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by Lavel Wideman

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A shocking movie moment for me would be "Rosemary's Baby," starring Mia Farrow, and Ruth Gordon, and a whole cast of memorable actors, including Emmaline Henry which I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her playing a witch, of all people. It was a far cry from the Andy Griffith Show, but now we must look through the eyes of director Roman Polanski, as to why he picked these certain actors and actresses to play such central mediums like witches and innocent sacrifices (victims) in this movie, which all held key ingredients of making such a wonderful and unforgettable film.

The author Ira Levin, is the genius behind the book "Rosemary's Baby." It tells of a story about a woman who was tricked by her husband, her doting husband( and I say that with a pun), an actor played by John Cassavetes who actually took the part from Robert Redford, who was supposed to play Guy Woodhouse, and in a sense, in my opinion, I think was a good choice because Robert Redford had millions of women dreaming about him everyday and I wouldn't think those same millions of women would like to see this gorgeous man play a fink of a husband who winds up making a deal with the Devil, as well as offering up the spot of his first born child.

The climate of this movie was well toned. It was slow paced where the viewers can look on and not be too frightened, and to me, that's the key point of making a good film, not giving off too much in the first showing. Just a little at a time until we get them hooked is my motto. In comes Ruth Gordon "Minnie Castevet" with her rough edge comments, she stole many good moments of the movie which showed a realism of normal human behavior mixed with conspiracy. Her husband played by Sidney Blackner "Roman Castevet" was also very good. He the leader of this coven of witches is the key mind of obtaining the sacrifice, and that's where Mia Farrow"Rosemary Woodhouse" comes in. She the innocent bystander is hit blind-sided, by her husband and this coven, who gets her to mate with the Devil and give birth to his spawn.

It was the end of the movie that made the shocking moment. It's when Rosemary sees for the first time of what she's given birth to, the sweat of her turmoil. She holding that knife and slowly let it down to gaze upon those cat-like eyes and realizing they were not like Guy's eyes, and here comes Ruth Gordon "look at those eyes!" and Patsy Kelly "and his feet!" would only make one wonder how far will a human joke go?

I will tell you how far. It's when Rosemary smiled and picked up her baby.

Shocking.

Learn more about this author, Lavel Wideman.

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