Roman Polanski’s (The Pianist, Chinatown) first American film, 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby, is a classic film that has held the test of time and should be viewed by every film fan at least once. Though classified primarily as a horror film, it isn’t scary compared to today’s movies. However, it does have a certain eeriness that only the legendary film directors (such as Alfred Hitchcock in Psycho and others) could capture in that day and age. It’s neither the darkness nor the freaky-looking characters that establish the fear. Instead, the fascinating, web-weaving storyline captures the audience’s interest for the film’s duration.
Polanski also wrote the screenplay for this movie, adapting Ira Levin’s bestselling novel. The plot revolves around Rosemary (Mia Farrow – Hannah and Her Sisters, Alice) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes – The Dirty Dozen, A Woman Under The Influence). They are a young married couple who move into a foreboding apartment building in New York City inhabited by residents much older than themselves. Welcomed by an elderly couple named Roman (Sidney Blackmer – known mostly for his roles on numerous television series) and his wife Minnie (Ruth Gordon – Maxie, Inside Daisy Clover), Roman and Minnie soon become immersed in the lives of the Woodhouses. Guy, a struggling actor by trade, fancies a relationship with the elderly couple despite Rosemary’s reservations, particularly with how nosy they are.
As Guy’s luck changes (he finds work on Broadway), Rosemary’s life starts taking a turn for the worse. Minnie brings homemade chocolate mousse to her daily and watches her closely to ensure she eats it. Soon Rosemary is pregnant (before finding out she will have a baby, she has a nightmare that a beast is raping her). Roman and Minnie become more involved in the life of Rosemary as her pregnancy advances. Guy all but disappears due to his job. Against her wishes, Rosemary sees the doctor that Minnie recommends. She feels sick during most of her pregnancy and begins to suspect that anyone and everyone is after her baby. There is more than Roman and Minnie do, but I will refrain from saying anymore so that you can watch it all develop on your own. Because the story takes such a long time to unfold, we feel all of Rosemary’s fears. We have the same trepidations that she does, and, like Rosemary, we suspect the worst.
Polanski is a masterful storyteller. Farrow arguably had the best performance of her storied career. Ruth Gordon won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Award for her performance as Minnie. It’s a movie not to be missed by film buffs.
Plot 8/10
Character Development 8/10
Character Chemistry8/10
Acting 8/10
Screenplay 8/10
Directing 9/10
Cinematography 8/10
Sound 8.5/10
Hook and Reel 7.5/10
Universal Relevance 6.5/10
79.5%