Watch With Mother, And Father, And...
When I was a kid, everybody in my family had a favourite film. It wasn't all at the same time, but I can distinctly remember each member of my family going through a phase where they watched one film obsessively. Is this trait particular to my family? I don't think so, but perhaps you'll tell me different.
Anyway, most everyone knows that my all-time favourite film is The Rocky Horror Picture Show1, and that Fran has watched Dirty Dancing about a million times2, but it's sort of more interesting to look at your parents. I'd never really thought about it, but our favourite films say something about us - probably most strongly about the kind of world we'd like to live in - and in turn that must say something aboout my parents that I'd never thought about. Lemme think...
My Dad's all-time most watched movie is The Jazz Singer. The Neil Diamond version, in which Yussel Rabinovitch must defy his Jewish father (Laurence Olivier) in order to become a pop megastar. There are many parallels here. I know my dad defied his father and left a long-standing institution (Eastbourne) to pursue his dreams. I know my dad refused to use his gifts to serve the God of Abraham, but instead chose to serve the customers of 'Aylesbury Exhaust & Motors'. And I also know my dad hasn't really done anything useful since 'Love On The Rocks' was released. So in many ways, The Jazz Singer is a foresighted tribute to my father, and it's natural that he would feel a great kinship with Neil Diamond, given that they both have bad hair and little acting talent. Yes, The Jazz Singer sums up my father's world pretty accurately.
My Mum's all-time most watched movie, believe it or not, is Flash Gordon. Not for any of the good reasons: Not to see someone defeat a palace-full of henchmen with American Football tactics, not to hear Queen's bassist's simplest moment, and not even to yell, "GORDON'S ALIVE!?" Nope, I think it's her favourite film just because it features Timothy Dalton (nothing like my dad) and Richard O'Brien (Nothing. Like. My. Dad.) together in one movie3. I sometimes think that in an ideal world, my mother would have travelled the world, seeing exotic lands, wearing clothes that never made it out of the seventies, and meeting lots and lots of people who are nothing like my dad. Or Neil Diamond.
1 With The Little Shop Of Horrors (modern version) being a close second.
2 Along with every other gal of a certain age, I expect.
3 If you go through my mum's video collection, you'll find such gems as two (and only two) Bond films (the Dalton ones), Wuthering Heights (the Dalton version), and O'Brien's two musicals The Rocky Horror Picture Show (yep, it's her fault) and Shock Treatment, but only in Flash Gordon do you get the two together on-screen in all their camp-dramatic glory.
I didn't know Dalton did camp.
This begs a further question about your mother's gaydar... could she have a thing for gay men?
I don't think O'Brien's gay, if that's what you're suggesting (may not be).
He's not a fan of labels, as such, so has never said anything...
...but he has been married twice, and has three kids.
And I don't think he's the In The Closet kind.
Dalton doesn't really do camp, but Flash Gordon had that effect on people. Even Brian Blessed came off looking a little bit fey.
And as far as I know, O'Brien is bisexual, even if he doesn't like the label. It's probably fairer to describe him as flexible.
Yep, I'm with you on that.
For some reason, I get deja vu reading this post.
And count me among those who didn't know you had a favourite film, and that the Rocky Horror Picture Show was it.
You read it before, when I originally wrote it. I have about forty entries lying around in draft - some unfinished, some I don't feel like making public - and occasionally I decide it's time to bring them to life. Rather unusually, I showed this post to you, and then buried it anyway.
Oh, and yep - the Rock Horror Show is a film I could watch endlessly. I could probably recite it, too.
There's something not quite right in my mind about commenting in a public forum about *any* person's sexuality unless the information is already in the public domain. I wouldn't want it happen to me without my consent if I were an "In The Closet" kind. To the wrong person, this sort of speculation can be harmful. Whether O'Brien be straight, gay or bisexual, it's his business. Not ours, here.
Sorry if I gave the impression I was (or if I indeed was). So far as I was aware, it's NOT public domain and as such I was querying what appeared to me a supposition. I've absolutely no idea about his sexuality and don't much care.
I actually don't think there's a great deal of harm in discussing this in the context of Richard O'Brien and I take Kris' point. However, I was just noting for the record a general principle: that in my view a little care is needed when commenting about people's sexuality when the subject of the speculation, whoever it may be is, shall we say, in a "grey area" or in denial. Speculation can go too far and might cause harm. Sometimes it is better to err on the side of caution.
I think I gave rise to Brian's comment, so perhaps I should speak up.
In general, I agree. People's sexuality shouldn't be analysed in a public forum. But that's not without exception. If you were to write and produce a political play, then I think it would be fair game to speculate on your politics. You brought the subject up for public consumption in the first place, so we're entitled to discuss where you're coming from. Equally, I think the content of the Rocky Horror Show puts O'Brien's sexual attitudes in the public arena, and therefore up for public discussion.
Without his input to this debate, we're just speculating. Nevertheless, I think he has knowingly sparked a debate. To stop now and hide under strict rules, keeping silent about sexuality, would seem contrary to his original intent.
And, it would be boring. And that's definitely not his intention...
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