clearly see the film. I remember how I felt. Isn't this what makes a great film, or in this case, a 'sweet' film.
Ah, the memories.
Look, the film itself isn't amazing. The plot is kind of rubbish, and the ending - give us all a break. But it didn't matter, the songs were amazing and the film, visually, so different to everything else I'd ever seen. It was daring, risky, iconic - mind blowing.
Perhaps a 10 year old shouldn't have seen this, but it definitely leads to an open mind, and an understanding that visual mediums can powerfully imprint themselves into your mind.
(You know though, in person, 'The Book of Mormon' was so funny, perhaps I could offer that as a non-filmed version. I could also have said 'Les Miserables', but I don't like Act 2 and while I looooooove Act 1, I decided not to bother with the filmed version, to avoid the disappointment of the second half).
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