They find a great apartment in the Bradford, which is modeled after one of the grand old apartment houses along Central Park West in New York. (The exteriors are the famous Dakota, which wouldn't allow filming inside the building.) After they become friendly with their neighbors (an award-winning performance from Ruth Gordon), Guy's stagnant acting career suddenly takes off. They decide it is time to get pregnant and now the creepiness begins.
In Rosemary's Baby, he creates a tension and creepiness throughout the movie. We are not sure, just as Rosemary is not sure, whether Guy has conspired with the devil or not, that is, until the end of the movie, when we all know for sure what is the truth.
That Roman Polanski is the director of this movie brings up the question of whether an artist can be separated from his work. Does the work stand alone, or is it tainted by the artist's behavior in life? While Polanski's criminal behavior should not be ignored, can it be allowed to interfere with the appreciation of his art? I believe that while 100 years from now his behavior may be a footnote to his work, his work will stand the test of time. Rosemary's Baby will remain on the list of the best 100 movies ever made.
A horror movie without gore or blood, an American classic, a mystery, a morality play, and a masterpiece of atmosphere and foreboding, Rosemary's Baby is must viewing.
DIRECTOR: Roman Polanski. CAST: Mia Farrow, John Cassevetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Elisha Cook, Jr., Patsy Kelly, Charles Grodin.
AWARDS: Won 1 Oscar and 1 Golden Globe. Another 10 wins and 9 nominations.
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