Rosemary's Baby
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Rosemary's Baby is a 1967 best-selling horror novel by Ira Levin, his second published book. In 1968, the novel was turned into an acclaimed film adaptation starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes as her husband.
Plot
It centers on Rosemary Woodhouse, a young mother-to-be, who begins to suspect her elderly neighbors are not the kindly souls they appear to be. She soon discovers they are the leaders of a coven of witches and her husband, a struggling actor, allowed the devil to impregnate her in exchange for a successful career, but she is unable to convince anyone to believe her.
Interestingly, themes explored in "Rosemary's Baby" also appear in Levin's The Stepford Wives; both books involve women who sense something wrong is happening, but no one believes them. And in both books, the plot is set in motion by their husbands' goals (for a successful acting career in "Rosemary's Baby" or a perfect wife in "Stepford Wives.")
Film
In 1968, the novel was turned into an acclaimed film adaptation starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes as her husband. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Roman Polanski, who wrote and directed the film, was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Other actors in the movie include: Ralph Bellamy, Elisha Cook Jr. and Charles Grodin.
The movie was filmed partially on location at the Dakota, off Central Park West in New York City.
Levin published a sequel to the novel, titled Son of Rosemary in 1997. Levin dedicated it to Mia Farrow. The TV movie, "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby" was made in 1976, but was not connected to the novel.
