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Rosemary’s Baby
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (3rd October 2023). |
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The Film
 When Robert Evans took over Paramount in 1967 the studio was in bad shape. in that year the studio didn't have a single top 10 hit film. But one year later the studio was bouncing back with not one but three top ten hits, "The Odd Couple", "Rosemary's Baby", and "Romeo and Juliet" with "The Odd Couple" being the third highest grossing domestic release that year. "Rosemary's Baby" was number seven, but it's cult status would surpass its box office. 1970 saw Paramount with its first number one hit in years, "Love Story" would do record business and Evans was able to take more risks and deliver some of the 70's most iconic and memorable films. "Catch-22" (1970), "The Godfather" (1972), "Paper Moon" (1973), "The Godfather Part II" (1974), "The Longest Yard" (1974), and "Death Wish" (1974) would all fall under his tenure as head of Paramount. "Rosemary's Baby" was an early hit in his career and it's all thanks to a tight script, an incredible cast, and a director fresh off an incredible run of impressive films made in Europe. Based on the novel by Ira Levin, Paramount snapped the rights to it relatively quickly and put it into production, Ira would team up with new to Hollywood filmmaker Roman Polanski to adapt the book into a workable screenplay. Armed with what Levin called "the single most faithful adaptation of a novel ever to come out of Hollywood" Polanski would populate his film with the talents of John Cassavetes and Mia Farrow as the film's young couple and production would begin in earnest in New York City in 1967 but the film itself wasn't the only horror show, the production was riddled with problems from the start. Production delays and overruns plagued the schedule, the film's star John Cassavetes so used to improvisation and spontaneity was hamstrung by Polanski's style of directing it led to numerous arguments and creative differences, Mia Farrow was battling then husband Frank Sinatra for her career as he urged her to quit acting and even threatened to leave her if she didn't. All of this with the added pressure of a studio desperate for a hit breathing down on the production at all times. With all of this going on, it's a wonder the film was completed and an even bigger wonder that film would end up being one of the most genre defining horror films ever made. "Rosemary's Baby" tells the story of young couple Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her struggling actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes) who move into the New York City apartment building The Bramford, an older character building with an ominous reputation and equally odd neighbors. The apartment seems perfect at first as the couple settle in, Rosemary eventually becomes pregnant and she becomes increasingly isolated as a result, the world seems to be passing them by, but a diabolical truth is revealed after Rosemary gives birth. Polanski, despite the difficulties of production, delivered one of the dreamiest horror films of all time, matched with cinematographer William A. Fraker's fluid style they crafted a film that looks great and makes you uncomfortable at the same time. The film's pace is deliberate and unfolds in a manner that maintains a sense of dread the entire time, you know things are going to get bad but there's never any clue as to when it happens until it happens. That's one of the truly magical elements of "Rosemary's Baby" that has placed it as one of the best of its genre. Despite all his protest, arguments, and creative difference, Cassavetes delivers a terrific performance, matched by Farrow who brings a naive waifishness to the role that's perfectly suited to turn into a paranoid scarred woman trying to protect her baby, but the neighbors and her husband all have different designs. Seeing the performances onscreen its easy to see what these actors were going through once you've read all the making of stories, and it does come out. Farrow delivers one of the most impressive performances of the 60's and it's all based on her own real life unravelling. The dread of the first two acts comes to climax in the film's final act, bringing it all together for a reveal that'll leave audiences shook, it's one of the few films I wish that I could watch again for the first time. That's the legacy of the film, it's become such an iconic picture that not only stands the test of time but begs to be rewatched. If you haven't see it before, I truly envy you.
Video
Presented in the film's original theatrical widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 mastered in 4K 2160p 24/fps using HEVC compression and can be viewed either with HDR or Dolby Vision. This film has had a long history of home video releases and they've all had their issues, primarily due to the way the film was shot. The image has a softness to it, and it's inherent as part of the overall style of the film. The best we can get is to accurately present this film as the filmmakers intended. The previous Criterion Blu-ray (now out of print) did a decent job. Now we've got a 4K upgrade thanks to Paramount for the film's 55th anniversary. Paramount thankfully has done a decent job, the film looks great in 4K, there was no evidence of DNR, which I was frankly worried about. Colors look solid and HDR gives it an additional pop. Black levels are deep and rich, grain structure has been maintained. If you have the Criterion Blu-ray I would still keep it mainly for the extras, but this a good upgrade and film fans should add this 4K to their library.
Audio
The 4K has five audio options in English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 dual mono, French Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono, German Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono, and an English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono. The Blu-ray features three audio options in English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 dual mono, French Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono, and German Dolby Digital 2.0 dual mono. I viewed the film in 4K with its English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 dual mono audio. The 16 bit track seems a little subdued, while dialogue sounds good and the film's score does a good job of adding range, I felt the overall track was a little flat and lacking depth. The 4K disc offers optional subtitles in Dutch, English, English HoH, French, German, Italian, and Japanese, while the Blu-ray features optional subtitles in English, English HoH, French, and German.
Extras
Paramount has given the 4K version of the film it's own disc so no extras on that disc, all the supplements are presented on the second disc, a Blu-ray. Below is a closer look at these supplements. DISC ONE: 4K Just the film is included here, no supplements. DISC TWO: Blu-ray A standard HD version of the film is presented here, along with the following extras: “Mia & Roman” is a featurette (23:04) is an archival feature that takes a look at the film's production and the collaboration with Mia and Roman as he directs the actors. “Rosemary's Baby - A Retrospective” featurette (16:58) features interviews with producer Robert Evans, production designer Richard Sylbert and co-writer/director Roman Polanski. A 50th Anniversary Red Band theatrical trailer (0:36) as well as the “Pray For Rosemary's Baby” theatrical trailer (2:50). There is also a digital code included.
Packaging
The two disc set is packaged in an amaray keep case. The US edition comes with a cardboard slip-case with new art (which is terrible), the Canadian release does not come with the slip-case and features the original cover art, it also drops the digital code.
Overall
If you have the Criterion edition it's worth keeping for the exclusive extras, while this Paramount edition is light on supplements the 4K transfer is worth the upgrade.
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