BBC. (2019). BBC Radio 4 - Analysis, Who Decides if I'm a Woman?. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rbrtd [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
Richard O'Brien the creator.
The interview begins with him joking about how he was fired from 'Jesus Christ Superstar ' to then go home and wrote 'science fiction '. He says the royal court was impressed with what he wrote, and so were many others, describing it as a "hit before we opened ".
He remembers people's reactions to Tim Curry being "surprised " and intrigued by feeling being so positive and entertained by it. He himself wasn't sure why it was such a huge success.
Richard O'Brien and his sexuality
Richard O'Brien was born inter sex and currently takes oestrogen medication to enhance his femininity. He describes himself as being 70% male and 30% female. He identifies as bisexual and trans, however he describes his life as a tough journey, at time times he even felt "at the edge of the abyss " but then finally excepted it. He always knew from when he was a child he wanted to be a girl, in the interview he talks about one of the earliest experiences he faces.
He talks about how never understood why women look down on themselves and goes on to empower the image.
LGBT society during the 70's
In the 1970's the 'GLF ' (Gay Liberation Front ) was formed. They fought fr gay rights, urging people to question the mainstream institution on UK society which led to oppression.
The first pride was held in 1972 which is now yearly annual event. You can find more information this on https://www.bl.uk/lgbtq-histories/articles/a-short-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-the-uk.
Below I have attached a video of people talking about there experiences with gay pride in the 70's UK.
Julian Hows challenges societies stereotypes 1979
YouTube. (2019). The first Gay Pride march in UK, London 1972 - Pride in History, 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3iLkmTp4AM&t=65s [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
The British Library. (2019). Gay Liberation Front Manifesto. [online] Available at: https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/gay-liberation-front-manifesto [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
Rocky Horror's effect in the LGBT society and Politicly.
Out lookers discover how straight identifying audience can experience moments of queerness which can be bizarre considering that in the 70's the ideal was what Janet and Brad represented. Young lovers having just left high school outlining their future with marriage. Which would usually be the female staying at home or working till pregnancy then leaving to be at home whilst the husband works. In contrast to franks character who portrays ambiguity.
Rocky sent out a message to those in the LGBT community and those hidden that those who were different were like 'aliens ' they WERE different but extravagant and should embrace it and be free with it. The song "Don't dream it, be it " became an anthem.
YouTube. (2019). An Evening with Richard O'Brien - Part 1 of 5 - Captioned. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/omeUM1UoAk8 [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). An Evening with Richard O'Brien - Part 2 of 5 - Captioned. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/9yO58YVhlm4 [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). An Evening with Richard O'Brien - Part 3 of 5 - Captioned. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZhIohCnyU [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). An Evening with Richard O'Brien - Part 4 of 5 - Captioned. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L30_25KoJfg [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). An Evening with Richard O'Brien - Part 5 of 5 - Captioned. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=makAelgIMko [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
02/04/2019
Today in our tutorial lesson we watched an interview with actor Tim curry who played Frank.
YouTube. (2019). Tim Curry talks about the Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sTIGLo79g [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Tim Curry Official Music Video - Paradise Garage - Superb Quality!. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5laG1E0Q4b8 [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
Pinterest. (2019). The original Rocky Horror Show Cast at the Royal Court | Darling, You Were Marvellous | Rocky horror show, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rocky horror. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/305470787197346742/?lp=true [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
https://rockyhorror.fandom.com/wiki/Rocky_Horror
From this video we found out that Tim curry met Richard O'brien because they had both been hair and Curry was interested, loved the script and wanted to take a risk which played off. He didn't really care about the public's opinion. Only 63 people were able to watch it at first because it was held at 'The Royal Court Theatre Upstairs' for experimental writers. However it was closed because the government couldn't fund there any more so then it moved to 'The Classic Theatre in Chelsea' in August 1973. Curry says that they denied an offer in the west end and when seeing a reasonable priced rent for a closed down cinema. However after 3 months they moved down the road to the ' Kings Road Theatre' in November 1973.
Pinterest. (2019). Rocky Horror (Picture) Show. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ozgenre/rocky-horror-picture-show/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
This is the original program for rocky horror . 1973 London.
After six or or seven months they moved to L.A. Tim Curry was the only member from the original cast to go and join an American company for six or seven months before leaving to shoot the film. Although the original Columbia did play her again in the film and the original cast were the 'time warp' guests and extras.
Heavy.com. (2019). Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Original Old Cast Then And Now | Heavy.com. [online] Available at: https://heavy.com/entertainment/2016/10/rocky-horror-picture-show-cast-original-then-and-now-1975-old-today/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
He says the theatre used to be a strip joint called the 'Larger' but then was taken over by a group of rock and roll mongrels that changed it to 'The Roxy Theatre'. However their concept wasn't going to plan and so they brought the show to their theatre where they first performed march 24th, 1974.
Curry is then asked how exhausting in was on stage which he answers "physically exhausting but the exhilaration from it in some ways restores what you've lost. " though he did also have to look after his vocals and rest a lot. It did get tire-sum so h needed to get himself there earlier and earlier.
Roberts, R. (2019). A timeline of Sunset Boulevard's key musical moments from 1924 to now. [online] latimes.com. Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-ms-sunset-boulevard-timeline-20170825-htmlstory.html [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
Curry says that it was everyone's idea to make it into a film.
Frank's accent came from a lady on a bus talking to a friend. Curry describes the make up being hot but in the film they were people constantly putting it back on. The make-up (re-designed by Pierre La Roche) took two hours to put it on for the film where as on stage he did it himself every chance he a moment off stage.
Tim curry wasn't a fan of horrors of a film buff. He was effect by working on the set of the horror because after working on the stage for 6 years he had known what type of figure he cut. He knew what type of space was between him and the audience but when shooting the film he didn't know weather to bring it down or make it more horrific. He had an idea of making him more villainous rather than night club-by like he had done on stage which he later regretted.
Richard had made the music very influential in the show. He was influenced by 50's Music, they all were.
Tim Curry says he wouldn't play Frankfurter again. He also wanted to be an actor he says he got into it by lying and cheating.
30/04/019
Today we reached the time time of the dates and countries and places rocky was shown, below is a link of where I found them.
1973 London Cast
Dr. Frank n Furter - Tim Curry.
Dr. Frank n Furter - Tim Curry.
Brad - Christopher Malcolm.
Janet - Julie Covington.
Riff Raff - Richard O'Brien.
Rocky - Rayner Bourton.
Magenta - Patricia Quinn.
Columbia - Nell Campbell.
Eddie - Paddy O'Hagan.
Narrator - Jonathan Adams.
1974 Roxy Cast Los Angeles
1974 Australian Cast
1975 New York/Broadway - Belasco Theatre
1975 Brazil
1975 San Francisco
1976 Mexico
1977 Norway
1978 New Zealand
1980 Germany
1980 - 81 North American Tour
1981 Australia
1990 London Revival
1991 Iceland
1992 Australian Revival
1994 German Revival
1995 New Zealand Revival
1995 Finland
1995 Iceland Revival
1995 German Revival
1996 Denmark
1996–97 European Tour
1997 German Revival
1998 London Revival
1998 South Africa
1999 Los Angeles Revival Tiffany Theater
2001 Broadway Cast Revival
2001 Korea
2001 Peru
2002 Philippines
2005 Vancouver, Canada
2007 Panama
2009 Mexican Revival
2010 Icelandic Revival
2011 Poland
2011 Japan
2015 London Revival
2015 London Revival
1975: The film was released as "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
Dr. Frank n Furter -Tim Curry.
Brad -Barry Bostwick.
Janet -Susan Sarandon.
Riff Raff -Richard O' Brien.
Rocky -Peter Hinwood.
Magenta -Patricia Quinn.
Columbia -Little Nell Campbell.
Eddie -Meat Loaf.
Narrator -Charles Gray.
Produced by Lou Adler and Michael White
29/04/19
We watched an Interview with Susan Sarandon the lady who played Janet.
YouTube. (2019). Susan Sarandon on Rocky Horror. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/_2jp_HI2xLc [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
In this interview she talks about her involvement in the film. She beings the interview talking about how she was scheduled to be in another show she intended to only go there and say hi to Tim Curry but was then asked to be read some of Janet's lines.
She says that they were only two parts available which were 'Brad and Janet's and the ladies that had done Janet before just funny and they said she had a bitchy thing going on where as Janet needed to be played with 'ingénue' touch which Richard loved even though Brad and Janet weren't meant to be American.
However she says at the time she was really shy and had a phobia of singing. She says that people always expected to be able to sing or love it because her father was in a music that was big at the time but was able to get over it in time.
Later in the interview she tells us more about the film. She tells us how Fox decided not to release it but it was a hit in gay clubs and gay cinemas when released but then blew up later on especially in the UK.
People always assumed she was ashamed of it but that was never the case.
She goes on to tell us her first reaction to Tim Curry's appearance. She describes him as being " shocking, sexy and elevating at the same time".
She tells us how the film was meant to be in black and white then when Tim appeared it would be in colour but the weren't funded enough for it.
Pinterest. (2019). Rocky Horror Picture Show. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jodilynn1984/rocky-horror-picture-show/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
She says that they were only two parts available which were 'Brad and Janet's and the ladies that had done Janet before just funny and they said she had a bitchy thing going on where as Janet needed to be played with 'ingénue' touch which Richard loved even though Brad and Janet weren't meant to be American.
However she says at the time she was really shy and had a phobia of singing. She says that people always expected to be able to sing or love it because her father was in a music that was big at the time but was able to get over it in time.
Later in the interview she tells us more about the film. She tells us how Fox decided not to release it but it was a hit in gay clubs and gay cinemas when released but then blew up later on especially in the UK.
People always assumed she was ashamed of it but that was never the case.
She goes on to tell us her first reaction to Tim Curry's appearance. She describes him as being " shocking, sexy and elevating at the same time".
She tells us how the film was meant to be in black and white then when Tim appeared it would be in colour but the weren't funded enough for it.
Pinterest. (2019). Rocky Horror Picture Show. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jodilynn1984/rocky-horror-picture-show/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
30/04/019
Today we watched an interview with Patricia Quinn, the lady who played magenta.
YouTube. (2019). Patricia Quinn Reflects On 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' | Studio 10. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/f3NdXbLZbws [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
Patricia Quinn was an northern Irish trade actress which is someone who jumps from acting job to acting job. She mentions that she acted in the royal court production in England. She had heard about it from her agent who had told her the show about was about a circus.
She says she almost turned down the film production because she wasn't going to sing 'science fiction' but when she saw some of the set and the parts of the props and costume she was completely on board.
She tells us how one day she was on her way to the Brey Studio in Windsor (which is currently being knocked down and built for new purposes) with Tim Curry and Richard O'Brien. During this trip she was informed that he was going to sing 'science fiction'. Richard told her that he had an idea that he would use her lips to lip sync his voice singing the song. His inspiration was Man ray's painting 'The lovers'.
Legion of Honor. (2019). Man Ray | Lee Miller: Partners in Surrealism. [online] Available at: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/legion/exhibitions/man-ray-lee-miller-partners-surrealism [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)/ Science Fiction-Double Feature. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/G5MHNvOVl8Y [Accessed 17 Jun. 2019].
She said that her head had to be screwed on so that she could sing without moving her head. She said it didn't take long because she knew the song but she was getting distracted in between shooting.
During this interview we found out some new information in the movie's casting like Mick Jagger the lead sing of the Rolling stones and David Bowie for the role of Frank and Steve Martin for the role of Brad.
She tells us her reaction to Meat loafs first performance as Eddie was shocking and "Stunning".
We also find that 'time warp' reaches the 'Hits' in the '90s' which around the time she met her new husband, Sir Robert Steven and even Prince Charles who was a fan of the film.
Movies & Autographed Portraits Through The Decades. (2019). Patricia Quinn Archives - Movies & Autographed Portraits Through The Decades. [online] Available at: https://liambluett.com/tag/patricia-quinn/ [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
MEAT LOAF'S INTERVIEW
In this interview we first find out Meatloaf was actually in the Broadway production and how he remembers how people repeatedly came back to watch the show. He had seen famous people such as Carole King dressed as Magenta, Keith Moon from 'The Who', Elvis and Raquel Welch who (out of nerves) made a bad impression of himself.
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YouTube. (2019). Meat Loaf On The Rocky Horror Show - Part 1. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/VFqmLvxORzQ [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
When told they were doing a film he assumed that he was going to play Dr.Scott because he played him in the Broadway Production but when told otherwise he wasn't pleased.
Dr Scott had been a character he a character he had warmed up to, at first when he had heard that he got the part of Eddie and Dr Scott in the Broadway production he was very pleased. He knew he could wow the audience and the production team with his performance of "Hot Potootie" because surprisingly he was the only that could sing the whole thing and had thought that Dr Scott's part wasn't to much to handle but after being shown what was expected of him it had thrown him off the whole show. Eventually he was convinced to play him at least once but after the crowds response he decided to keep playing him especially since it made sense that the Uncle (Dr Scott) resembles his nephew (Eddie).
Here is an audio of the actual 1975 Broadway show, playing only Meat Loafs part.
YouTube. (2019). Meat Loaf during the Broadway run of Rocky Horror in 1975. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/rZo_GLMW1v8 [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
He was surprised to be asked to ride a motorbike whilst riding the ramp. Obliviously he couldn't so their second idea was to hire a stuntman to do it. But that didn't work either. Other ideas they had were to put the stuntman on and wheelchair and take the handles and windscreen from the motorbike and place them the on the front, then by putting the camera on the front it could look like he was riding it. But it didn't work. The last idea they had was to put the stuntman on the bike at each point of the ramp. So meat loaf would ride it up to point one, jump off then swap with the stuntman and so on till the end off the shoot but during one off the shootings the stuntman fell at the very top point till the bottom. And after this terrifying, shocking and awful fall he was ready to start shooting again.
Here is a picture and Video of Tim Curry and Meatloaf at SNl
On the 28/03/19
We found out what roles we got. I got the role of 'Rocky Horror ' originally played by Peter Hinwood in the film production, which was a huge success to me.
IMDb. (2019). Peter Hinwood. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386056/mediaviewer/rm2456337152 [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
'Rocky Horror' is a 7 hour old creation of Riff Raff or Dr Frank'n Furter using half of Eddie's Brain.
The character was originally played by Rayner Bourton in 1973, by Kim Milford is the first American production in 1974, Broadway in 1975, Peter Hindwood in the film same year and Dominic Andersen in the 2015 stage production and lastly the 2016 re-imaging movie.
Here are some picture of the actors who played rocky. In popular productions and films.
From these pictures first thing I was able to look at was the look. I searched on line on what I could use from the live show, original film and updated to see how I could play with this character.
One of the task we were given by our music teacher was to work on singing our characters songs so that we can sing a long to a backing track that the live band can work on.
Below are pictures of my drawn costume ideas I had for rocky.
Below are pictures of my drawn costume ideas I had for rocky.
These are some of the videos I watch to see some inspiration of performance and singing style.
YouTube. (2019). Sword Of Damocles - Rocky Horror Picture Show. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/tdufVsPXtCE [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). The Sword of Damocles - Rocky Horror UK. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/6vtfgQSyRmc [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Rocky Horror Picture Show "Sword of Democles". [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/6yxA6v1fd_g [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). The Sword of Damocles - RHS. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/0xEjaJCuQOQ [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Sword of Damocles - Rocky Horror Show. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/1i_WPzdv_VU [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Sword of Damoclese- Original Roxy Cast. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/QhRwYZSSoIs [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
Peter Hindwood couldn't sing so they dubbed over his voice with an Australian singer called Trevor White in the song "Sword of Damocles ".
Picture of Trevor White
That wasn't the only thing Hindwood struggled with, his lines had to be cut because he couldn't deliver them believably. In a 2000 interview he confirmed that he quit acting to become an antiquates dealer because he realised he couldn't act and hated watching himself on screen.
Peter did eventually sell his Rocky pants for £1000.
RESEARCH ON THE PRODUCTION
From doing research the thing we found out was that the costume budget £1,060 to £1,600. It was based on Punk rock fashion by Sue Blane, which wasn't big at the time so when the film was released the fashion was so shocking that it not only influenced the next trend of bright coloured hair and fishnet tights and people even started a Rocky Cult based on it. Sue admitted to doing no research on her work.
Ozrockyhorror.com. (2019). Sue Blane Costumes. [online] Available at: http://ozrockyhorror.com/Sue%20Blane%20costumes.html [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
Above are some pictures of her original sketches and below are some picture of Punk Rock Fashion of the 70's and early 80's.
Below is a picture of Tim Curry and Sue Blane.
Cosmosfactory.org. (2019). Cosmo's Factory - The Internet's Largest Rocky Horror Web Site. [online] Available at: http://www.cosmosfactory.org/rocky_horror_rare_010106.shtml [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
Glam Rock
Glam Rock, was also known as ‘Glitter Rock’, was a movement that began in Britain during the 70s. The movement was a celebration of free will and celebrated rock stars and rock concerts, it involved male rock stars wearing typically feminine clothing or makeup on stage whilst performing or on album covers. The movement was heavily inspired by punk rock and the exaggerated makeup and style of this genre. Glam Rock was fighting against main stream rock, almost as a rival to the original style of traditional rock.
David Bowie
David Bowie, was a huge part of the Glam Rock movement. David Bowie often performed as Ziggy Stardust, wearing outrageous clothing and covered from head to toe in glitter. As his alter ego came into light, Bowie also revealed that he was gay and in 1972 he released ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars’. Until this point this album sky was the highlight of career his career and starting a new age of rock was born, with wild costumes which reflected an extraterrestrial/ futuristic vision. The album explored themes of secular exploration and taboos in society at the time. The iconic lighting bolt makeup look is the most recognisable Glam Rock look to a lot of people, this was shown on Bowie’s album: ‘Aladdin Sane’.
David himself said he created the album for people to relate to be being at odds to the everyone else and implied this to his work and performance. |
| BOWIE'S 1972 ALBUM: 'THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS' |
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| DAVID BOWIE AS HIS GLAM ROCK ALTER EGO: ZIGGY STARDUST |
Rocky Horror and Glam Rock
It is obvious that Rocky Horror has a lot of Glam Rock influence, from the music to the characters to the story line. Frank wears female clothing and heavy drag style makeup, as well as being sexually experimental and outrageous. The musical as a whole was iconic for promoting sexual freedom and liberation, this correlates with the fluidity and promotion of sexuality and sex in Glam Rock performers and music. Rocky Horror is a rock musical with tricky vocal lines and story telling throughout the songs. This style is seen in Glam Rock, especially in David Bowie’s 1972 album ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’ which includes songs telling stories of an alien future. Aliens are a theme projected into both Rocky Horror and Glam Rock, with the residents at Frankenstein place turn out to be aliens and the futuristic fashion shown in Rock.
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| TIM CURRY, PATRICIA QUINN AND NELL CAMPBELL IN A GLAM ROCK INFLUENCED PICTURE. |
https://www.biography.com/musician/david-bowie - Link to Glam Rock research
https://www.vam.ac.uk/
Here is a video of the making and behind the scenes.
YouTube. (2019). Rocky Horror Picture Show-Behind The Scenes (Remastered). [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/WfL98tLN1t8 [Accessed 18 Jun. 2019].
From this video I learned that the film took less than 2 months to shoot.
Here are some photos from behind the scenes.
B Movie Research:
I researched the movies mentioned in the song 'Science Fiction, Double Feature'.
King kong (1933)
Which a story influenced by Edgar Wallace's story that Includes a damsel in distress type of character similar to what is meant to be Janet's behaviour in Rocky Horror.
IMDb. (n.d.). King Kong (1933) - IMDb. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024216/plotsummary [Accessed 17 Apr. 2019].
Flash Gordon
Like most Started as a comic then appears a new planet appears and causes global disruption. Flash (the main character) meets a beautiful woman called Dale. However their enemy Zarkof (the irrational scientist) and Ming Merciless causes so much distribution Flash has no choice but to save the day.
YouTube. (2018). Flash Gordon Story Part 1 (Sci-Fi Channel, 2008). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwAMX_HRyDM [Accessed 17 Apr. 2019].
Invisible man
Movie begins with a man covered in bandages with sunglasses obscuring his face then is revealed to be that he is actually invisible under the clothes so when he takes them off he can’t be seen. This science fiction horror is based on a book by HG Wells (1897).
- A scientist makes a serum to make him invisible however he is stuck like this, he is searching for an antidote however becomes crazy and starts killing people
- Played by Claude Reins, this was his first major role in a movie
- Includes a lot of comedic elements
YouTube. (2018). The Invisible Man - Movie Review (Universal Monsters Series). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=108&v=9Lm3ftndMPk [Accessed 17 Apr. 2019].
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
A UFO lands on Earth, with a strange person wearing a mask coming out, he also has a robot body guard with him. Soldiers gather to make sure the UFO isn’t a threat. The worlds reaction, mainly the governments reaction, is reflective of underlying political themes. The government refuses to hear him out after he claims he needs help. He lays low in a boarding house after escaping from military custody. He is thought to be an out of towner, he confides in a scientist whilst in the boarding house. There are subtle progressions in the film of growing threat to the world and tension from the military services.
Michael Rennie stars in this movie.
YouTube. (2017). The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951 film review). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAzQCena5UA [Accessed 17 Apr. 2019].
Lots of the characeters and themes in these movies overlap with those in Rocky Horror such as the damsel in distress (Janet in Rocky Horror seeking help after their car breaks down), the man wrapped in bandages in invisible man (Rocky in 'Sword of Damecles' before he is unwrapped to reveal himself) and the theme of aliens which obviously is very present in Rocky Horror.
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