MovieChat Forums > The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016) Discussion > A black Dr. Scott kills a lot of the sub...

A black Dr. Scott kills a lot of the subtext

posted 8 years ago by DwightFry
16 replies | jump to latest

In the original, it is implied that Dr. Scott is a former Nazi scientist, a Dr. Strangelove type, with "or should I say Dr. VON Scott" and then Jonathan Adams slipping in some German accent. This adds a subtle subtext that is actually one of the best jokes in the show.

This version has a black actor as Dr. Scott yet it keeps the "VON Scott" line, which now makes absolutely no sense (a black Nazi?). One can argue that in this context Frank throws the line to compare Dr. Scott to Nazi scientists without stating he is a literal one, but more likely it's a matter of the makers having little idea of what they were doing.

I have no problem with diversity casting, and for the matter I loved the idea of a woman playing Frank in this (about the one fresh idea in the whole production) but of all the characters they could choose to switch races, which is about any of them, they had to pick the one for which race is part of the joke?

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[–] darogr 8 years ago

It's such a good example of ruining a role due to diversity casting. I'm all for diversity casting as well, but there are some roles that it just can't be done...and Dr. Scott is one of them.

[–] illbeoneasystreet 8 years ago

It does lose the subtext but they could have worked with it by eliminating that line altogether or playing it tongue in cheek which is very Rocky esque. The whole thing is pretty tongue in cheek. It just calls attention to the fact that the role was written for a white male and without addressing it, it looks like pure laziness.

Its something you'll get used to a mental mind *beep* can be nice!

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

I actually thought they were going to remove the line or replace it with something else more adequate to the circumstances, but way before that moment it had already become clear that they were only interested in just cosplaying the original all over. Just as I also hoped for Brad's verse in "Over at the Frankenstein's place", Crim's verse in "Sword of Damocles", or the whole of "Once in a While". But they are not in the original film so why bothering, right?

Actually, the PERFECT thing to do would have been casting Tim Curry as Dr. Scott instead of Crim. Given his current (saddening) status, what better role for him than the wheelchair-bound one? Understandably though that he would not have wanted much screen time (even his part as Crim is heavily cut down) due to frail health, but ideally just think about it.

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[–] tekias86 8 years ago

Actually, I think it's in the trivia that Curry requested the Dr. Scott role, but was instead offered Crim.

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

Seriously? Who can say no to Tim Curry? (Kenny Ortega, apparently that's who. Sigh.)

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[–] darogr 8 years ago

Kenny Ortega apparently could say NO to anyone who attempted to talk any common sense into him about this misguided production.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show did not need a High School Musical makeover.

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

Very true. As far as I'm concerned this is the last Kenny Ortega project I ever plan to watch. Even thinking in purely cinematic terms and not as the lifelong "regular Frankie fan" I am, this production continuously blew any potentially good ideas it might have. Take, for example, that Medusa-like mask/hat Frank wears in his/her first appearance. A perfect opportunity for a shock "boo!" reveal moment like when Tim first turns over in the original, right? Wrong, as the whole thing is telegraphed by clearly seeing Frank arriving on that crane way before Janet does (and we already know how s/he looks because of those portraits prominently displayed in the background during "Time Warp"). Ditto for Rocky's first reveal: we should have been saved taking a good look at him for when he actually stands up, but no, we are shown the still inanimate body and face moments before. And the whole movie is like this.

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[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

It's most likely they filmmakers didn't care enough about the Nazi "dig" or didn't think the audience would care or notice that Frank spoke with a German accent about 1/3rd of the time or maybe Lou Adler just plain forgot and none of the new people got the joke! So MANY reasons!

Of course, they were playing to an audience who thought casting a woman as Frank was "the one fresh idea in the production", so it doesn't take much to appease simple-minded people.

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

Of course, they were playing to an audience who thought casting a woman as Frank was "the one fresh idea in the production", so it doesn't take much to appease simple-minded people.

(Frank voice): I think you can do better than that!

(I admit I was tempted to say They didn't make it for you! but I considered one gratuitous insulter per thread was more than enough.)

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[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

I guess I should have asked if you thought it was also a GOOD idea and not just "fresh". I mean a fresh turd on my pizza is still considered "fresh", AND a "fresh idea"... one could argue. However that doesn't make it good at all.

😘

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

I like the idea. After all, what character was ever more about blurring the limits between genders than Frank N. Furter? And since Tim Curry's portrayal will never be matched, going in a totally different direction is the most sensible approach.

The execution, though, is a whole different subject.

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[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

Well, I prefer my Franks with (hold the jokes!) 5 o'clock shadow, sideburns, hairy pits & legs... in general the simplicity of a male with a kink works just fine. Now as I addressed elsewhere, a female Frank with a Dietrich-like butch garb obsession would make for a more believable twist, but still wouldn't work for me. Cox should have just gotten her own custom-made starring vehicle and then at least she'd have a "Glitter"-like turkey and not taint a popular property.

Fresh ideas? How about an adult animation version or sequel? Or what about setting it in Transylvania in the year 1890 with the same rock & roll music? Don't get me started, I have fresh ideas! 😉

[–] DwightFry 8 years ago

Or what about setting it in Transylvania in the year 1890 with the same rock & roll music? Don't get me started, I have fresh ideas!

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Luhrmann! 😉

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[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

Nah, not like "Moulin Rouge" which I love btw. Just Rocky AS a true Frankenstein story. The twist with RHPS was setting a castle down in the middle of white America. An interesting twist, IMO, would be to bring the music back to the original setting. You're right, it's not an entirely original idea now, I even have an old film called “Frankenstein Sings!” No I honestly can't remember if it was even good-bad right off the bat! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113105/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Animation isn't “my” 100% fresh idea, there's “Van Helsing”, “Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated“, etc. But for RHPS it might have been a preferable alternative seeing as the art and voice talent could have overcome what ended up being horrid casting flaws in this one. A voice-over singer can look like anything as long as they sound the part.

A 3rd idea I had a brain-fart on a moment ago was to re-imagine it as a dramatic musical, but maybe it's best it stayed there in the pineal ethers. I still like to imagine even for a moment what could be done in the right hands, and, like with the 1975 original, the right touch of magic. THIS remake could have been gold in the correct hands, but it was unfortunately nowhere near those, whoevers arms they may be attached to.

[–] darogr 8 years ago

Could it be possible that they wanted to pass "Von" off as his Christian name? I would believe anything with these filmmakers.

Anyway, it's over and done with and soon to be a forgotten footnote. I think the good that will come out of this remake oh sorry "re-imagining" is more people will seek out the original film and versions of the stage shows (I did that myself having never seen a stage production).

[–] cteavin-1 8 years ago

I thought it was kind of funny, actually. Since there is no mention of time we can assume that it's present day, anyway. If it is present day, then the German reference wouldn't matter as WWII era people of that age have more or less died out. If it was set in the past, then kids now a days won't understand it's significance.