LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY
US, 1977, 100 minutes, Colour.
Patty Duke, George Maharis, Broderick Crawford, Ruth Gordon, David Huffman, Tina Louise, Ray Milland.
Directed by Sam O'Steen.
Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby is a mild telemovie sequel to the original classic. Patty Duke takes Mia Farrow's place, George Maharis takes John Cassavetes' place. Ruth Gordon is here as Minnie Castavet, but Ray Milland is now her husband. The supporting cast includes Tina Louise and Donna Mills.
The film focuses on the young baby, Rosemary's abducting the child to take it away from the coven. It also focuses on Guy as a successful Hollywood actor and the coven asking him to give his dues. The coven is presented - but with Ruth Gordon's wacky style and Ray Milland's arch delivery, one wonders how seriously it is being presented. Steven McHattie? is Adrian, Rosemary's baby. He is destined to be the incarnation of Satan - but is being tested to be found worthy of such an evil presence. He fails, but the coven, ever ready, has a young woman to be the new mother of the satanic child.
The treatment is mild because of its being designed for television - paling beside such films as the Omen series. Direction is by Sam O'Steen, better known as a Hollywood editor.
1.Continuity with Rosemary's Baby? A sequel - or a postscript? Entertaining?
2.The locations, the desert, Hollywood, New York and the coven? A piece of Americana? The musical score?
3.The title and its tone? Audience expectations? Horror? Incarnation of the Devil?
4.The opening with the continuity and the original film, the cot, Rosemary and the baby, the coven? The ceremonies of the coven? Rosemary and her love for the baby, the child growing up, Rosemary protecting it? Wanting to take the child away from the coven? The escape, on the bus, at the roadside? Adrian and his brutality towards the children? Marjean and her overhearing the phone call from Rosemary to her husband? In league with him? Rosemary taken away in the empty bus?
5.Adrian growing up with Marjean, friendship with Simon Peter, racing around the countryside in the car, the difficulties with the sheriff? Friendship, Adrian wondering at his power? Wondering about his parents?
6.Adrian deciding to find out about himself? His godparents coming to see him? The driving, the death of Simon Peter and Adrian's anger and grief? His wanting to get away? The accident? The encounter with Ellen? Her looking after him at the motel? His becoming the victim of Ellen and the coven? His not being killed? His being left to wander - unworthy of the Devil's incarnation?
7.Minnie and Roman, their arch style, Devil-worshippers, the ceremonies and incantations? Their following? The links with Guy, trying to track down Rosemary? Their control over Adrian? Their discarding him and taking on Ellen and her baby? Miraculously healing her after the accident?
8.Marjean, the encounter with Rosemary and Adrian, her shrewd connection with Guy? Bringing Adrian up, trying to control him? Her prospering by her league with the coven?
9.Guy, the successful Hollywood actor, the price of being the foster father of the Devil's baby? The bargains with Ramon? Their pressure on him? Contact with his son, his death in the accident?
10.Ramon and Minnie, their influence, their control over Ellen, Ellen and her relationship with an Adrian, the seduction, the conception of the baby, the accident?
11.Peter Simon, his relationship with Adrian, theological college, friendship, his death?
12.Popular entertainment? Part of the popularity of diabolical films in the late '60s and into the '70s?
