ROSEMARY’S BABY
1968

Director: Roman Polanski

Mia Farrow (Rosemary Woodhouse) (then married to Frank Sinatra) was famous for Peyton place.

Original thought was to cast Rosemary as a healthy all-American girl. Tuesday Weld originally considered for the part. Farrow had a vulnerable quality they liked

John Cassavetes also not first choice for Guy Woodhouse . Thought about Robert Redford “matinee idol look”. There is a problem about the role in terms of the occupation. What might it be?

Wanted to use amny older Hollywiood actors in the secondary roles: Elija Cook (manager) Patsy Kelly, Ruth Gordon etc.

The Dakota is the building actually used. (Many scenes are shot on location in NYC) Dakota is on 72nd and Central Park West. It is where John Lennon lived.

The film is thought to have two possible interpretations. What might they be?

Clay Tanner plays the Devil, according to IMDB although it is widely held it is Anton La Vey.

After the film

Tony Curtis voice on phone when Rosemary calls Donald Bauumgart. She didn’t know whose voice it would be. She recognized it but couldn’t place it. Does it help the scene?

How does a struggling actor afford the apartment??????

He can’t be big star or there would be no reason to make the deal with the Devil.

Make –up

Watch for darkness and light

Camera work

A good deal of movement in the camera: Watch when camera moves and then stops – does class turn head to look around corner

Much goes on in the bacground Does not show Baby.

Watch carefukky the scene where ROsemary goes into the Castavet's apartment with knife. How is the film edited? Images of people in the background.

Sound

Ticking of clock in bedroom heard only when dream sequences happens (maybe). Again at the end of the film when Rosemary goes into the otehr apartment.

Symbolism and Set Design

Date for birth is 6 months after Christmas

Much Christmas imagery in the film - Christmas trees in New York, window with nativity scene

Baby's cradle in black with inversted cross

Pictures not on wall and then are there later. Picture on wall is the one in the book All of them Witches

Use of extras or bit part players

Cab driver who takes Sapirstein, Guy and Rosemary back to the apartment is the man at the New Year's Even party who is introduced as having made the chain for her charm. We recognize him as invovled with the Castavets.

Tony Curtis is on the other end of the phone.

Is this all real, or is Rosemary crazy?

Does ending of not showing the baby allow for both interpretations.

The Notes should not be thought of as a substitute for coming to class. They do not contain all the material discussed in class but may contain some materials that have NOT been discussed in class.