Rosemary's Baby

( 16 )

Overview

In Roman Polanski's first American film, adapted from Ira Levin's horror bestseller, a young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. Waifish Rosemary Woodhouse Mia Farrow and her struggling actor husband, Guy John Cassavetes, move into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and only elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castevet Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building; despite ...
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Overview

In Roman Polanski's first American film, adapted from Ira Levin's horror bestseller, a young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. Waifish Rosemary Woodhouse Mia Farrow and her struggling actor husband, Guy John Cassavetes, move into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and only elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castevet Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building; despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, Guy starts spending time with the Castevets. Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Minnie starts showing up with homemade chocolate mousse for Rosemary. When Rosemary becomes pregnant after a mousse-provoked nightmare of being raped by a beast, the Castevets take a special interest in her welfare. As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to suspect that the Castevets' circle is not what it seems. The diabolical truth is revealed only after Rosemary gives birth, and the baby is taken away from her. Polanski's camerawork and Richard Sylbert's production design transform the realistic setting shot on-location in Manhattan's Dakota apartment building into a sinister projection of Rosemary's fears, chillingly locating supernatural horror in the familiar by leaving the most grotesque frights to the viewer's imagination. This apocalyptic yet darkly comic paranoia about the hallowed institution of childbirth touched a nerve with late-'60s audiences feeling uneasy about traditional norms. Produced by B-horror maestro William Castle, Rosemary's Baby became a critically praised hit, winning Gordon an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Inspiring a wave of satanic horror from The Exorcist 1973 to The Omen 1976, Rosemary's Baby helped usher in the genre's modern era by combining a supernatural story with Alfred Hitchcock's propensity for finding normality horrific.
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Special Features

Disc Two: New documentary featuring interviews with Polanski, actress Mia Farrow, and Producer Robert Evans; Interview with Author Ira Levin from a 1997 broadcast of Leonard Lopate's public radio program New York and Company, about his 1967 novel, it's sequel, and the film; ; Komeda, Komeda, a feature-length documentary on the life and work of jazz musician and Composer Krzysztof Komeda, who wrote the score for Rosemary's Baby; ; Plus: a Booklet featuring an essay by critic Ed Park; Levin's afterword to the 2003 New American Library edition of his novel; and Levin's rare, unpublished character sketches of the Woodhouses and floor plan of their apartment, created in preparation for the novel
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Mark Deming
Roman Polanski took the traditional gothic horror story and moved it to New York in the 20th century (where it finds a home with surprising ease) in this superb adaptation of Ira Levin's best-selling novel. While trading in the frankly unbelievable throughout, Polanski always keeps one foot firmly in reality while the other gingerly dips its toe into the pool where things aren't quite right. Rosemary Woodhouse (played with perfect small-town reserve by Mia Farrow) is nearly the only recognizably "normal" character in the film (much more so than her self-absorbed actor husband, Guy, played with just the right touch of slime by John Cassavetes), and nearly everyone around her seems a tiny bit odd, especially her neighbors Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie (Ruth Gordon), an eccentric older couple whose interest in Rosemary and her expectant child seems strange without being obviously evil. Ultimately, Polanski's greatest strength in this film is his subtlety; his pacing and sense of mood are masterful without calling attention to themselves, letting the horror of the premise sink its claws in so slowly and quietly that you don't notice how far deep they've gone until it's too late. It wasn't until The Exorcist that a horror film connected with audiences quite as strongly as Rosemary's Baby, and while The Exorcist threw a variety of wild and brutal shock tactics at its audience, Rosemary's Baby lured its victims in with such tender loving care that the horrible logic of its conclusion was all the more effective; it may well be the best and smartest horror movie of the 1960s.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/30/2012
  • UPC: 715515100816
  • Original Release: 1968

    • Rating:

  • Source: Criterion
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Special Edition / Wide Screen
  • Language: English
  • Time: 2:16:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 21,676

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Mia Farrow Rosemary Woodhouse
John Cassavetes Guy Woodhouse
Ruth Gordon Minnie Castevet
Sidney Blackmer Sr. Roman Castevet
Maurice Evans Hutch
Ralph Bellamy Dr. Sapirstein
Patsy Kelly Laura-Louise
Elisha Cook Jr. Mr. Nicklas
Hanna Landy Grace
Emmaline Henry Elise Dunstan
Marianne Gordon Joan Jellico
Phil Leeds Dr. Shand
Charles Grodin Dr. Hill
Hope Summers Mrs. Gilmore
Wende Wagner Tiger
Bill Baldwin Salesman
Walter S. Baldwin Mr. Wees
Roy Barcroft Sun-Browned Man
Charlotte Boerner Mrs. Fountain
Gail Bonney Voice Only
Carol Brewster Claudia Comfort
Sebastian Brooks Argyron Stavropoulos
William Castle Man Outside Phone Booth
Gordon Connell Guy's Agent
Patricia Ann Conway Mrs. John F. Kennedy
Tony Curtis Voice Only
Joyce Davis Dee Bertillon
Paul Denton Skipper
Angela Dorian Terry Fionoffrio
John Halloran Mechanic
Ernest Harada Young Japanese man
Marilyn Harvey Dr. Sapirstein's Receptionist
Jean Innes Sister Agnes
Mona Knox Mrs. Byron
D'Urville Martin Diego
Natalie Masters Young Woman
Elmer Modlin Young Man
Floyd Mutrux
Patricia O'Neal Mrs. Wees
Robert Osterloh Mr. Fountain
Josh Peine Men at Party
Joan T. Reilly Pregnant Woman
George Savalas Workman
Almira Sessions Mrs. Sabatini
Michael Shillo Pope
Bruno Sidar Mr. Gilmore
Clay Tanner Devil
Frank White Hugh Dunstan
Technical Credits
Roman Polanski Director, Screenwriter
William Castle Producer
Farciot Edouart Special Effects
William A. Fraker Cinematographer
Krzysztof Komeda Score Composer
Harold Lewis Sound/Sound Designer
Daniel McCauley Asst. Director
Robert Nelson Set Decoration/Design
Sam O'Steen Editor
Joel Schiller Art Director
Allan Snyder Makeup
Anthea Sylbert Costumes/Costume Designer
Richard Sylbert Production Designer
Bob Wyman Editor
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Rosemary's Baby
1. "Lullaby" [2:39]
2. The Bramford [6:07]
3. New Neighbors [7:18]
4. Tragedy [4:09]
5. Minnie and Roman [10:16]
6. Tannis Root [7:10]
7. Dreams and Nightmares [10:53]
8. Good News [8:43]
9. Dr. Sapirstein [10:50]
10. The Outside World [1:56]
11. Rosemary's Party [4:38]
12. All of Them Witches [8:31]
13. Farewell to the Castevets [10:32]
14. Casting Spells [2:05]
15. Dr. Hill [10:37]
16. Early Delivery [7:00]
17. Recuperation [7:14]
18. "Hail, Adrian!" [4:27]
1. Color Bars [11:34]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Rosemary's Baby
   Play The Movie
   Chapters
Disc #2 -- Rosemary's Baby
   Remembering Rosemary's Baby
      Play
   Ira Levin and Leonard Lopate
      Play
   Komeda, Komeda
      Play
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 16 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(10)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Easily the best horror movie ever

    Best horror movie, if not one of the best overall movies of all-time. Forget the exorcist, which is out dated and won't scare anyone today anyway. Unlike every horror movie from the 80's and older, Rosemary's Baby is not outdated at all and could still be a smash hit today if it were re-released. This is a genius movie that starts out like a soap opera and slowly turns into a terrifying psychological masterpiece. This is not your typical horror movie at all.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 30, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    My recollections of this movie: I accidently took my wife to se

    My recollections of this movie: I accidently took my wife to see it while she was pregnant. Ooops! But I also accidently took her to see DELIVERANCE, thinking it was a travelog, when she was preggies again. Can you imagine how my kids turned out? My third kid loves ALIENS. Go figure.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    The Others

    Rosemary still mesmerizes

    This is the greatest horror film, and one of the greatest films ever, period. Everything in it works. From that terrific tag line to the creepy poster art, to that off kilter lullaby Mia Farrow croons, to every single performance, line of dialogue and scene. The cast is perfection. The terror is palpable. The extras set the movie in its time, but the movie has surpased its time and become, like all true classics, for the ages. The Bramley will never be razed for a parking lot. Ira Levin's superb novel was blessed by Roman Polanski's film. Both are landmarks touched with more than a little genius.
    The movie is wickedly funny, deliciously entrancing, groundbreaking "real" because it's horror is set in present day New York; also, the elderly couple next door, who are the coven leaders, are played to the hilt by nosey Ruth Gordon and the intriguing Sidney Blackmer; therefore, it's easy to come under their spell. Blackmer especially gives an almost noble performance that is rich and wise. The entire cast is at the top of their game.
    Maurice Evan's Hutch is the hope and comfort of the film, the logical reality against what is inexorably happening, while Ralph Bellamy's Dr. Saperstein (he was on "Open End," you know)is that soft spoken easygoing evil that you just know hides a little below the surface of most of his ilk. It's also fun seeing Hope Summers (Clara Edwards of "The Andy Griffith Show") as a Satanist. Not out of character here, really. Did Aunt Bea ever find out?
    It's ironic that the movie probably could not be made today. The current crop of puritans would rail against it; odd, since the bare bones of the plot hew to what they say they believe. But while those lame Left Behind movies and the others artlessly propound beating foolish stuff into its audiences heads, "Rosemary's Baby" plays knowingly with fiction, with what ifs, with the paranoia come true, all in a twisty gripping eerie exciting film, produced by the great William Castle, who has just the right cameo that comes with the chill first, then the laughter.
    Mia Farrow's heart wrenching Rosemary Woodhouse leads us into her terror and pain, then into her first goose bumpy nightmare come true reaction to her son, propelling into that final reaction, maybe even scarier, as the camera wisely pans to the window and the outside of the Bramley. There are some fine character actors as well, always dependable Elisha Cook, Jr. Philip Leeds and Patsy Kelly.
    John Cassavetes, as Guy Woodhouse, also creeps us out as he sells himself and Rosemary, and I guess, their baby, and the world, to Satan, to further his acting career. Being in bit parts in "Luther" and "Nobody Loves an Albatross" can only take an actor just so far. Priorities, after all. So settle down with some "plain old Lipton Tea," a bowl of "chocolate mouse" and a Vodka Blush, and watch a classic again or for the first time. Watch out for mouse bites, though.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    The Exorcist
    The Omen

    This is not a horror film!!!!

    Would somebody please tell my why everyone is classifying this as a horror film. There wasn't anything horror about it. Don't get me wrong, the movie is excellent with some top notch acting and cinematography. However, I found the movie to be completely misleading in the direction in which it was going, teasing you with some creepy singing at the opening credits, but going nowhere for the first half of the movie. There was some disturbing imagery in it, but nothing to the level of an actual horror movie, this was more of a psychological/supernatural "drama". Half way, i found myself frustrated and begging for some actual progression. Thankfully the story started to take off in the second half, but I was still frustrated that I was not actually watching a horror film, and I wasn't expecting blood and gore, and some guy with a chainsaw, but you would think a film that labels itself as horror and with a Devil worshiping story, would have similar horror qualities like the "Exorcist" or "The Omen" which are true horror movies and blow "Rosemary's Baby" completely out of the water. For those of you interested in a Disturbing drama, then go for it. For those of you looking for a psychological/supernatural horror, look elsewhere.

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    rosemary's baby

    this was creepy and just plain weird film i've ever seen. the only thing you should be watching for is the ending and nothing else. sick way to get a woman pregnant and just sad on the ending as well. this is about a couple who move into a house and then later something happens to the wife rosemary where later she finds out she's pregnant and begins to have weird events that lead up to the finale and the birth. it is slow pace and interesting though not one i would like to see. watch it for yourself then decide.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great Classic Horror

    This movie is absolutely wonderful. I hope the Hollywood honchos never try to remake this classic. It's creepy without being slasher. Psychologically is where it gets you, just like the Omen. Mia Farrow is perfect as the wife who looks seems paranoid. John Cassavetes is wonderful as Guy, the actor husband who sells out his first born. I love the atmosphere of the movie and the odd couple who latches on to Guy and Rosemary.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Masterpiece

    I have seen a lot of scary films in my time. I've seen Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream and I thought they all sucked. Rosemary's Baby is the only film I've seen that literally scared the s*** out of me. Even the music creeps you out. If you are a serious movie goer like I am, watch it. You will find a little piece of movie history.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great but boring

    i personally liked the Omen more because it was scarier than this. This is like a drama with a dark side.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    ROMAN POLANSKI'S MASTERPIECE

    THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FILMS OF ALL TIME. I LOVE THIS FILM, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY TO DO WITH SLASHERS AND SERIAL KILLERS, IT DOESN'T HAVE GORE AND BLOOD. IT IS A RARE AND SPECIAL FILM THAT PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU CAN HAVE EVIL SIDES. THEY DON'T MAKE FILMS LIKE THESE ANYMORE. ALSO, THEY SHOULD COME OUT WITH A SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION OF THIS ALL-TIME GROUNDBREAKING CLASSIC CHILLER. IT SHOULD HAVE MORE EXTRAS LIKE DELETED SCENES, AND MULTIPLE TRAILERS, INSIGHTFUL COMMENTARIES, SPECIAL INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST AND CREW, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: IT SHOULD DIGITALLY RESTORED AND REMASTERED IN CRISP CLEAR DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 SURROUND SOUND.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Behind the Scenes of Rosemary's Baby

    Classic Horror at it's best, less on gore, more of a thinking man's horror. If you like the movie and want to know more about the behind the scenes making of Rosemary's Baby, check out two available titles - Curse of the Silver Screen - Tragedy & Disaster Behind the Movies chronicles troubled productions of many Hollywood features including Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Misfits, Rebel Without a Cause and more. Also, check out Scare Tactic - The Life & Films of William Castle. Castle was the producer of Rosemary's Baby and the book details this film as well as his other classics like House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 13, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 20, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 21, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 23, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews