| Rosemary's Baby | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster byPhilip Gips | |
| Directed by | Roman Polanski |
| Screenplay by | Roman Polanski |
| Based on | Rosemary's Baby byIra Levin |
| Produced by | William Castle |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | William A. Fraker |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Krzysztof Komeda |
Production company | William Castle Enterprises[1] |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 137 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.2 million[2] |
| Box office | $33.4 million[2] |
Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 Americanpsychological horror film written and directed byRoman Polanski, based onIra Levin's1967 novel. The film starsMia Farrow as the titular Rosemary, a newlywed living inManhattan who becomes pregnant, but soon begins to suspect that her neighbors have sinister intentions regarding her and her baby. The film's supporting cast includesJohn Cassavetes,Ruth Gordon,Sidney Blackmer,Maurice Evans,Ralph Bellamy,Patsy Kelly,Angela Dorian, andCharles Grodin in his feature film debut.
The film deals with themes related toparanoia,women's liberation,Catholicism, and theoccult.[3] While it is primarily set inNew York City, the majority of principal photography forRosemary's Baby took place inLos Angeles throughout late 1967. The film was released on June 12, 1968, byParamount Pictures. It was abox office success, grossing over $30 million in the United States ($270 million in 2025), and received immense critical acclaim, ultimately placing second behindThe Lion in Winter on the annualFilm Daily year-end poll in 1968.[4] The film was nominated for several accolades, including multipleGolden Globe Award nominations and twoAcademy Award nominations, winningBest Supporting Actress (for Ruth Gordon) and the Golden Globe in thesame category. Since its release,Rosemary's Baby has been widely regarded as one of the greatesthorror films of all time. In 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the United StatesNational Film Registry by theLibrary of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The film successfully launched a franchise, which includes the 1976 sequel filmLook What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby, the 2014 miniseriesRosemary's Baby, and the 2024 prequel filmApartment 7A.
Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse rent a recently vacated apartment in the Bramford, a large Gothic building in New York City, after the previous tenant, an elderly woman, fell into a coma and died. Guy and Rosemary ignore their friend Hutch's warning about the Bramford's dark past involving witchcraft and murder.
Rosemary meets a young woman, Terry Gionoffrio, a recovering drug addict whom Minnie and Roman Castevet, the Woodhouses' elderly next-door neighbors, took in from the street. Rosemary admires a pendant necklace the Castevets gave to Terry but dislikes its content's pungent odor. One night, Terry apparently jumps to her death from the Castevets' seventh-floor apartment. Soon the Castevets befriend Guy and Rosemary; Guy grows increasingly fond of them, but Rosemary finds them annoying and meddlesome. Minnie gives Terry's pendant to Rosemary as agood luck charm containing "tannis root".
Guy lands an important role in a play after the original actor inexplicably goes blind. With his career on track, Guy wants to have a baby with Rosemary. On the night they plan to conceive, Minnie brings them individual cups of chocolate mousse. Guy chastises Rosemary for complaining hers has a chalky "under-taste". She eats only a small portion before secretly discarding the rest. She passes out and experiences a dreamlike vision in which ademonic presence rapes her as Guy, the Castevets, and other Bramford tenants — all nude —watch. The next morning, Rosemary's body is covered in scratches. Guy says they had sex while she was unconscious since he did not want to miss "baby night".
When Rosemary becomes pregnant, the Castevets insist she go to their close friend Dr. Abraham Sapirstein, a prominent obstetrician, rather than her own physician, Dr. Hill. During her first trimester, Rosemary suffers severe abdominal pains and loses weight, though Dr. Sapirstein attributes it to temporary stiff pelvic joints. Her gaunt appearance alarms Hutch, who later researches the Bramford's history and Roman Castavet after the trio's meeting in Rosemary's apartment. Hutch arranges a meeting with Rosemary on phone to share his findings, about which she informs Guy afterward. When Hutch doesn't arrive the next day she calls for him in a phone booth; a claimed friend answers and tells Rosemary that he fell into a mysterious coma later yesterday. At a Woodhouse exclusive "old young friends party" Rosemary is unable to withstand the pain among girlfriends and hears their opinions. She starts pouring Castevets' drink formula and insists she must visit Dr. Hill; Guy gets angry because he worries Dr. Sapirstein will be offended. As they argue, the pains suddenly stop and Rosemary feels the baby move for the first time, subsequently taking up the drinking formula.
Three months later, Hutch's friend, Grace Cardiff, calls Rosemary to inform her Hutch is dead. Before dying, he briefly regained consciousness and told Grace to give Rosemary a book onwitchcraft along with the cryptic message: "The name is ananagram". Rosemary studies the book and deduces thatRoman Castevet is an anagram forSteven Marcato, the son of a former Bramford resident and a reputedSatanist. She suspects the Castevets belong to a Sataniccoven and have sinister plans for her baby. She sees Dr. Sapirstein to talk about Castevets and he tells they'll be gone away for city visiting as Roman hadn't much to live, and she shouldn't worry them harming the baby. Guy meanwhile, discounts her suspicions and throws the book away; making her think again, he may be conspiring with them.
One day, whilst she is waiting in the lobby for Dr. Sapirstein, the secretary mentions Dr. Sapirstein's similar pendant. She leaves, buys new spellcasting books, and calls the blinded actor, partly to investigate the missing belongings connections. Terrified, Rosemary visits Dr. Hill for help. Assuming she is delusional, he calls Dr. Sapirstein, who arrives with Guy to take Rosemary home. They assure her that neither she nor the baby will be harmed. Rosemary locks herself in the apartment, but coven members infiltrate and restrain her. Dr. Sapirstein sedates a hysterical Rosemary, who goes into labor and gives birth. When she awakens, she is told the baby wasstillborn. As Rosemary recovers, she hears an infant crying that Guy claims belongs to new tenants.
Believing her baby is alive, Rosemary examines a linen closet that shares a wall with the Castevets' apartment and discovers a hidden door leading into the apartment. In the living room, the Castevets, Guy, Dr. Sapirstein and other coven members are gathered around a cradle as if celebrating. Peering inside, Rosemary is horrified to see that the child has eyes that recall the demonic figure she saw in her vision when she and Guy conceived. She demands to know what is wrong with her baby. Roman tells her the baby "has his father's eyes," that he is not Guy's son butSatan's son. He reveals that her experience the night the child was conceived was not a vision but reality, and that the child that resulted is destined to lead the Satanists in a revolt against all who oppose their beliefs. When Guy tries to calm Rosemary by claiming they will be generously rewarded and can conceive their own child, Rosemary spits in his face. Roman gently urges her to be a mother to the child, saying that the women in the coven are "too old" to do this. Rosemary appears stunned by all she has been told, but after hearing the infant's cries, she tenderly begins to rock the cradle.
InRosemary's Baby: A Retrospective, a featurette on the DVD release of the film, screenwriter/directorRoman Polanski,Paramount Pictures executiveRobert Evans, andproduction designerRichard Sylbert reminisce at length about the production. Evans recalledWilliam Castle brought him thegalley proofs of the book and asked him to purchase the film rights even beforeRandom House published the book in April 1967. The studio head recognized the commercial potential of the project and agreed with the stipulation that Castle, who had a reputation forlow-budgethorror films, could produce but not direct the film adaptation. He makes a cameo appearance as the man at the phone booth waiting forMia Farrow's character to finish her call.
François Truffaut said thatAlfred Hitchcock was first offered the chance to direct the film but declined.[1] Evans admired Polanski's European films and hoped he could convince him to make his American debut withRosemary's Baby.[5] He knew the director was a ski buff who was anxious to make a film with the sport as its basis, so he sent him the script forDownhill Racer along with the galleys forRosemary's Baby.[6] Polanski read the latter book non-stop through the night and called Evans the following morning to tell him he thoughtRosemary's Baby was the more interesting project, and would like the opportunity to write as well as direct it.[7] After negotiations, Paramount agreed to hire Polanski for the project, with a tentative budget of $1.9 million, $150,000 of which would go to Polanski.[7]
Polanski completed the 272-page screenplay for the film in approximately three weeks.[7] Polanski closely modeled it on theoriginal 1967 novel byIra Levin and incorporated large sections of the novel's dialogue and details, with much of it being lifted directly from the source text.[8]
Casting forRosemary's Baby began in the summer of 1967 in Los Angeles.[9] Polanski originally envisioned Rosemary as a robust, full-figured, girl-next-door type, and wantedTuesday Weld or his own fiancéeSharon Tate to play the role.Jane Fonda,Patty Duke andGoldie Hawn were also reportedly considered for the role.[9][10][11]
Since the book had not yet reached bestseller status, Evans was unsure the title alone would guarantee an audience for the film, and he believed that a bigger name was needed for the lead. Farrow, with a supporting role inGuns at Batasi (1964) and the yet-unreleasedA Dandy in Aspic (1968) as her only feature film credits, had an unproven box office track record; however, she had gained wider notice with her role asAllison MacKenzie in the popular television seriesPeyton Place, and her unexpected marriage to singerFrank Sinatra.[12] Despite her waif-like appearance, Polanski agreed to cast her.[12] Her acceptance incensed Sinatra, who had demanded she forgo her career when they wed.[13]
Robert Redford was the first choice for the role of Guy Woodhouse, but he turned it down.[14]Jack Nicholson was considered briefly before Polanski suggestedJohn Cassavetes, whom he had met in London.[14] In casting the film's secondary actors, Polanski drew sketches of what he imagined the characters would look like, which were then used by Paramount casting directors to match with potential actors.[15] In the roles of Roman and Minnie Castevet, Polanski cast veteran stage and film actors Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon. Veteran actor Ralph Bellamy was cast as Dr. Sapirstein. (Many years earlier, Bellamy and Blackmer had appeared in the pre-Code 1934 filmThis Man Is Mine.)[15]
When Rosemary calls Donald Baumgart, the actor who goes blind and is replaced by Guy, the voice heard on the phone is actorTony Curtis. Farrow, who had not been told who would be reading Baumgart's lines, recognized his voice but could not place it. The slight confusion she displays throughout the call was exactly what Polanski hoped to capture by not revealing Curtis' identity in advance.[citation needed]
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Principal photography forRosemary's Baby began on August 21, 1967, in New York City.[1]The Dakota's exteriors served as the location for the fictional Bramford. Levin modeled it on buildings like the Dakota.[16] In the novel, Hutch even urges Rosemary and Guy to move into "the Dakota" instead of the Bramford.[17]
When Farrow was reluctant to film a scene that depicted a dazed and preoccupied Rosemary wandering into the middle ofFifth Avenue into oncoming traffic, Polanski pointed to her pregnancy padding and reassured her, "no one's going to hit a pregnant woman". The scene was successfully shot with Farrow walking into real traffic and Polanski following, operating the hand-held camera since he was the only one willing to do it.[1][18]
By September 1967, the shoot had relocated to Paramount Studios inHollywood, where interior sets of the Bramford apartments had been constructed onsound stages.[1] Some additional location shooting took place inPlaya del Rey in October 1967.[1] Farrow recalled that the dream sequence in which her character is attending a dinner party on a yacht was filmed on a vessel nearSanta Catalina Island.[19] Though Paramount had initially agreed to spend $1.9 million to make the film, the shoot was overextended due to Polanski's meticulous attention to detail, which resulted in his completing up to fifty takes of single shots.[20] The shoot suffered significant scheduling problems as a result, and ultimately went $400,000 over budget.[21] In November 1967, it was reported that the shoot was over three weeks behind schedule.[1]
The shoot was further disrupted when, midway through filming, Farrow's husband, Frank Sinatra, served her divorce papers via a corporate lawyer in front of the cast and crew.[20] In an effort to salvage her relationship, Farrow asked Evans to release her from her contract, but he persuaded her to remain with the project after showing her an hour-longrough cut and assuring her she would receive anAcademy Award nomination for her performance.[22] Filming was completed on December 20, 1967, in Los Angeles.[1]
| Rosemary's Baby (Music from the Original Motion Picture Score) | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 1968 |
| Recorded | 25 June 1968 |
| Studio | Western Recorders, Hollywood, California |
| Genre | |
| Length | 25:21 |
| Label | Dot Records |
| Producer | Tom Mack |
Thelullaby played over the intro is the song "Sleep Safe and Warm", composed byKrzysztof Komeda and sung by Farrow.[23] A tenant practicing "Für Elise" is also frequently used as background music throughout the film, the skill improving throughout the film to demonstrate the progression of time. The originalfilm soundtrack was released in 1968 viaDot Records.Waxwork Records released the soundtrack from the original master tapes in 2014, including Krzysztof Komeda's original work.[24]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lullaby fromRosemary's Baby, Part 1" | 2:20 |
| 2. | "The Coven" | 0:45 |
| 3. | "Moment Musical" | 2:00 |
| 4. | "Dream" | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Christmas" | 2:05 |
| 6. | "Expectancy" | 2:21 |
| Total length: | 13:16 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Main Title (Vocal)" | 2:50 |
| 8. | "Panic" | 2:02 |
| 9. | "Rosemary's Party" | 2:05 |
| 10. | "Through The Closet" | 1:44 |
| 11. | "What Have You Done To Its Eyes" | 1:27 |
| 12. | "Happy News" | 1:57 |
| Total length: | 12:05 | |
Rosemary's Baby was given a wide theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, opening in the United States on June 12, 1968.[2]
TheRosemary's Baby DVD, released on October 3, 2000, byParamount Home Entertainment, contains a 23-minutedocumentary film,Mia and Roman, directed byShahrokh Hatami, which was shot during the making of the film. The title refers toMia Farrow andRoman Polanski. The film features footage of Roman Polanski directing the film's cast on set. Hatami was an Iranian photographer who befriended Polanski and his wifeSharon Tate.[25]Mia and Roman was screened originally as a promo film at Hollywood's Lytton Center,[26] and later included as afeaturette on theRosemary's Baby DVD. It is described as a "trippy on-set featurette"[27] and "an odd little bit of cheese."[28]
On October 30, 2012,The Criterion Collection released the film for the first time onBlu-ray.[29] It was released for the first time on4K Ultra HD for its 55th Anniversary on October 10, 2023.[30]
The film was a major box-office hit for Paramount Pictures,[31] grossing a total of $33,397,080 worldwide against its $3.2 million budget.[2]
In contemporary reviews,Renata Adler wrote inThe New York Times that: "The movie—although it is pleasant—doesn't seem to work on any of its dark or powerful terms. I think this is because it is almost too extremely plausible. The quality of the young people's lives seems the quality of lives that one knows, even to the point of finding old people next door to avoid and lean on. One gets very annoyed that they don't catch on sooner."[32]
Stanley Eichelbaum of theSan Francisco Examiner called the film "a delightful witches brew, a bit over-long for my taste, but nearly always absorbing, suspenseful and easier to swallow than Ira Levin's book. Its suggestions of deviltry in a musty and still-respectable old apartment house on Manhattan's Upper West Side are more gracefully and appealingly related than in the novel, which I found awfully silly, when it wasn't downright noxious. The very idea of a contemporary case of witchcraft, in which an innocent young housewife is impregnated by the Devil, is to say the least unnerving, particularly when the pregnancy is marked by all degrees of mental and physical pain."[33]
Variety said, "Several exhilarating milestones are achieved inRosemary's Baby, an excellent film version of Ira Levin's diabolical chiller novel. Writer-director Roman Polanski has triumphed in his first US-made pic. The film holds attention without explicit violence or gore... Farrow's performance is outstanding."[34]
TheMonthly Film Bulletin said that "After the miscalculations ofCul de Sac andDance of the Vampires", Polanski had "returned to the rich vein ofRepulsion".[35] The review noted that "Polanski shows an increasing ability to evoke menace and sheer terror in familiar routines (cooking and telephoning, particularly)", and Polanski has shown "his transformation of a cleverly calculated thriller into a serious work of art".[36]
Today, the film is widely regarded as a classic; it has an approval rating of 97% on review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes based on 86 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The site's critics' consensus describes it as "A frightening tale of Satanism and pregnancy that is even more disturbing than it sounds thanks to convincing and committed performances by Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon."[37]Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 96 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[38]
The scene in which Rosemary is raped by Satan was ranked No. 23 onBravo'sThe 100 Scariest Movie Moments.[50] In 2010,The Guardian ranked the film the second-greatest horror film of all time.[51] In 2014, it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by theLibrary of Congress and selected for preservation in theNational Film Registry.[52]
The film inaugurated cinema's growing fascination withdemons and related themes in the coming decades,[53] and the novel's author Ira Levin wondered in a 2003 afterword whether his idea forRosemary's Baby ultimately led to an increase in religious fundamentalism.[54]
In the 1976television filmLook What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby,Patty Duke starred as Rosemary Woodhouse and Ruth Gordon reprised her role of Minnie Castevet. The film introduced an adult Andrew/Adrian attempting to earn his place as the Antichrist. It was disliked as a sequel by critics and viewers, and its reputation deteriorated over the years. The film is unrelated to the novel's 1997 sequel,Son of Rosemary.[55]
After the success ofFriday the 13th Part III series producerFrank Mancuso Jr. was assigned to work on another3D film with one of the projects considered being a 3-D remake ofRosemary's Baby before Mancuso ultimately deciding to produceThe Man Who Wasn't There.[56] Another attempt to remakeRosemary's Baby was briefly considered in 2008. The intended producers wereMichael Bay,Andrew Form, andBrad Fuller.[57] The remake fell through later that same year.[58] In January 2014,NBC made a four-hour miniseries withZoe Saldaña as Rosemary. The miniseries was filmed inParis under the direction ofAgnieszka Holland.[59] In 2016, the film was unofficially remade in Turkey under the titleAlamet-i-Kiyamet.[60] The shortHer Only Living Son from the 2017 horror anthology filmXX serves as an unofficial sequel to the story.[61]
The film was followed by a prequel in 2024,Apartment 7A. The prequel takes place a year prior and leading up to the events ofRosemary's Baby, and expands on Terry Gionoffrio and Mrs. Gardenia's back-stories who were minor characters in the original film.[62]
The film was satirized in 1969 inMad magazine as "Rosemia's Boo-boo".[63]
The film inspired theEnglish bandDeep Purple to write the song "Why Didn't Rosemary?" for theirthird album in 1969, after the band had watched the movie while touring the US in 1968. The song's lyrics pose the question, "Why didn't Rosemary ever takethe pill?"[64]
The film was parodied in the 1996Halloween episode ofRoseanne, "Satan, Darling".[65]
The film was turned into a parody musical in the ninth episode ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 9, titledRosemarie's Baby Shower. It featuredhorror movie icons likeBlair,Pennywise, andM3GAN.[66]
The TV showWhat We Do in the Shadows parodies the film's ending as part of an alternative series finale.[67]
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