A movie!
Posted By admin on September 14, 2009
It’s not a new one. It came out when I was too young to watch it–even for my mom, who was not what you might call the appropriateness police! :-) But a friend let me borrow Rosemary’s Baby.
I was kind of wary, as I’m ridiculously afraid of “scary” movies. But it was really good. I suddenly love movies set in the sixties. Love the clothes, the settings, the crazy “cool” language.
But the best thing about this movie was John Cassavetes. Mia Farrow is perfect as Rosemary–she achieves a waifish/sophisticate/protect me/I’ll kill you all with this big knife kind of vibe. And her nesting as she works over their new apartment shows her warmth and her desire for a family without a whole lot of talk. Plus, at least to someone a bit late for the sixties, she’s so stylin’ she looks quite edgy in a Twiggy sort of way.
But Guy (JC) is a total revelation. There he is, swearing he’ll be more open, more attentive, more loving–as he’s literally sold her to Satan. I did have to wonder why she didn’t notice him, skulking in the background of nearly every scene they had together, looking truly remorseful. Without a word, you see his “What have I done?” feeling in almost every movement–until he actually suggests they can start over with their own non-demon child now that she’s delivered on his debt. (Not a big fan of spitting as a rule–but that was well-timed spittage.)
So, I wonder–were the background gestures his idea or Roman Polanski’s? And what did Polanski think of him, displaying angst in the background, while he was also blithely collecting all the riches his wife paid for with her body?
Oddly, the scariest thing about the movie–the dreams/delusions/drug-induced hazes. Oh–and how odd it is for someone who didn’t touch alcohol, aspirin, or caffeine during pregnancy to see a pregnancy where the OB advises an aspirin, friend partakes of coffee with the mom-to-be, the neighbors bring in the wine, and the husband shares his secondhand smoke (not so shocking as he’d already shared the wife). Maybe the rules are different if you’re a betrayed wife, carrying the spawn o’Satan.
And finally, what a great cast. I love movies from the 30s/40s. I watched RB twice. The first time, I had a migraine, so I mostly listened while my head was under a pillow (avoiding light). There were many familiar voices . Who cannot rejoice at a twitchy, loud Ruth Gordon? But the best surprise was Sidney Blackmer, whom I’m more accustomed to seeing in tie and tails, advising William Powell or swanning around an art deco dinner table, all a-glitter with glass and silver and sumptuousness!
If you haven’t seen Rosemary’s Baby, take a look. If you have, maybe you should view again. I’m dying to read the book, but–must write! (Okay–so I tried to buy it, but it’s not available on Kindle, and the migraine kept me home till a more responsible frame of mind prevailed!)
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