In 1975 a low-budget rock ‘n roll musical appeared briefly in theaters, but those previous few who saw THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW that summer were changed forever.
After that, millions more began flocking to midnight screenings, all based on word-of-mouth.
And all they could talk about was the electrifying, charismatic, no-holds-barred performance of Tim Curry as the lead character Dr. Frank N. Furter, an alien transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania. With his glam-queen makeup, black corset/fishnets, and glittery high heels, Curry embodied the fiery defiance of a million closeted drag queens.
To this day I believe Curry’s entrance in this film (above) to be the undeniable flashpoint post-Stonewall that kicked down the closet door that previously separated gays and straights. Its soundtrack was an aural middle-finger to the establishment, and Tim Curry’s luscious lips snarled every juicy syllable with reckless abandon.
For lesser actors, a heart-stopping role so completely embodied as Curry did with ROCKY HORROR would likely mean a life in the typecast ghetto. But Curry didn’t allow it to define his talent. He went on to bring Pennywise to life in IT (still unsurpassed), Darkness in the film LEGEND, and memorable supporting roles in ANNIE and CLUE.
Sadly, a stroke mostly silenced him 20 years ago.
He’s gone now, relieved of his suffering. But what he left was a legacy of living with gusto and uncompromised class. He will always be beautiful, strutting defiantly in high heels and hissing sensually in our darkest dreams!
Thank you, Tim Curry!
