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.

I received this book from Bloomsbury Academic through NetGalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is an exploration of the film, perfect for aficionados of genre film making. It focuses on the clarification of the gothic, the horror movie. It's an examination of the meanings and cultural impact of the film itself while also writing of the casting, producing and film design elements. With photos and in-depth details, this short book is absolutely a necessity for future film makers and students. Personally, I've seen the film several times and this exploration is spot on! Thoroughly enjoyable experience and I highly recommend the book to those who simply enjoy a gothic movie as well as the student.

I didn't read the description before requesting this and just assumed it was a retelling of Rosemary's baby but it is instead a book about the movie itself. I do enjoy horror movies and novels so I found this interesting. You are offered some insight on the movie with the background information, themes, and symbolism. This was a quick read as well and makes me want to go watch the movie now! Thank you netgalley and to the publisher!

This is what happens when you don't read the blurb. You expect something but you get something else. I was hoping I would read the horror story. But unfortunately it's a book about the horror movie. And I had such high expectations.

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.

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.

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!

A dynamic and fascinating critical reading and history of "Rosemary's Baby." Newton shows how vital "Rosemary's Baby" has been to both the horror film canon and pop culture at large, even now.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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

"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

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, which is well worth your time.

Thought it was the original book! Request by mistake. Still it was quite interesting to see a behind the scenes of such a classic movie!

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.

Very interesting.... I thought this was the actual book...but to my surprise it is about the making of the film. It was very insightful and makes me want to go back and rewatch it from a different view point.

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.