Sunday, April 12, 2009

Rocky Horror - a movie of many faces!

I just posted about this on IMDB, and thought I would elaborate on it here... unbeknownst to most viewers, there are WAY too many variations on "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", putting it on par with the ever-changing cuts of "Caligula." For you anal retentive collectors, don't worry - many of the various permutations are viewable on the DVD.

The question remains, however... which of these do you consider to be the *ultimate* version?

1a) Stereo UK version - 100 minute cut, containing "Super Heroes." Songs have been remixed/altered from their original forms. [DVD - UK version + 5.1 audio]

1b) Mono UK version - 100 minute cut, containing "Super Heroes." Songs are in their original forms, and noticeably different from the stereo version. "Time Warp" has more voices in the chorus, "Touch Me" has echo, "Floor Show" has Rocky's actual singing voice, Janet's "Floor Show" verse is a different vocal take, etc..... [DVD - UK version + mono]

2a) Stereo US version - 98 minute cut, lacking "Super Heroes." Most common version released on VHS, and also the basis for US TV edits. Songs are in their remixed/altered forms. [DVD - US version + 5.1 audio]

2b) "Mono US version" - 98 minute cut, lacking "Super Heroes." Songs are unremixed or alternate takes. Though possible to create on the DVD, I'm very doubtful that an actual mono print was ever shown in American theaters; I believe that, until the DVD, the mono soundtrack was only ever paired with the longer print. [DVD - US version + mono]

3) Bastardized US version - A sad attempt to create a 'happy ending'. Not only is "Super Heroes" missing, but "Science Fiction Reprise" has been replaced with "The Time Warp." While not included in full on the DVD, the redubbed US ending was included on disc 2 of the 25th Anniversary set.

4) Misprint version - Not sure about the origin of this version... this print mistakenly matched the audio from the US ending with the video of the UK ending, meaning that while "Super Heroes" footage is seen, the edited version is heard. This bizarre ending is also included on disc 2 of the 25th Anniversary set... sadly, without any further information detailing why it exists.

5a) Easter Egg stereo UK version
5b) Easter Egg mono UK version
5c) Easter Egg stereo US version
5d) Easter Egg mono US version
These four variations all revolve around a hidden feature on the DVD, allowing whatever variation chosen by the viewer to also include the first several scenes in black and white, switching permanently to color at the first verse of "Time Warp." This concept was originally mentioned in the screenplay... though, it should be noted, NOT exactly how it appeared on the DVD. The switch to color was originally intended for the start of "Sweet Transvestite."

Not to mention, a couple fan-created variations exist as well.

* Artificially extended versions - Though this was almost assuredly never officially compiled by Fox, fans have chosen at various times since its original release on the 20th anniversary VHS to splice "Once In A While" back into the movie. While there is no set-in-stone version like this, the various fan-created extended cuts are most likely near-identical, and most likely all use the UK version in order to contain the most content.

* Alternate "Science Fiction" versions - Again, while no official version was created by 20th Century Fox, some fans have opted to replace the lips intro with a montage of sci-fi film clips, as per the original shooting script. There is no set-in-stone version like this either, and all compilations seem to vary in some way.

Of course, there have been countless butchered versions aired on American TV, but those probably don't bear thinking about.

1 comment:

Stephen S. said...

It was a matter of time that you blogged about all the DVD differences. And... wow, detailed.