Let's talk about a movie that’s left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Fifty years after its release, Rosemary’s Baby continues to be one of the scariest films ever made. But here's the kicker: one of the most shocking moments during its production had nothing to do with Satan's child. Mia Farrow, who played the lead role, was blindsided by her husband Frank Sinatra. Imagine this: Sinatra's lawyer walks onto the set, carrying a brown envelope filled with divorce papers. Sinatra wanted Mia to leave Roman Polanski's masterpiece to star in a less memorable 1968 film, The Detective, with him. "This was the first mention of divorce," Mia recalls. Despite the shock, she kept her cool and signed the papers without even reading them.
The Legacy of Rosemary’s Baby
Mia may have handled the situation with grace, but moviegoers were left reeling when the adaptation of Ira Levin’s bestseller hit theaters. It wasn’t just a hit; it was a phenomenon that sparked a wave of modern horror. Film critic Stephen Whitty, who recently spoke at a screening of the now 50-year-old film, explained, "Rosemary’s Baby was a massive success and it marked a significant shift in the horror genre." What made it unique was its setting. Forget vampires or werewolves; this was a story about Satanism set in the iconic Dakota apartment building in Manhattan. The characters were relatable, making the terror feel all too real.
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The role of Rosemary catapulted Mia Farrow, then best known for her work on the TV series Peyton Place, to major movie star status. However, she wasn’t Polanski’s first choice. He considered Jane Fonda, who opted for her husband Roger Vadim’s Barbarella, and his real-life wife Sharon Tate, tragically murdered by the Manson family a year later. Polanski admitted, "This is one of the most challenging roles for a woman I can think of." He only knew Mia from the cover of Life magazine, yet she won him over with her talent and commitment.
The Making of a Classic
With Mia on board, Polanski threw himself into the project with a passion that bordered on reckless. In one scene where Rosemary, dazed and confused, wanders into traffic, Mia and Polanski literally placed themselves in front of oncoming cars. "Roman pointed to my padded stomach and reassured me, 'Nobody will hit a pregnant woman,'" Mia recalls with a laugh. The film not only put Polanski on the map in Hollywood but also turned Ruth Gordon, a 72-year-old screenwriter, into a household name. Gordon won an Oscar for her role as Rosemary’s nosy neighbor and famously remarked, "The first film I was ever in was in 1915, and now, I feel absolutely groovy."
