Halloween Sightings: 10 films to see this Halloween – No. 4 “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

I’ve been feeling rather tired lately.  This is nothing new with my condition.  Once flu-like fatigue sets in for me, it makes it hard to move, read, write, or cook.  Even eating requires a great effort.  And it’s a mystery how long it will last.  And I am only on Number 4 of my Halloween recommendations, and October 31 is getting closer.  I don’t have enough energy to write extensive essays on the movies I will recommend.  Instead, I will pepper the page with shots from the film and add my commentary.  Hopefully, the photos will speak for themselves, and you’ll find yourself intrigued by the stills to see the entire film.

So, for number 4, I chose Roman Polanski‘s Rosemary’s Baby (1968).  It stars Mia Farrow as Rosemary Woodhouse; the magnificent and one of the most honest filmmakers ever, John Cassavetes, as Rosemary’s husband, Guy; Ruth Gordon as Minnie Castavet; Sidney Blackmer as Roman Castavet. among others.  For Charles Grodin, this is a first role in a movie!  He plays a young doctor, and there is even the voice of Tony Curtis on the phone, as the actor who suddenly goes blind.

The plot is simple: Rosemary is pregnant and suspects that Guy has made a pact with the neighbors (Minnie and Roman) which would ensure the baby is born a devil in exchange for Guy’s success in his acting career.  And so, is Rosemary crazy or isn’t she?  Was she really drugged and impregnated by the devil in order to produce the devil child?!  Or is she just a pregnant woman who is going through emotional issues and not wanting to deal with her self-centered husband?

Rosemary and Guy are looking for an apartment.

 

About to witness a death of one of the tenants, Terry, who supposedly committed suicide. But did she?

 

Meeting Castavets for the first time. They are such nice, harmless, wonderful old couple, who wants nothing more than to take care of a younger couple. Sure…

 

Rosemary just ate chocolate “mouse” (as Minnie calls it), which had a “chalky undertaste.” She is tired, and is sleeping…dreams ensue…as does the violent rape…

 

It’s hot and Rosemary is way too pregnant. She roams the city, looking to get away from the crazies in the apartment building. But is she just a woman who is having trouble with her hormones at the moment? Or is she telling the truth?

 

The baby was born. Rosemary was told that the baby died in the childbirth. But she hears the screams of the child from Minnie and Roman’s apartment. The baby is alive alright…

 

What IS Rosemary seeing? What kind of baby? Is it a baby?

 

On the set of Rosemary’s Baby – Mia Farrow and Roman Polanski

 

On the set…love this shot…you can feel the energy and vibes of trying to get that perfect shot.

 

{trailer below}

 

{Roman Polanski, Mia Farrow, and producer Robert Evans discuss the film}