Rosemarys Baby Anniversary Edition Appears to Distance the Film from Roman Polanski
It would appear that Paramount has decided to separate the art from the artist. On Tuesday, IndieWir..
It would appear that Paramount has decided to separate the art from the artist. On Tuesday, IndieWire, noted that the studio has removed all mention of writer-director Roman Polanski from a new trailer touting the upcoming 50th-anniversary digital re-release of his classic horror film, Rosemarys Baby. The studios fresh synopsis also excludes Polanski—who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer, in 1977. He has lived abroad since then, mainly in France, to avoid sentencing in the U.S.
Heres the new synopsis:
“Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film that birthed a chilling new direction in horror. From Ira Levins best-selling novel, Rosemarys Baby tells the story of a young newlywed couple who are expecting their first child. Like most first-time mothers, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) experiences confusion and fear. Her husband (John Cassavetes), an ambitious but unsuccessful actor, makes a pact with the Devil that promises to send his career skyward. The performances are extraordinary, notably Ruth Gordons Oscar-winning performance as an oversolicitous next-door neighbor.”
Representatives for Paramount have not yet responded to Vanity Fairs request for comment.
Extracting Polanskis name from the re-release marketing is not without precedent. Shortly after Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women (he has denied all allegations of non-consensual acts), his producing credit was scrubbed from the film Wind River, a drama about the rape and sexual exploitation of Native-American women. His name was also removed from TV shows that he produced, while the Weinstein Companys logo was also removed from several shows, including Peaky Blinders and Project Runway. (The Weinstein Company later declared bankruptcy and was sold to Lantern Capital Partners, which spun the companys assets into a new company called Lantern Entertainment.)
And many other studios and networks have attempted to distance themselves from intellectual property connected to artists who have been accused of rape or sexual misconduct. Reruns of The Cosby Show were taken off the air after Bill Cosbys trial gained steam. (He was ultimately convicted on three counts of sexual assault.) Kevin Spacey was killed off of House of Cards after he was accused of sexual misconduct. (He apologized for one claim, made by Anthony Rapp, but has not commented on the others.)
Unlike those men, and regardless of Paramounts apparent maneuvering, Polanski is still working. Throughout the past year, the director has continued to make headlines for his controversial new projects and thoughts about the #MeToo movement.
More Great Stories from Vanity Fair
— The seven actors who have played Michael Myers open up about scaring children
— Peter Dinklages My Dinner with Hervé is a tragic, beautiful true story
— Ten movies and TV shows for the season of the witch
— The Star Is Born scene that scared Bradley Cooper
— Hello fall of fraud!
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:10 Enchanting Movies and TV Shows About Witches
I Married a Witch
This overlooked 1942 gem stars Veronica Lake, she of the perfect side part, as a colonial Salem-era witch who gets burned at the stake, then reawakened hundreds of years later, determined to get revenge on a descendant of the family who tried to kill her. I Married a Witch is more rom-com than horror, a love story with a healthy serving of cauldrons and broomsticks. Its easy to fall under its spell. (On Filmstruck.)Photo: From Everett Collection.
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
If youre of a certain age and looking for a deep-cut nostalgia trip, Hulu has you covered with a Mary Kate and Ashley joint—one thats well worth revisiting if youre both a 90s kid and a fan of Cloris Leachman, who played the evil witch grandmother at the films center. As with most old media, some parts of the film have aged better than others—but the Olsen magic remains eternal. (On Hulu.)Photo: From Everett Collection.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Ah, yes, the classic cautionary tale about what happens when three college students venture into the woods to investigate local legends. Although this might not count as a witch movie in the typical sense, it would feel wrong to leave Blair Witch out of our selections—especially given its terrifying ending, which makes all the run-up worth it. (On Hulu.)Photo: From ©Artisan Entertainment/Everett Collection.
Charmed
One of the many network enchantments cast by Aaron Spelling is Charmed, a San Francisco-set drama about three sisters—originally played by Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano, and Holly Marie Combs—whose combined abilities make them the most powerful witches of all time. Before all you kids out there tuck into the CWs woke reboot, take a trip back to 1998 to see where it all began. (On Netflix.)Photo: From ©Viacom/Everett Collection.
Sabrina: The Teenage Witch
Netflix might have its own Sabrina adaptation on the way, but for now, Melissa Joan Hart still reigns supreme. Besides, even with the new Sabrina coming, this one will always have a place in our hearts; did you hear that the cat wont even talk in the new version? (On Hulu.)Photo: ©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection
Practical Magic
In this crunchy New England fall leaf of a film, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play a pair of witchy sisters battling against a family curse that dooms any man they fall in love with to an early death. There are perfect autumnal Massachusetts vibes, plus Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as a pair of aunties who love to cackle over midnight margaritas. (On HBOGo.)Photo: From Everett Collection.
Honorable Mentions
If youve found yourself with enough money to pony up for a couple other rentals, here are some of our favorites that, alas, cannot be streamed for free: Kikis Delivery Service, The Craft, Eves Bayou, The Wizard of Oz, Hocus Pocus, and Bell Book and Candle.Photo: Clockwise from right; From Everett Collection, from Everett Collection, from ©Buena Vista/Everett Collection.PreviousNext
I Married a Witch
This overlooked 1942 gem stars Veronica Lake, she of the perfect side part, as a colonial Salem-era witch who gets burned at the stake, then reawakened hundreds of years later, determined to get revenge on a descendant of the family who tried to kill her. I Married a Witch is more rom-com than horror, a love story with a healthy serving of cauldrons and broomsticks. Its easy to fall under its spell. (On Filmstruck.)From Everett Collection.
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
If youre of a certain age and looking for a deep-cut nostalgia trip, Hulu has you covered with a Mary Kate and Ashley joint—one thats well worth revisiting if youre both a 90s kid and a fan of Cloris Leachman, who played the evil witch grandmother at the films center. As with most old media, some parts of the film have aged better than others—but the Olsen magic remains eternal. (On Hulu.)From Everett Collection.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Ah, yes, the classic cautionary tale about what happens when three college students venture into the woods to investigate local legends. Although this might not count as a witch movie in the typical sense, it would feel wrong to leave Blair Witch out of our selections—especially given its terrifying ending, which makes all the run-up worth it. (On Hulu.)From ©Artisan Entertainment/Everett Collection.
Charmed
One of the many network enchantments cast by Aaron Spelling is Charmed, a San Francisco-set drama about three sisters—originally played by Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano, and Holly Marie Combs—whose combined abilities make them the most powerful witches of all time. Before all you kids out there tuck into the CWs woke reboot, take a trip back to 1998 to see where it all began. (On Netflix.)From ©Viacom/Everett Collection.
The Love Witch
Written, directed, and produced by Anna Biller in 2016, this thriller is a painstaking ode to 1960s Technicolor filmmaking, from the era-appropriate cinematography to the mod wardrobe. The film stars Samantha Robinson as Elaine, a witch who heads to northern California in search of a new life—and a new lover—after the death of her husband. Biller cleverly plays with gender norms in The Love Witch, crafting a horror story with a welcome feminist message. (On Amazon Prime.)From ©Oscilloscope/Everett Collection.
The Covenant
This might be the thirstiest warlock film ever made—and if its not, its close. While it does not have much in the way of plot, this supernatural thriller offers plenty of eye candy to make up for its aimlessness: a young(er) Sebastian Stan and Taylor Kitsch, as well as Chace Crawford, just ahead of his Gossip Girl debut. Come for the heated swimming matches; stay for the dated special effects and wooden dialogue. (On Netflix.)From ©Screen Gems/Everett Collection.
The Witch
Robert Eggers grim, methodical debut feature about a terrified Puritan family in 1630s New England was the prestige horror movie of 2015, a carefully wrought blockbuster shepherded to the masses by nu-auteur nifflers A24. The film also served as a breakout for current reigning scream queen Anya Taylor-Joy, who played Thomasin, a teen girl who may or may not be the reason her family is cursed. (On Netflix.)From ©A24/Everett Collection.
Blair Witch (2016)
If you never saw the 2016 follow-up to the original 99 Blair Witch, theres no time like the present. Although the sequel never quite matches the soaring, scare-filled heights of its predecessor, it has some memorable jump scares and body horror—and sometimes, thats all you really need. (On Hulu.)©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection
Sabrina: The Teenage Witch
Netflix might have its own Sabrina adaptation on the way, but for now, Melissa Joan Hart still reigns supreme. Besides, even with the new Sabrina coming, this one will always have a place in our hearts; did you hear that the cat wont even talk in the new version? (On Hulu.)©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection
Practical Magic
In this crunchy New England fall leaf of a film, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play a pair of witchy sisters battling against a family curse that dooms any man they fall in love with to an early death. There are perfect autumnal Massachusetts vibes, plus Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as a pair of aunties who love to cackle over midnight margaritas. (On HBOGo.)From Everett Collection.
Honorable Mentions
If youve found yourself with enough money to pony up for a couple other rentals, here are some of our favorites that, alas, cannot be streamed for free: Kikis Delivery Service, The Craft, Eves Bayou, The Wizard of Oz, Hocus Pocus, and Bell Book and Candle.Clockwise from right; From Everett Collection, from Everett Collection, from ©Buena Vista/Everett Collection.
Yohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
