Browse: Home / Celebrating the Living: Richard O’Brien

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us
  • Login

The-SoluteLogo

A Film Site By Lovers of Film

Menu

Skip to content
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • Long Reviews
  • News
  • Articles and Opinions
  • Other Media
  • The Friday Article Roundup: The Truth is In Here
  • Lunch Links: Schwarzfahrer
  • Websites on the Internet: THE SOLUTE
  • New on DVD and Blu-Ray
  • Movie Gifts Holidays 2024
Show us your mother, Riff!

Celebrating the Living: Richard O’Brien

Posted By Gillianren on October 22, 2023 in Features | Leave a response

We are likely seldom going to have someone I’m as closely connected to as Richard Bellis (who I could’ve done for October, given his credits, but did for personal emotional reasons when I did), and I’m not even as close to Richard O’Brien as I am to Brad Dourif—I’ve never been in a room with Richard O’Brien. Still, the one person I can think of that I would write up who’s closer to me than Mr. Bellis shares a credit with Richard O’Brien; they both did a lot of work on Phineas and Ferb together. It’s not where much of anyone thinks of O’Brien from first, though.

Still, he has a wide and involved career that most people don’t remember exists. Phineas and Ferb, yes. But honestly I’ve seen two of his other movies, beyond the big one, in the theatre. I saw Ever After, a movie I still love, in which he leches all over Drew Barrymore. And I saw the 2000 Dungeons and Dragons movie in the theatre as well—twice. (The short answer is “because college.” My partner does not understand this, but if you were in college and in your early twenties, I’m sure you do.) One of those, I continue to watch to this day.

O’Brien does not stick to quality films, exactly—though Ever After is a better movie than its reputation, if not exactly High Art. Anjelica Huston is having a wonderful time at it, at bare minimum, and so is O’Brien. He knows exactly what role he’s playing, and if he never actually twirls that moustache he’s got in it, well, he might as well be. He’s magnificent and I’m quite sure he knows it. He’s playing a cartoon villain whose name is practically Pepe le Pew.

And, yes, there’s Rocky Horror. You know him as Riff Raff; if you know the details of the behind-the-scenes stuff, you know that he wrote it. Ever since I was a literal child, I’ve been singing songs written by Richard O’Brien. “I’m Going Home” is a lovely anthem, and there’s nothing to get a junior high dance going like “The Time Warp” unless it’s “Rock Lobster.” I may be showing my age on this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still true.

He’s said some unfortunate stuff about “natural” women despite considering himself to be “third sex.” (He still uses he/him; I checked.) I’d like to hope that he’s one of those people who would benefit from just an actual talk with a real trans person, but who even knows? He’s an enormously important part of the film coming-of-age of a lot of people I know. When I was growing up, you knew you were considered mature by your parents when you were allowed to go to Rocky at the Rialto. And he launched Tim Curry to stardom. There will always be a soft spot in our hearts for him for that.

Castles may not have telephones, but I have a Patreon and a Ko-fi!

Posted in Features | Tagged celebrate the living, Richard O'Brien, tribute

About the Author

gillianmadeira@hotmail.com'

Gillianren

Gillianren is a forty-something bipolar woman living in the Pacific Northwest after growing up in Los Angeles County. She and her boyfriend have one son and one daughter, and she gave a daughter up for adoption. She fills her days by watching her local library system’s DVD collection in alphabetical order, watching everything that looks interesting. She particularly enjoys pre-Code films, blaxploitation, and live-action Disney movies of the ’60s and ’70s. She has a Patreon account at https://www.patreon.com/gillianren

Related Posts

Life is a mysteryCelebrating the Living: Madonna→

Clearly Pryor knew a thing or two about wooing womenAttention Must Be Paid: Richard Pryor→

Definitely how most people picture him.Celebrating the Living: John Cameron Mitchell→

A sexy hot mess bigot!Attention Must Be Paid: Patricia Highsmith→

  • Comments
  • Popular
  • Most Recent
  • j*****@yahoo.com'
    mr_apollo on Year of the Month: Mon OncleWonderful piece, Sam. It's made…
  • j*****@yahoo.com'
    mr_apollo on Year of the Month: Mon OncleFellow heretic here. I've never…
  • n***********@gmail.com'
    Ruck Cohlchez on Film on the Internet: AN AMERICAN CRIMEI wouldn't have called it…
  • j***********@gmail.com'
    Son of Griff on LIFE ITSELFGlad to hear back from…
  • n*********@gmail.com'
    Jake Gittes on Film on the Internet: AN AMERICAN CRIMEThis is the single most…
  • “The End” of SAVAGES

    38550 views / Posted November 10, 2014
  • The Untalented Mr. Ripley: The Craft of Standup Comedy and the Non-Comedy of TOM MYERS

    31197 views / Posted June 26, 2018
  • What the fuck did I just watch? SPHERE

    30591 views / Posted March 19, 2015
  • Gordon with Mr. Looper

    Attention Must Be Paid: Will Lee

    27741 views / Posted January 7, 2023
  • Scenic Routes: SHOWGIRLS (1995)

    23694 views / Posted November 20, 2014
  • The truth is FAR out there.

    The Friday Article Roundup: The Truth is In Here

    December 6, 2024 / The Ploughman
  • This is a way lower res image than I will be allowed to get away with at the new site.

    Lunch Links: Schwarzfahrer

    December 5, 2024 / The Ploughman
  • Websites on the Internet: THE SOLUTE

    December 4, 2024 / ZoeZ
  • New on DVD and Blu-Ray

    December 3, 2024 / Greta Taylor
  • Movie Gifts Holidays 2024

    December 2, 2024 / The Ploughman

Last Tweets

    ©2014 - 2016 The-Solute | Hosted, Developed and Maintained by Bellingham WP LogoBellinghamWP.com.

    Menu

    • Home
    • Who We Are
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact Us
    • Login
    Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!