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Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby is one of the greatest movies of the late 1960s and one of the best of all horror movies, an outstanding modern Gothic tale. An art-house fable and an elegant popular entertainment, it finds its home on the cusp between a cinema of sentiment and one of sensation. Michael Newton's study of the film traces its development at a time when Hollywood stood poised between the old world and the new, its dominance threatened by the rise of TV and cultural change, and the roles played variously by super producer Robert Evans, the film's producer William Castle, director Polanski and its stars including Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes.
Newton's close textual analysis explores the film's meanings and resonances, and, looking beyond the film itself, he examines its reception and cultural impact, and its afterlife, in which Rosemary's Baby has become linked with the terrible murder of Polanski's wife and unborn child by members of the Manson cult, and with controversies surrounding the director.
Newton's close textual analysis explores the film's meanings and resonances, and, looking beyond the film itself, he examines its reception and cultural impact, and its afterlife, in which Rosemary's Baby has become linked with the terrible murder of Polanski's wife and unborn child by members of the Manson cult, and with controversies surrounding the director.
136 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2020
7 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Michael Newton
474 books104 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
From Wikipedia:
"Michael Newton (born 1951) is an American author best known for his work on Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan series. Newton first began work on the Executioner series by co-writing "The Executioner's War Book" with Don Pendleton in 1977. Since then he has been a steady writer for the series with almost 90 entries to his credit, which triples the amount written by creator Don Pendleton. His skills and knowledge of the series have allowed him to be picked by the publishers to write the milestone novels such as #100, #200, and #300.
Writing under the pseudonym Lyle Brandt, Michael Newton has also become a popular writer of Western novels. He has written a number of successful non-fiction titles as well, including a book on genre writing (How to Write Action Adventure Novels). His book Invisible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Florida won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History. Newton's "Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology" won the American Library Association's award for Outstanding Reference Work in 2006."
Pen names: Lyle Brandt, Don Pendleton, Jack Buchanan
Bibiliography available here.
From Wikipedia:
"Michael Newton (born 1951) is an American author best known for his work on Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan series. Newton first began work on the Executioner series by co-writing "The Executioner's War Book" with Don Pendleton in 1977. Since then he has been a steady writer for the series with almost 90 entries to his credit, which triples the amount written by creator Don Pendleton. His skills and knowledge of the series have allowed him to be picked by the publishers to write the milestone novels such as #100, #200, and #300.
Writing under the pseudonym Lyle Brandt, Michael Newton has also become a popular writer of Western novels. He has written a number of successful non-fiction titles as well, including a book on genre writing (How to Write Action Adventure Novels). His book Invisible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Florida won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History. Newton's "Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology" won the American Library Association's award for Outstanding Reference Work in 2006."
Pen names: Lyle Brandt, Don Pendleton, Jack Buchanan
Bibiliography available here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 11, 2025
Another great title in this BFI Film Classics series.
Newton takes a deep dive into the haunting and disturbing Rosemary's Baby.
I like the structure of the writing, the delineated chapters between the pre-production, the making of the film and the post-production and reception of it in the cinematic world.
I must say I love Rosemary's Baby. I love the Bulgakov sense of creeping dread throughout, the feeling of something being a little askew then wildly out of whack. Polanski's direction is impeccable and I always enjoy a rewatch of this classic.
This book is a great companion read and has some interesting facts and viewpoints, and the bibliography at the end is a veritable treasure trove of delights!
Newton takes a deep dive into the haunting and disturbing Rosemary's Baby.
I like the structure of the writing, the delineated chapters between the pre-production, the making of the film and the post-production and reception of it in the cinematic world.
I must say I love Rosemary's Baby. I love the Bulgakov sense of creeping dread throughout, the feeling of something being a little askew then wildly out of whack. Polanski's direction is impeccable and I always enjoy a rewatch of this classic.
This book is a great companion read and has some interesting facts and viewpoints, and the bibliography at the end is a veritable treasure trove of delights!
May 4, 2020
"He has his father’s eyes."
Excellent analysis and background to the seminal 1960s horror film.
Produced by the British Film Institute and part of a series of academic analyses, the book is presented in three parts - firstly on the creation of the film, then the actual analysis (or as Michael Newton puts it, exploring "its meanings and resonances") and finally a chapter on how the film was received and its cultural resonance.
The chapter on the creation of the film is surprisingly extensive - I say 'surprisingly', because it's at least as long and extensive as the analysis chapter, while I would expect it to be more of an introduction. It seems well researched and is well illustrated, with background photos and film photos.
The analysis is broad, but not meandering, and again seems thoroughly researched. The film is well placed within Roman Polanski's filmography, and its relation to his other films is made explicit. Those expecting obvious connections to Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan won't be disappointed.
The last chapter is the shortest, and although it does make mention of the Ira Levin penned sequel and the miniseries from a couple of years back, the made-for-TV sequel isn't mentioned (and yes, there was one, it even had Ruth Gordon reprising her role as Minnie Castavet and everything!). I also would've liked to see a more extensive look at the slew of 'satanic panic' cross that was published and produced after the success of the film.
The original book by Levin is regularly mentioned, quoted and compared to the film, but make no mistake, the main focus is on the film.
Newton also doesn't let Polanski off the hook, and discusses his rape charges and subsequent fleeing to France. It is, after all, hard to watch Rosemary's Baby and not think of that.
I really enjoyed this deep little dive, and can only recommend others to watch/rewatch the film, and dig in.
4.5 stars
(Kindly received an ARC from Bloomsbury Academic through NetGalley)
Excellent analysis and background to the seminal 1960s horror film.
Produced by the British Film Institute and part of a series of academic analyses, the book is presented in three parts - firstly on the creation of the film, then the actual analysis (or as Michael Newton puts it, exploring "its meanings and resonances") and finally a chapter on how the film was received and its cultural resonance.
The chapter on the creation of the film is surprisingly extensive - I say 'surprisingly', because it's at least as long and extensive as the analysis chapter, while I would expect it to be more of an introduction. It seems well researched and is well illustrated, with background photos and film photos.
The analysis is broad, but not meandering, and again seems thoroughly researched. The film is well placed within Roman Polanski's filmography, and its relation to his other films is made explicit. Those expecting obvious connections to Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan won't be disappointed.
The last chapter is the shortest, and although it does make mention of the Ira Levin penned sequel and the miniseries from a couple of years back, the made-for-TV sequel isn't mentioned (and yes, there was one, it even had Ruth Gordon reprising her role as Minnie Castavet and everything!). I also would've liked to see a more extensive look at the slew of 'satanic panic' cross that was published and produced after the success of the film.
The original book by Levin is regularly mentioned, quoted and compared to the film, but make no mistake, the main focus is on the film.
Newton also doesn't let Polanski off the hook, and discusses his rape charges and subsequent fleeing to France. It is, after all, hard to watch Rosemary's Baby and not think of that.
I really enjoyed this deep little dive, and can only recommend others to watch/rewatch the film, and dig in.
4.5 stars
(Kindly received an ARC from Bloomsbury Academic through NetGalley)
May 24, 2020
3.5⭐
I enjoyed reading this analysis of Rosemary's Baby overall, but I struggled through some parts of it. I'm more of a casual fan of Rosemary's Baby, and I think this book would be better for someone who really loves it. There were a lot of names, dates, and industry background information to sift through in this one.
However, once the book got more into the actual film analysis, I enjoyed it much more. I also want to re-watch the movie now. I wish there would have been a little more organization / flow, but it was still an interesting read.
I enjoyed reading this analysis of Rosemary's Baby overall, but I struggled through some parts of it. I'm more of a casual fan of Rosemary's Baby, and I think this book would be better for someone who really loves it. There were a lot of names, dates, and industry background information to sift through in this one.
However, once the book got more into the actual film analysis, I enjoyed it much more. I also want to re-watch the movie now. I wish there would have been a little more organization / flow, but it was still an interesting read.
May 17, 2020
This is a book written about the film, Rosemary's Baby. It gives you some background information about the time when the film was made and the people who were involved in making it. It also dissects the film and discusses it's themes and how it has been perceived. I've never read a book like this before, but I loved the film so I thought I would give it a try.
This book is very well written and insightful. It gives a lot of information about the people who were in the film and the people who made it, in particular the lead actress Mia Farrow and the director Roman Polanski. I found the background of the time around which the film was made to be particularly interesting, as I don't think you consider things like that when you are watching a film but actually it's integral to the making of the film and how it comes out. I really like hearing about the influences behind the book and how the film was made, and the author did a really good job of both including a lot of information and also making it very interesting to read.
I literally got through this book in less than a day as it was a good read and quite short. It made me want to go back and watch the film again, because I haven't seen it in years and I would like to watch it again with a more critical eye and with the extra information I have now. It also made me want to read the book, and compare it to the film. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the film and if you're interested in learning more about the making of it and the ideas behind it.
This book is very well written and insightful. It gives a lot of information about the people who were in the film and the people who made it, in particular the lead actress Mia Farrow and the director Roman Polanski. I found the background of the time around which the film was made to be particularly interesting, as I don't think you consider things like that when you are watching a film but actually it's integral to the making of the film and how it comes out. I really like hearing about the influences behind the book and how the film was made, and the author did a really good job of both including a lot of information and also making it very interesting to read.
I literally got through this book in less than a day as it was a good read and quite short. It made me want to go back and watch the film again, because I haven't seen it in years and I would like to watch it again with a more critical eye and with the extra information I have now. It also made me want to read the book, and compare it to the film. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the film and if you're interested in learning more about the making of it and the ideas behind it.
May 20, 2020
Having seen the title movie countless times and recently reading the novel for the first time, this book was a quick and fun and full of great facts. From the backgrounds of individuals who worked on the film to the histories of Old Hollywood, the Church of Satan and beyond, this was a treasure trove of information.
If you're a film buff or just really really love this movie (and novel) as much as I do, you're going to want to pick this up.
If you're a film buff or just really really love this movie (and novel) as much as I do, you're going to want to pick this up.
May 20, 2020
This book provides an in depth account of the making of the cult classic "Rosemarys Baby ". While its not a thrilling read it provides ample information in regards to the movies cast and crew. It also delves deep into the movies symbolism.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
My thanks to Bloomsbury Academic- BFI Publishing for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ by Michael Newton in exchange for an honest review.
This work is part of the BFI Film Classics series that introduces, interprets and celebrates landmarks of world cinema. In it Michael Newton studies the film’s development and its adaptation from novel to film including the casting and filming processes.
He examines the roles played by studio executive Robert Evans, the film's producer William Castle, director Roman Polanski and its stars including Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. There is also a close textual analysis of the film’s meanings and resonances.
In the final section he examines the film’s reception and its cultural impact, as well as how it became linked with the horrific murders of Sharon Tate, Polanski’s wife, and their unborn child by members of the Manson cult; along with the later controversies surrounding Polanski. The text is accompanied by photographs from the set and stills from the film. There are copious notes, a bibliography and suggestions for further reading.
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ ranks among my all time favourite novels, cementing my admiration for its author, Ira Levin. On viewing the film, my first R rated one, I was impressed at how faithful it was to its source material. Since then I have lost count of the number of times that I have viewed it.
This is clearly an academic work that will be of interest to film studies students, and yet it remains accessible to those who are fans of horror and film.
Overall, I really appreciated having the opportunity of doing this deep dive into ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. I now want to watch it again keeping in mind the elements that Newton highlighted.
Highly recommended.
This work is part of the BFI Film Classics series that introduces, interprets and celebrates landmarks of world cinema. In it Michael Newton studies the film’s development and its adaptation from novel to film including the casting and filming processes.
He examines the roles played by studio executive Robert Evans, the film's producer William Castle, director Roman Polanski and its stars including Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. There is also a close textual analysis of the film’s meanings and resonances.
In the final section he examines the film’s reception and its cultural impact, as well as how it became linked with the horrific murders of Sharon Tate, Polanski’s wife, and their unborn child by members of the Manson cult; along with the later controversies surrounding Polanski. The text is accompanied by photographs from the set and stills from the film. There are copious notes, a bibliography and suggestions for further reading.
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ ranks among my all time favourite novels, cementing my admiration for its author, Ira Levin. On viewing the film, my first R rated one, I was impressed at how faithful it was to its source material. Since then I have lost count of the number of times that I have viewed it.
This is clearly an academic work that will be of interest to film studies students, and yet it remains accessible to those who are fans of horror and film.
Overall, I really appreciated having the opportunity of doing this deep dive into ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. I now want to watch it again keeping in mind the elements that Newton highlighted.
Highly recommended.
August 21, 2020
OK, horror film buffs, this one's for us. I started reading this book immediately after my 20th-or-so viewing of Rosemary's Baby, based on Ira Levin’s novel.
Michael Newton's look back on the development and production of Roman Polanski's masterpiece is a deep dive into the film, the production, the cast, producers, the premiere, the aftermath and the legacy of Rosemary's Baby. It may be a little more than the casual fan may need to know, but I found some of the minute details the most interesting. There are plenty of on-set photos and movie stills that complement the author's well-researched text.
The book also ties in the Manson murders to the satanic-themed film's legacy. Polanski was working in Europe when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered by Manson Family members. She was 8-months pregnant.
I enjoy reading books about how films are made. This book is a comprehensive overview that I would highly recommend for film fans.
Michael Newton's look back on the development and production of Roman Polanski's masterpiece is a deep dive into the film, the production, the cast, producers, the premiere, the aftermath and the legacy of Rosemary's Baby. It may be a little more than the casual fan may need to know, but I found some of the minute details the most interesting. There are plenty of on-set photos and movie stills that complement the author's well-researched text.
The book also ties in the Manson murders to the satanic-themed film's legacy. Polanski was working in Europe when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered by Manson Family members. She was 8-months pregnant.
I enjoy reading books about how films are made. This book is a comprehensive overview that I would highly recommend for film fans.
March 4, 2025
Broad yet detailed look at the origins, production, themes, and reception of this amazing film. One or two thematic sections rambled a bit into abstraction, but mostly a sharp analysis in a brief survey style.
April 18, 2020
This book is about the film Rosemary's baby which discusses the film and history. I think the author did a fantastic job and now i need to rewatch the film as its been forever since i did.
If you are a movie buff and like to learn more about films and behind the scenes i highly recommend picking this one up.
thank you netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this early
If you are a movie buff and like to learn more about films and behind the scenes i highly recommend picking this one up.
thank you netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this early
July 19, 2020
An excellent examination of the horror classic. As with all BFI Classics volumes, it intermingles the film's production, history and reception with close reading and a discussion of cultural impact; and also as with all, the connections it draws are revelatory and insightful. I also appreciate how concise but thorough all books in the series are, including this one; you can read it in a day and feel like you've learned a lot. Surprising that Ruth Gordon isn't introduced when the other actors are, particularly given that she won the Oscar (although she is introduced, perhaps too concisely, later); also after quoting a handful of negative reviews, I'd have appreciated quotes from the positive ones alluded to. Some points seemed to me a stretch (Guy as father figure, for example). The discussions of matters of the uncanny, male control of women, conspiracy theories and intergenerational relations (relevant in particular for a film of the late 60s) are particular enlightening. Fans of the film and the book series will appreciate this smart critical commentary.
May 10, 2020
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a review of the novel by Ira Levin.
I haven't read Ira Levin's novel, and I've only seen the movie in snatches... so I probably shouldn't have put myself forward to review this book which is a study of the movie.
Michael Newton takes you through the movie from initial concept, casting, and production - which was the most fascinating part for me - to the movie's reception and current status as a classic. The book is well laid out, well written, and interesting. Now I need to read the book, and maybe watch the movie!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
I haven't read Ira Levin's novel, and I've only seen the movie in snatches... so I probably shouldn't have put myself forward to review this book which is a study of the movie.
Michael Newton takes you through the movie from initial concept, casting, and production - which was the most fascinating part for me - to the movie's reception and current status as a classic. The book is well laid out, well written, and interesting. Now I need to read the book, and maybe watch the movie!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
April 19, 2020
There are different approaches to take with a monograph on an individual film, and sometimes the technique relies on the status of the film itself. Rosemary's Baby is an interesting text in film history - it is a seminal psychological horror film, key in the canon of the director, important in production history for Paramount (Gulf + Western). So it doesn't need reappraisal, most viewers accept that Rosemary's Baby does what it does very well. Not that there aren't fascinating aspects of its production, the personnel involved and its subject matter. Michael Newton is not trying to elevate it, rather cement it in the canon - which means he leans to the hagiographic in places even when he is winkling out the fascinating production nuggets.
All this to say that this BFI Classic on Rosemary's Baby is probably everything you would need from a book arguing it is a great film. It gives a solid bio of all the lead players, talks a bit about it not at all troubled movement from book to film (because the film hues so closely to the text there are questions about authorship and whilst Newton is effusive about what Polanski has achieved with the film, he is not precious about the tactics to achieve that). The only real stylistic flourish in this monograph is the choice to split the book into three parts named after the sections of a traditional magic trick (The Pledge, The Turn and The Prestige). But that's just a fancy way of saying pre-production and biography, the production and the release. Since he doesn't really even consider Rosemary's Baby as a magic trick (considering how the film is partially about magic) its an odd choice. But I guess there is always a pull to try to do something away from a standard chronological take - which this is a bare disguise for.
This is a terrific primer on the film, and is probably all you need at hand if you want to wallow and understand a little more about where it sits in cinematic history, and the tidbits about the versions you might have seen. It struggles a touch with the issues around its lead protagonists, the controversy and potential cancellation of Polanski, and the not complex public and private personas of both Farrow and Cassevetes are all left to to the final section and feel like an after-thought. There is some nice parallels with conspiracy theories, and historical conversation about Satanism, though I would have liked perhaps a few more thoughts about films that have borrowed themes afterwards (The Omen, The Astronaut's Wife, Hereditary, the mini-series remake, even Alien). There is a sense that perhaps there isn't that much subtext in Rosemary's Baby, it is very successful in telling a particularly unsettling kind of horror tale but there's not much more to it that a good story excellently told. But the main thing this kind of monograph should do is make you want to watch the film again, and it succeeds wildly at that.
All this to say that this BFI Classic on Rosemary's Baby is probably everything you would need from a book arguing it is a great film. It gives a solid bio of all the lead players, talks a bit about it not at all troubled movement from book to film (because the film hues so closely to the text there are questions about authorship and whilst Newton is effusive about what Polanski has achieved with the film, he is not precious about the tactics to achieve that). The only real stylistic flourish in this monograph is the choice to split the book into three parts named after the sections of a traditional magic trick (The Pledge, The Turn and The Prestige). But that's just a fancy way of saying pre-production and biography, the production and the release. Since he doesn't really even consider Rosemary's Baby as a magic trick (considering how the film is partially about magic) its an odd choice. But I guess there is always a pull to try to do something away from a standard chronological take - which this is a bare disguise for.
This is a terrific primer on the film, and is probably all you need at hand if you want to wallow and understand a little more about where it sits in cinematic history, and the tidbits about the versions you might have seen. It struggles a touch with the issues around its lead protagonists, the controversy and potential cancellation of Polanski, and the not complex public and private personas of both Farrow and Cassevetes are all left to to the final section and feel like an after-thought. There is some nice parallels with conspiracy theories, and historical conversation about Satanism, though I would have liked perhaps a few more thoughts about films that have borrowed themes afterwards (The Omen, The Astronaut's Wife, Hereditary, the mini-series remake, even Alien). There is a sense that perhaps there isn't that much subtext in Rosemary's Baby, it is very successful in telling a particularly unsettling kind of horror tale but there's not much more to it that a good story excellently told. But the main thing this kind of monograph should do is make you want to watch the film again, and it succeeds wildly at that.
January 29, 2026
"An ARC was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rosemary's Baby by Michael Newton is a fairly comprehensive analysis of the film by the same name directed by Roman Polanski. It dives into the creation of the film itself, a lot of the thoughts Polanski and the author of the book the movie was based on, Ira Levin, had about the film. It later dives into the film itself, and it finishes up with a brief overview of some of the external issues surrounding people involved with the film, primarily Polanski.
The middle third of the book, which features the analysis of the film itself, is the strongest part of the book. It dives deeply into themes, compares and contrasts the novel to the film, and dives deeply into why Levin and Polanski made the choices they did in their respective works. It's a solid look into multiple possibilities and perspectives tied to Rosemary's Baby, and it's quite enjoyable.
That being said, the book has a number of flaws. First and foremost, it's pretentious. There are multiple lines where I had to pause to roll my eyes. Maybe that just means I'm not the target audience for such an academic-sounding read, but really, I felt a lot more pretentiousness than I felt I should have. There were moments in the writing where the pretentiousness slipped and it felt like Newton was connecting with the reader on a real level, but those only served to highlight how pompous other parts felt.
Second, the beginning and the end of the book just didn't stand up to the middle. The first third of the book was a massive slog. This was where the author told the story of the film's production, from concept to casting to filming. I've read interesting accounts of film productions before, but this just wasn't one of them. It was dull, but I knew there was some sort of analysis coming, and I wanted to see if I'd enjoy it.
Third, after riding the high of some fun film analysis, the ending of the book, primarily the talk about Manson, Polanski, and some of the other cultural events that were related to people related to the film, was a letdown. It went back to being dry, and honestly, slightly off-putting.
Specifically, in regards to the small but condemning section devoted to Polanski's rape, it felt odd. I'm not sure how an author includes such a condemnation without it feeling out of place, as it's not something that meshes well with an academic analysis of a film separate from the incident, but I think it would have felt less tacked-on near the beginning rather than near the end.
All in all, while the analysis in the middle of the book was what I really had hoped for when starting the book, the other sections left me feeling bored and let down by the time I had finished. It's quite possible the work just isn't for me. If you're a big fan of the film, I'd still say it's worth a shot. "
Rosemary's Baby by Michael Newton is a fairly comprehensive analysis of the film by the same name directed by Roman Polanski. It dives into the creation of the film itself, a lot of the thoughts Polanski and the author of the book the movie was based on, Ira Levin, had about the film. It later dives into the film itself, and it finishes up with a brief overview of some of the external issues surrounding people involved with the film, primarily Polanski.
The middle third of the book, which features the analysis of the film itself, is the strongest part of the book. It dives deeply into themes, compares and contrasts the novel to the film, and dives deeply into why Levin and Polanski made the choices they did in their respective works. It's a solid look into multiple possibilities and perspectives tied to Rosemary's Baby, and it's quite enjoyable.
That being said, the book has a number of flaws. First and foremost, it's pretentious. There are multiple lines where I had to pause to roll my eyes. Maybe that just means I'm not the target audience for such an academic-sounding read, but really, I felt a lot more pretentiousness than I felt I should have. There were moments in the writing where the pretentiousness slipped and it felt like Newton was connecting with the reader on a real level, but those only served to highlight how pompous other parts felt.
Second, the beginning and the end of the book just didn't stand up to the middle. The first third of the book was a massive slog. This was where the author told the story of the film's production, from concept to casting to filming. I've read interesting accounts of film productions before, but this just wasn't one of them. It was dull, but I knew there was some sort of analysis coming, and I wanted to see if I'd enjoy it.
Third, after riding the high of some fun film analysis, the ending of the book, primarily the talk about Manson, Polanski, and some of the other cultural events that were related to people related to the film, was a letdown. It went back to being dry, and honestly, slightly off-putting.
Specifically, in regards to the small but condemning section devoted to Polanski's rape, it felt odd. I'm not sure how an author includes such a condemnation without it feeling out of place, as it's not something that meshes well with an academic analysis of a film separate from the incident, but I think it would have felt less tacked-on near the beginning rather than near the end.
All in all, while the analysis in the middle of the book was what I really had hoped for when starting the book, the other sections left me feeling bored and let down by the time I had finished. It's quite possible the work just isn't for me. If you're a big fan of the film, I'd still say it's worth a shot. "
June 9, 2020
An ARC was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rosemary's Baby by Michael Newton is a fairly comprehensive analysis of the film by the same name directed by Roman Polanski. It dives into the creation of the film itself, a lot of the thoughts Polanski and the author of the book the movie was based on, Ira Levin, had about the film. It later dives into the film itself, and it finishes up with a brief overview of some of the external issues surrounding people involved with the film, primarily Polanski.
The middle third of the book, which features the analysis of the film itself, is the strongest part of the book. It dives deeply into themes, compares and contrasts the novel to the film, and dives deeply into why Levin and Polanski made the choices they did in their respective works. It's a solid look into multiple possibilities and perspectives tied to Rosemary's Baby, and it's quite enjoyable.
That being said, the book has a number of flaws. First and foremost, it's pretentious. There are multiple lines where I had to pause to roll my eyes. Maybe that just means I'm not the target audience for such an academic-sounding read, but really, I felt a lot more pretentiousness than I felt I should have. There were moments in the writing where the pretentiousness slipped and it felt like Newton was connecting with the reader on a real level, but those only served to highlight how pompous other parts felt.
Second, the beginning and the end of the book just didn't stand up to the middle. The first third of the book was a massive slog. This was where the author told the story of the film's production, from concept to casting to filming. I've read interesting accounts of film productions before, but this just wasn't one of them. It was dull, but I knew there was some sort of analysis coming, and I wanted to see if I'd enjoy it.
Third, after riding the high of some fun film analysis, the ending of the book, primarily the talk about Manson, Polanski, and some of the other cultural events that were related to people related to the film, was a letdown. It went back to being dry, and honestly, slightly off-putting.
Specifically, in regards to the small but condemning section devoted to Polanski's rape, it felt odd. I'm not sure how an author includes such a condemnation without it feeling out of place, as it's not something that meshes well with an academic analysis of a film separate from the incident, but I think it would have felt less tacked-on near the beginning rather than near the end.
All in all, while the analysis in the middle of the book was what I really had hoped for when starting the book, the other sections left me feeling bored and let down by the time I had finished. It's quite possible the work just isn't for me. If you're a big fan of the film, I'd still say it's worth a shot.
Rosemary's Baby by Michael Newton is a fairly comprehensive analysis of the film by the same name directed by Roman Polanski. It dives into the creation of the film itself, a lot of the thoughts Polanski and the author of the book the movie was based on, Ira Levin, had about the film. It later dives into the film itself, and it finishes up with a brief overview of some of the external issues surrounding people involved with the film, primarily Polanski.
The middle third of the book, which features the analysis of the film itself, is the strongest part of the book. It dives deeply into themes, compares and contrasts the novel to the film, and dives deeply into why Levin and Polanski made the choices they did in their respective works. It's a solid look into multiple possibilities and perspectives tied to Rosemary's Baby, and it's quite enjoyable.
That being said, the book has a number of flaws. First and foremost, it's pretentious. There are multiple lines where I had to pause to roll my eyes. Maybe that just means I'm not the target audience for such an academic-sounding read, but really, I felt a lot more pretentiousness than I felt I should have. There were moments in the writing where the pretentiousness slipped and it felt like Newton was connecting with the reader on a real level, but those only served to highlight how pompous other parts felt.
Second, the beginning and the end of the book just didn't stand up to the middle. The first third of the book was a massive slog. This was where the author told the story of the film's production, from concept to casting to filming. I've read interesting accounts of film productions before, but this just wasn't one of them. It was dull, but I knew there was some sort of analysis coming, and I wanted to see if I'd enjoy it.
Third, after riding the high of some fun film analysis, the ending of the book, primarily the talk about Manson, Polanski, and some of the other cultural events that were related to people related to the film, was a letdown. It went back to being dry, and honestly, slightly off-putting.
Specifically, in regards to the small but condemning section devoted to Polanski's rape, it felt odd. I'm not sure how an author includes such a condemnation without it feeling out of place, as it's not something that meshes well with an academic analysis of a film separate from the incident, but I think it would have felt less tacked-on near the beginning rather than near the end.
All in all, while the analysis in the middle of the book was what I really had hoped for when starting the book, the other sections left me feeling bored and let down by the time I had finished. It's quite possible the work just isn't for me. If you're a big fan of the film, I'd still say it's worth a shot.
April 13, 2020
Rosemary's Baby (BFI Film Classics Series) by Michael Newton is part of the relaunch of this wonderful series. The books provide an overview of the production, reception, and cultural context for each film, as well as some analytical and interpretive discussion. This volume is a great example of what these books offer: an accessible wealth of information to enhance both viewing and understanding.
Rosemary's Baby was made and released during a pivotal time in both film history and US history. It reflects as well as comments on many of the issues of the day. Newton does a commendable job of working through the story itself, bringing key elements to the fore while offering several ways of understanding the action. He also addresses the subtle changes between Levin's novel and Polanski's screenplay (and also between the screenplay as written and what ended up on screen).
I found Newton's ability to put forth what seems to be his preferred reading of the film while also explaining and giving substantive background for readings that he may not fully agree with, or at least that he doesn't find as compelling. This fair-handed approach gives the reader a wide range of ideas with which to approach their next viewing of the film. I know that I am looking forward to watching the movie again.
This is not a "fluff" book in that neither gossip nor speculation is added just to make it more popular. Yet while it does track closer to something academic it is still readily accessible to a casual film lover. Popular film critics are quoted as often as academic film scholars. Because the personal lives of many of the key people are relevant, there is some discussion on the subject but only as it applies to either the filmmaking (Farrow's marital issues near the end) or the cultural aftermath (Manson, Tate, etc).
I would highly recommend this to movie fans and fans in particular of Rosemary's Baby. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I would strongly suggest you watch it first, but this would be a great book to read immediately after the first time you watch the movie.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Rosemary's Baby was made and released during a pivotal time in both film history and US history. It reflects as well as comments on many of the issues of the day. Newton does a commendable job of working through the story itself, bringing key elements to the fore while offering several ways of understanding the action. He also addresses the subtle changes between Levin's novel and Polanski's screenplay (and also between the screenplay as written and what ended up on screen).
I found Newton's ability to put forth what seems to be his preferred reading of the film while also explaining and giving substantive background for readings that he may not fully agree with, or at least that he doesn't find as compelling. This fair-handed approach gives the reader a wide range of ideas with which to approach their next viewing of the film. I know that I am looking forward to watching the movie again.
This is not a "fluff" book in that neither gossip nor speculation is added just to make it more popular. Yet while it does track closer to something academic it is still readily accessible to a casual film lover. Popular film critics are quoted as often as academic film scholars. Because the personal lives of many of the key people are relevant, there is some discussion on the subject but only as it applies to either the filmmaking (Farrow's marital issues near the end) or the cultural aftermath (Manson, Tate, etc).
I would highly recommend this to movie fans and fans in particular of Rosemary's Baby. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I would strongly suggest you watch it first, but this would be a great book to read immediately after the first time you watch the movie.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
April 23, 2020
I was very excited to have the chance to review this book, as Rosemary's Baby is both a favorite book and a favorite movie of mine. Ira Levin (who Newton rightly calls "The Poet Laureate of Paranoia") wrote a nearly perfect story and Roman Polanski then made a nearly perfect film as well.
I enjoyed learning the backstory I never knew about the making of the film, like the influence of William Castle (whose previous movie, Macabre, I am now going to have to watch - seeing as the audiences signed insurance policies against death by fright), the fact that Hitchcock passed on the move (what!?), the inspired casting of Mia Farrow, and more. I would have enjoyed seeing what Jack Nicholson would have done in the role of Guy and had no idea he tried out. The book is filled with little gems like this that even a superfan like me did not know.
I also appreciated that the author did not shy away from Polanski's penchant for rape scenes in his movies, and the author also did not shy away from,the impact of Polanski's personal history on this. It would be hard for me to view any book written on Rosemary's Baby in this era seriously without such a discussion. The scene described here is pivotal to the movie and well-analyzed by the author. I also appreciated the way the author pointed out the differences between the book and the movie and how the decisions Polanski made in particular about Rosemary's passivity impacted the movie, raising the question of whether Polanski (like Hitchcock) was intending to point out misogyny, or rather was enjoying filming it a little too much.
On a lighter note, there are some great photos in this book - both stills from the movie and behind the scenes and contextual photos that I had never seen before.
Overall a very thoughtful and contemporary critique of a great movie. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book for my bookshelf. Thanks to NetGalley, Michael Newton and the publisher for the advance copy.
I enjoyed learning the backstory I never knew about the making of the film, like the influence of William Castle (whose previous movie, Macabre, I am now going to have to watch - seeing as the audiences signed insurance policies against death by fright), the fact that Hitchcock passed on the move (what!?), the inspired casting of Mia Farrow, and more. I would have enjoyed seeing what Jack Nicholson would have done in the role of Guy and had no idea he tried out. The book is filled with little gems like this that even a superfan like me did not know.
I also appreciated that the author did not shy away from Polanski's penchant for rape scenes in his movies, and the author also did not shy away from,the impact of Polanski's personal history on this. It would be hard for me to view any book written on Rosemary's Baby in this era seriously without such a discussion. The scene described here is pivotal to the movie and well-analyzed by the author. I also appreciated the way the author pointed out the differences between the book and the movie and how the decisions Polanski made in particular about Rosemary's passivity impacted the movie, raising the question of whether Polanski (like Hitchcock) was intending to point out misogyny, or rather was enjoying filming it a little too much.
On a lighter note, there are some great photos in this book - both stills from the movie and behind the scenes and contextual photos that I had never seen before.
Overall a very thoughtful and contemporary critique of a great movie. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book for my bookshelf. Thanks to NetGalley, Michael Newton and the publisher for the advance copy.
May 5, 2020
Wicked Review of a Horror Classic: Rosemary's Baby by Michael Newton, British Film Institute
Although film is one of the great loves of my life, I only ever did one year of film study at uni. As part of the course we were shown Citizen Kane, which I saw for the second time. We were then expected use a detailed overview any aspect of one film. Understandably most of my classmates did Citizen Kane which of course by then had been done to death. I chose the path less travelled and decided that my review would be about Terry Gilliam's Brazil, which had just opened. This resulted in me attending the cinema several times to see it with a torch scribbling notes. Anyway, I got a "B", probably just because the lecturer got tied of reading hundreds of reviews of Citizen Kane.
So it was with some trepidation that I picked up this book about one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever, Rosemary's Baby. I needn't have worried. This book is eminently approachable, in fact I read it over barely two days, I found it unputdownable. Everything you want to know this most complex and ambiguous of films is here: inspiration, conception, direction, editing, cast, perspectives, cultural themes, influences, et cetera et cetera. The passion and the admiration Michael Newton feels for this work is clearly transmitted to the reader. Towards the end I was getting a little leery that Mr Newton wouldn't dare to address the scandal and controversy surrounding Roman Polanski, but he did.
What can I say? If you like the horror genre, this book will not only entertain you but give you fantastic insight into this film and its place in the history of the big-screen and horror in particular.
Thank you as always to NetGalley for allowing me access to a free copy of this book
Although film is one of the great loves of my life, I only ever did one year of film study at uni. As part of the course we were shown Citizen Kane, which I saw for the second time. We were then expected use a detailed overview any aspect of one film. Understandably most of my classmates did Citizen Kane which of course by then had been done to death. I chose the path less travelled and decided that my review would be about Terry Gilliam's Brazil, which had just opened. This resulted in me attending the cinema several times to see it with a torch scribbling notes. Anyway, I got a "B", probably just because the lecturer got tied of reading hundreds of reviews of Citizen Kane.
So it was with some trepidation that I picked up this book about one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever, Rosemary's Baby. I needn't have worried. This book is eminently approachable, in fact I read it over barely two days, I found it unputdownable. Everything you want to know this most complex and ambiguous of films is here: inspiration, conception, direction, editing, cast, perspectives, cultural themes, influences, et cetera et cetera. The passion and the admiration Michael Newton feels for this work is clearly transmitted to the reader. Towards the end I was getting a little leery that Mr Newton wouldn't dare to address the scandal and controversy surrounding Roman Polanski, but he did.
What can I say? If you like the horror genre, this book will not only entertain you but give you fantastic insight into this film and its place in the history of the big-screen and horror in particular.
Thank you as always to NetGalley for allowing me access to a free copy of this book
May 28, 2020
What is Rosemary’s Baby? The answer is surprisingly much more complicated than a 1969 horror film directed by Roman Polanski.
The movie has a gothic woman-in-danger who-can-help-her plot. Newlyweds Rosemary and struggling actor, Guy, find the perfect apartment in New York City. And the neighbors seem so friendly. But then the deaths start... Who can help Rosemary escape their increasingly malevolent-seeming intrusiveness?
This book sees the film over fifty years after its creation. Was it a referendum on old vs. young generations? Did it have a detective or a conspiracy plot? Was it a woman’s or a misogynist’s film? Pro or anti-religion? Comedy or a tragedy? Or could it be all of these things at once?
The author also sees connections between the film’s director and its stars personal life and history to the way the movie was filmed. Mia Farrow had only recently married older actor Frank Sinatra. Polanski’s entire family was killed in Nazi death camps. His prior films had portrayed women as both victim and victimizer. He also had a connection with the neo-Satanist cult leader, Manson, and child abuse allegations in his future.
This book is an enthralling deep dive into Rosemary’s Baby. It will expand the reader’s viewpoint of the film from being a simple horror film into much more. 5 stars!
Thanks to British Film Institute, Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The movie has a gothic woman-in-danger who-can-help-her plot. Newlyweds Rosemary and struggling actor, Guy, find the perfect apartment in New York City. And the neighbors seem so friendly. But then the deaths start... Who can help Rosemary escape their increasingly malevolent-seeming intrusiveness?
This book sees the film over fifty years after its creation. Was it a referendum on old vs. young generations? Did it have a detective or a conspiracy plot? Was it a woman’s or a misogynist’s film? Pro or anti-religion? Comedy or a tragedy? Or could it be all of these things at once?
The author also sees connections between the film’s director and its stars personal life and history to the way the movie was filmed. Mia Farrow had only recently married older actor Frank Sinatra. Polanski’s entire family was killed in Nazi death camps. His prior films had portrayed women as both victim and victimizer. He also had a connection with the neo-Satanist cult leader, Manson, and child abuse allegations in his future.
This book is an enthralling deep dive into Rosemary’s Baby. It will expand the reader’s viewpoint of the film from being a simple horror film into much more. 5 stars!
Thanks to British Film Institute, Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 14, 2020
A short, but comprehensive book about arguably one of the best horror movies ever made. The author places the film in its historical, social and cultural context, gives a full account of its creative process and even adds anecdotes about the cast and crew. Written in a straightforward way, it’s like spending an afternoon watching the movie and chatting with a very informed friend. There are pictures, descriptions of some of the best scenes, as well as comparisons with the excellent novel in which the story is based. The material is well-researched and documented with an extensive bibliography. I studied History of Film for many years in college and I wish all my books would have been as informative and fun to read. Newton doesn’t shy away from the horrific Manson murders, as they are a big part of the mythology of the movie, but he doesn’t get too much into them, which is good in my opinion. I learned a lot, not only about the film but also about the context in which it came out. A great read for casual filmgoers, horror fans and even hardcore cinephiles.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bloomsbury Academic!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bloomsbury Academic!
May 18, 2020
This is an absolutely fascinating account and critical analysis of the classic horror film, Rosemary’s Baby. The author clearly knows the subject very well and does a great job of showcasing how the movie’s major themes reflected the culture of its time period.
There’s lots of insight into what happened before, during, and after the movie was made. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a bit more about Polanski’s and Sharon Tate’s relationship, along with the connections many made between the movie and Tate’s murder. All in all, though, this book is more than worthwhile for film and horror lovers who enjoy looking at the deeper meanings behind some of history’s most revered movies.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
There’s lots of insight into what happened before, during, and after the movie was made. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a bit more about Polanski’s and Sharon Tate’s relationship, along with the connections many made between the movie and Tate’s murder. All in all, though, this book is more than worthwhile for film and horror lovers who enjoy looking at the deeper meanings behind some of history’s most revered movies.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
May 26, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc. This is a short read, just under 200 pages (also the last 16% are footnotes), with photographs that looks at how the movie Rosemary’s Baby came to be made with plenty of behind-the-scenes scope. There’s a lot covered on the themes and motifs of Ira Levin and Polankski’s work, which I highly enjoyed. However I did find the author’s analysis of the movie familiar, with plenty of interpretations I’d already read before and so there was nothing new here, and felt the last part of the book, which looked at the cultural impact of the movie, was rather short and abrupt and wished they’re had been more of it. Similarly it’s impact on the horror genre is quite brief and wished it had been fleshed our more. Nonetheless if you like the movie then this book is a must for your book shelf/coffee table. 3.5/5.
June 14, 2020
Dealing with the three stages of this film from pre-production, filming and the release, Michael Newton has provided a comprehensive analysis of the film Rosemary's Baby.
With the usual excellence of the BFI books, Newton discusses Polanski's background and how he came to make the film and what led the producers to offer him the job of directing a film which took old Hollywood and new Hollywood and combined them into such a symbolic and culturally important film for its time. He provides an excellent background to how the film was shaped throughout production, taking into account the different methods of acting of Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes to the reaction of the film and how the film community reacted to it.
Highly recommended for film buffs and students alike.
This book was provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review
With the usual excellence of the BFI books, Newton discusses Polanski's background and how he came to make the film and what led the producers to offer him the job of directing a film which took old Hollywood and new Hollywood and combined them into such a symbolic and culturally important film for its time. He provides an excellent background to how the film was shaped throughout production, taking into account the different methods of acting of Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes to the reaction of the film and how the film community reacted to it.
Highly recommended for film buffs and students alike.
This book was provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review
August 19, 2020
Speaking as someone who hasn’t actually seen the movie Rosemary’s Baby, I really had no idea what this book may have been about. What I got was an exhaustive, in depth analysis of an apparently complex film that is almost 70 years old at this point in time. This book covers the many themes of Rosemary’s Baby, and it’s impacts i 1960’s and 1970’s Hollywood. There is also a history on the enigmatic and troubled director Roman Polanski. It was all very informative. I can’t say if this will move me to actually see the film since it’s dark themes might not be for me. Nevertheless, the analysis provided here should certainly appeal to fans of the film and to Hollywood history buffs. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this analysis of the classic movie, Rosemary's Baby. I watched the movie for the first time in December of 2019 and enjoyed it immensely, so it was fascinating to read about the history of the film and and all the factors that led to the creation of the movie. Newton does a fantastic job of laying out the history of the movie and why the film became the success that it did.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review! I love film studies and horror is a particular interest of mine so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this. It is essentially a long essay delving into the movie Rosemary’s Baby, the contextual era it lies within, as well as the background of the people involved in its making. I really loved the insights: in particular the thematic explorations of what Rosemary’s Baby does or could represent and its cultural influence thereafter. Really well plotted and paced, a good read for any horror movie buff!
May 6, 2020
I am a big fan of the BFI Film Classics series and enjoy getting to read someone’s take on a film.
Newton’s approach is to split up the book into three sections dealing with the making of, critical analysis and then briefly the films legacy. The making of section holds all sorts of great anecdotes and provides a good insight into Polanski direction and Farrows performance.
His analysis was very interesting to read and made me want to immediately sit and watch the film again.
If you’re a fan of Polanski, 60’s counter culture or films then this is a must read.
Newton’s approach is to split up the book into three sections dealing with the making of, critical analysis and then briefly the films legacy. The making of section holds all sorts of great anecdotes and provides a good insight into Polanski direction and Farrows performance.
His analysis was very interesting to read and made me want to immediately sit and watch the film again.
If you’re a fan of Polanski, 60’s counter culture or films then this is a must read.
May 9, 2020
I read this book as an ARC through NetGalley. I love the movie “Rosemary’s Baby”. It is one of my all-time favorites. This book, which delves into the making and production of the movie, was very informative and in depth. Any fan of the movie will find this book interesting. It was a little unorganized, almost like the author had a couple ideas on how he wanted to organize the book and instead of picking one, he went with a couple options. It is packed full of behind the scenes knowledge and the author obviously did a lot of research to complete this book.
April 21, 2020
The British Film Institute relaunches its academic texts with this in depth study into Polanski's brilliant gothic horror film, Rosemary's Baby.
Author Michael Newton's book is a comprehensive look at both the film and its impact, both on culture and those that made it.
The book is broken into three distinct sections; the making of the film, an analysis of the film itself, and its cultural and social impacts - including the Manson murders and Polanski's own child sex charges.
As an analytical piece, it's a well-researched deconstruction of the film and its themes, much like a university film lecture you can read at home.
But it's the behind the scenes peek at the film's production - and its cast and crew - that's the real gold.
A solid deep dive into a timeless classic.
Author Michael Newton's book is a comprehensive look at both the film and its impact, both on culture and those that made it.
The book is broken into three distinct sections; the making of the film, an analysis of the film itself, and its cultural and social impacts - including the Manson murders and Polanski's own child sex charges.
As an analytical piece, it's a well-researched deconstruction of the film and its themes, much like a university film lecture you can read at home.
But it's the behind the scenes peek at the film's production - and its cast and crew - that's the real gold.
A solid deep dive into a timeless classic.
May 7, 2020
This BFI academic text covers the film Rosemary's baby giving an in-depth critique of the film.
This book is perfect if you're a movie buff and like to learn more about the history behind the film and look at behind the scenes. It's a well written and researched deconstruction of the themes of the film.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This book is perfect if you're a movie buff and like to learn more about the history behind the film and look at behind the scenes. It's a well written and researched deconstruction of the themes of the film.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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