Thursday, October 20, 2011

Night 20 of "Attack of the 31 Nights of Halloween"

Welcome to night 20 of "Attack of the 31 Nights of Halloween". Tonight we have a review of the next movie on our Halloween Movie List. Make sure to stop by our GIANT Giveaway and enter to win a goodie bag full of frightfully good treats from 17 different shops! But first lets get to our featured item of the night from Laughing Vixen Lounge.

Tonight's Featured Item - Vintage Witch Charm Bracelet

Vintage Witch Charm Bracelet $45

Purchase this items from Laughing Vixen Lounge during October and get 10% off. Use code OCTOBER10
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Night 20 - Rosemary's Baby



Tagline - Pray for Rosemary's Baby
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Roman Polanski directed this film adaptation of Ira Levin's bestselling horror novel. Released on June 12 1968 by Paramount Studios. Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her not-so-successful actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), move into a Gothic apartment building in New York called The Bramford. Of course, they were told of The Bramford's reputation for odd going-ons but they happily ignore it. After an unfortunate "accident" happens their neighbors, Roman and Minnie Castevet (Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon), soon invade their lives. After Guy starts spending far too much time with the Castevets he begins to land acting roles. When Rosemary becomes pregnant she starts to become suspicious of her surroundings and the people who inhabit it.
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This is one of my favorite thrillers. And yes, my mother's name is Rosemary. Muuhaahaa
 
Everything works here. The mood is one of uneasiness and paranoia as we watch Rosemary fall deeper and deeper into the world of The Bramford. Mia Farrow does such a great job that you can't help but feel everything she's feeling right along with her. Adding to the look of the film are the colorful outfits and home decor of the era. A great treat.
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Some trivia about the movie...

1. The building used for The Bramford is the famous Dakota building in New York City. Many will remember it as the place John Lennon was living and was shot in front of.
2. Vidal Sassoon created the now famous "Pixie" cut for Mia Farrow to wear in the movie.
3. William Castle (famously know for his low budget movies such as "House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler and I Saw What You Did") owned the movie rights to the novel but Paramount would only agree to green-light the movie if he agreed not to direct it. He did however have a cameo in the film as "The man near the phone booth".
4. Mia Farrow does the vocals on the title-sequence lullaby.
5. Mia Farrow received divorce papers while filming. She was married to Frank Sinatra at the time.
6. Ruth Gordon won a well deserved Oscar for her role as the over friendly neighbor "Minnie".
7. Oscar-nominated editor Sam O'Steen would later direct the sequel, Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby.
8. This was Roman Polanski's very first adaptation, and it is very faithful to the novel. Pieces of dialog, color schemes and clothes are taken verbatim.
9. Mia Farrow actually ate raw liver for a scene in the movie.
10. Rosemary's baby was born in June 1966 (6/66).
11. Tony Curtis is the voice on the phone of the actor who is struck blind by a witch's curse so that Rosemary's husband can get an acting job.

10 comments:

  1. i loved ruth gordon in this...such a friendly sort of scary...i like that in a person.

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  2. Never been able to do this one. Maybe this year I'll give it a whirl.

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  3. A masterpiece. Polanski is one of my favourite directors...

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  4. LOVE. THIS. FILM. Has always been one of my creepy faves!

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  5. I love this movie too,great acting! Once i sat down and watched it,i understood why it was such a big deal.

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  6. The actors are great, I like this one a lot
    redalepou@yahoo.com

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  7. My all-time favorite horror movie!!! I loved Minnie and Roman... I'm still looking for one of those necklaces like Minnie gave Rosemary to wear.

    Dixienites@ gmail.com

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  8. I won't get cooked liver, much less raw. Blech! This one creeped me out.

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  9. It's okay but not one of my favorites.

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  10. I am with Jenna -- an okay movie, but nothing too special.

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