ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968)

"Hail, Satan! Hail, Satan!"

I've heard people mention that since ROSEMARY'S BABY came out 5 years before THE EXORCIST it was the catalyst for the Satanic movie boom of the 70's.  That might be true, to a point, but I don't fully subscribe to that argument.  Polanski's film is more concerned with Rosemary's paranoia than with any of the Satanic elements (I believe that ROSEMARY'S BABY is an extension of the ground Polanski covered in REPULSION and would again later visit in THE TENANT) and pretty much all of the terror in the film comes from the unknown, so there wasn't much for the exploiters to exploit.  Yeah, there were a few Satanic films released during the years in between, but it wasn't until THE EXORCIST was released in all of it's spiderwalking, crucifix fucking, head-spinning, vomit-spewing glory that the unholy gates of Hell were fully opened into the movie theaters.

Rosemary Woodhouse is a normal girl.  Her husband is a mildly successful actor that mostly appears in TV commercials.  They've decided to get a new apartment and that's were we see them for the first time: touring an old apartment.  Even this early in the film the seeds of unease are planted with the dark interiors and with a dresser that placed in front of a closet.  Why would the former tenant put it there?  Anyway, Rosemary and her husband rent the apartment and for a little while things go fine, but then small strange things start to happen...

Regrettably, I've never read Ira Levin's novel that was the source material for the film, but from what I've read the film is actually quite a faithful retelling...and it shows.  While I was revisiting the film for this review, I kept thinking how the slow pacing is almost like reading a really good book that teases you while gradually building up steam.  I've never been to film school, but I would imagine ROSEMARY'S BABY would be an excellent example of how to create tension through proper pacing and editing.

Highly, highly recommended for lovers of great cinema.  Modern horror audiences might not care for it since it's not graphic in anyway, but, in my opinion, ROSEMARY'S BABY is not only one of the best films of the 60's, but one of the best movies of all time.  The Academy Awards might have messed up a lot of things over years, but giving the Best Supporting Actress to Ruth Gordon for this film was definitely the right choice.  I would love to know who's idea was it for her to eat so strangely?  And wipe the knife mark on the floor?

 William Castle cameo.

MORE THAN A SECRETARY (1936)

I might have been "pleasantly surprised" with the same year's ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN, but I was pretty bored with this one.  The idea is promising...the owner (Arthur) of a secretarial school/business is curious why one of her customers (Brent) keeps returning her secretaries so she goes to investigate.  The owner mistakes her as a new secretary, but when she starts to correct him she notices how beau-hunky he is and takes the job!  That sounds hilarious, but it's not.

First off Brent runs a health magazine that borders on being a cult.  He forces his employees to exercise throughout the day, read mountains of health literature and eat nothing but bland health food.  Mmmm, a steak made out of "vegetables and mashed nuts"...sounds great!  In other words, this dude is a complete square.  But Arthur sticks with him and then when she finally gets him to loosen up a bit what does he do?  He goes out and bangs another secretary that's been ragging Arthur on how old she is!!!  Of course in the end everything works out great and Arthur and Brent hook up.  Lucky her.

The film isn't a total bust, there's a few humorous moments but for the most part I never even cracked a smile.  For hardcore Arthur fans only.  If you need me I'll be in my room watching THE MORE THE MERRIER.