wihm day 21/Mia Farrow,Ruth Gordon and Rosemary’s Baby

The poster for Rosemary’s Baby (1961) is iconic in the horror genre. The baby carriage on top of the hill looks sinister, alone and scary (what the hell is in that carriage?!) – Mia Farrow’s face blending into the clouds. Is she alive? Is she dead? The images that should be beautiful are not – a woman and a pram. Rosemary’s Baby starred some every talented women – Mia Farrow (who played Rosemary), Ruth Gordon, and  Emmaline Henry. Ruth Gordon took home an Oscar for her role playing Minnie Castevet – a meddlesome neighbour with an underlying secret. Roman Polanski wrote the screenplay as well as directed basing it on the book of the same name by Ira Levin. The exterior of The Dakota in New York City was used to portray The Bramford apartment building where Rosemary and her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) lived . Despite how dark the subject matter was the movie was an instant success.

Ruth Gordon as Minnie Castevet

Mia Farrow was amazing as Rosemary. She brought an innocence and youth to the role that is at odds with the terror she endures. Farrow plays Rosemary with equal parts paranoia and intuitive knowledge. Rosemary’s Baby spawned offspring like The Omen and The Exorcist with good reason. It combined the satanic and supernatural with everyday normalcy – a perfect horror combo. If you haven’t seen it do yourself a favour and check it out – if you love the horror genre, you won’t be disappointed! I picked Mia Farrow and Rush Gordon for Rosemary’s Baby for day 21 of women in horror because it’s such a well done and effective horror movie. It stays with you long after you finish watching it.