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In 1968, Rosemary’s Baby debuted in theatres and terrified unsuspecting audiences. The film was a box-office success and was widely acclaimed for its dark plot and disturbing realism. Moreover, many of the controversial issues it grappled with, such as Satanism and pregnancy, quickly made it one of the most iconic films of its generation. But in the aftermath of the film’s release, this story of success quickly becomes one of tragedy and mystery.
In this episode, we present the story of an innovative film that completely changed Hollywood and our understanding of how films should be made. You’ll learn about the origins of the film and how a little-known director revolutionised Hollywood. We’ll discuss why this film was so unique in terms of style and aesthetics. Finally, we’ll look into the mysteries surrounding the film and the so-called ‘curse of Rosemary’s Baby’...
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Time stamps
[02:33] Our guest and film expert Michał Oleszczyk paints the scene
[04:27] Why was a little-known European director chosen to direct an adaptation of a best-selling American novel?
[08:55] What makes the film stand out?
[14:31] Why are there hardly any special effects in Rosemary’s Baby?
[16:39] How does the film comment on the current issues of its time?
[19:10] Why is the movie rumoured to be cursed?
[23:16] Did Rosemary’s Baby change the horror genre?
Further reading
Further watching
Thanks
Michał Oleszczyk / for inviting us to Collegium Artes Liberales and telling us everything we wanted to know about Rosemary's Baby but were afraid to ask. Michał is a film critic, university professor and programmer. Following Michał's social media profiles is definitely a good idea. For English listeners, follow his Twitter, while for Polish speakers, we recommend his Facebook page.
SFTEW Team: Wojciech Oleksiak, Adam Zulawski, John Beauchamp, Nitzan Reisner & Michael Keller
