Roman Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby” and the Dark Side of Hollywood

The 1968 movie “Rosemary’s Baby” is one of Roman Polanski’s most chilling and acclaimed productions. The film describes the manipulation of a young woman by a high-society occult coven for ritualistic purposes. The movie’s unsettling quality does not rely on blood and gore but on its realistic premise, which forces the viewers to ponder on the likelihood of the existence of elite secret societies. Even more unsettling are the eerie real life events that surrounded the movie involving ritualistic killings and MK Ultra. We will look at the symbolic meaning of “Rosemary’s Baby” and the stranger-than-fiction events that followed its release.

Although I publish things that happen now, I think it's not bad to know what were the Illuminati doing in the past.. The state of today’s Illuminati  pop culture is not a spontaneous trend that sprung out of nowhere. Rather, it is the result of years of occult influence on the entertainment industry and the gradual conditioning of the masses to certain messages and symbols. Although pop culture has always been tainted by the elite’s agenda to shape and mold young minds, it is during the 60s and the 70s that MK-Ultra stooges and dark secret societies became visible parts of the mix. The need to quell the anti-war and anti-establishment movements of the 60′s forced the elite to infiltrate and disrupt the culture. A series of destabilizing events occurred to shock idealistic minds and heroes became enemies. The “Peace and Love” of the 60s became Charles Manson and LSD in the 70s.

Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby and its story about the manipulation of a young woman by an elite witch coven to carry and give birth to the Anti-Christ captured the mindset of this era and became symbolic of the irreversible shift that happened in the late 60s. However, it is the real life events surrounding the movie that truly defined this era: Less than a year after the release of Rosemary’s Baby, Roman Polanski’s pregnant wife was ritualistically murdered by members of the Charles Manson family. This horrific event brought a brutal end to the “good vibrations” of the 60s and is viewed by many historians as pivotal moment in American history. We will look at the symbolic meaning of Rosemary’s Baby and analyze the strange events surrounding it, which involve occult secret societies, mind control and ritualistic murders.

Rosemary’s Baby

Roman’s Polanski’s 1968 movie is a faithful adaption of Ira Levin’s best-selling novel that appeared only a year before. Although it contains no blood or gore, Rosemary’s Baby is considered to be one of the scariest movies of all time. Why? The creepy nature of the film is not in its special effects, but in its realistic premise. The story takes place in a real apartment building (the Dakota) that has a real reputation of attracting eccentric elements of New York’s high society. The evil coven is not composed of stereotypical, pointy-nose witches but of friendly neighbors, prestigious doctors and distinguished individuals. They are elegant, rational and intelligent and are connected to important people. The realism of the movie forces the viewers to ponder on the existence of such groups, to a point that some feared that the movie, after its release would cause an all-out witch hunt. Rosemary’s manipulation is also extremely realistic, causing the viewers to think: “It could happen to me”.

The Setting

The movie starts with a pan-and-glide shot of the New York skyline, showing rooftops of buildings, finally settling on the prestigious Dakota Building  (renamed “The Bramford” in the movie).

The Dakota Building (dubbed the Bramford in Rosemary’s Baby)

The Dakota, and other buildings of the Upper West Side, are known to be home of New York’s aristocracy (the “old money”). The Dakota has also attracted celebrities such as actors, singers and writers . It is the “place to be” for New York’s elite.

In the movie, the Bramford is rumoured to have been the site of numerous strange events involving black magic and ritual killings. Adrian Marcato, a rich man practicing witchcraft was almost killed in the lobby of the building. Ten years later, John Lennon, who lived in the Dakota, was murdered in front of this same building. During the introduction of the movie, the Bramford is just one of New York city’s many rooftops, concealing within its austere walls occult rituals the average person would never suspect.

The Young Couple

John and Rosemary Woodhouse visiting the Bramford

Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse (played by Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes) are a young couple who are looking to rent an apartment at the Bramford. Guy is a struggling actor who is not able to obtain recognition or important roles and has to resort to appearing in degrading TV commercials to generate some income. Rosemary is a frail and shy country girl who comes from a strict Catholic background. The name Rosemary has historically been associated with the Virgin Mary, who is said to have spread her cloak over a white-blossomed rosemary bush when she was resting, turning it blue. In the movie, the kind and trusting Rosemary will become a sort of “Black Virgin Mary”, bearing within her womb the child of Satan.

The Castevets

Minnie and Roman Castevet, a distinguished yet eccentric elderly couple.

Once settled in their apartment, the Woodhouses meet their neighbors the Castevets, a friendly but nosy elderly couple who invite them for dinner. During this important evening, Roman Castevet compliments Guy on his acting, claiming he has an “interesting inner-quality” and “that is should take him a long way” … provided he gets those initial breaks (we later learn that those breaks come easier when one is part of their cult). Roman claims his father was a theatrical director and that he worked with all of biggest stars of the time (his father is actually Adrian Marcato, the witch who almost got killed in the building’s lobby).

In the kitchen, Minnie asks Rosemary several questions concerning the number of children in her family. She is obviously very interested in the “child-bearing” qualities of Rosemary.

In the living room, Roman is privately discussing with Guy.

Roman and Guy’s important discussion

Guy learns about Roman’s witch coven and occult rituals. He is also told that his career will succeed if he were to join them. The price of entry is however steep: He must allow his wife to be drugged and impregnated by Satan during an occult ritual.

Under Their Control

Although he did not like the elderly couple at first, Guy joins the coven and becomes good friends with Roman. Rosemary, who has no idea of these dealings, becomes weary of the couple and their strange behavior. During a pop-in visit, Minnie gives Rosemary a pendant containing tannis root (a fictitious plant), claiming it to be a good luck charm.

The spherical pendant was previously worn by a young woman who was living with the Castevets. The elderly couple found her living on the streets (mind-control handlers prey on such lost individuals). The woman killed herself by jumping out of a window, probably after learning about the Castevets occult plans for her. The pendant becomes symbolic of the coven’s mind control.

The same night, Guy obtains the leading role of a play because the original actor suddenly became blind. This strange event convinces Guy of the coven’s power, quelling all his doubts regarding its ability to help his acting career. Rosemary soon notices a drastic change in Guy’s attitude: Her husband is “suddenly very hot”, landing big roles here and there. He is also becoming “self-centered,” “vain,” “pre-occupied,” and “self-absorbed”. Funny how this describes the changes seen in celebrities who “sell their soul” for fame.

The Ritual

One night, Guy brings flowers to Rosemary and abruptly proposes, “Let’s have a baby, all right?”. He circles the best days on the calendar to start having sex – October 4th or 5th, 1965. (The coven had determined that these were the prime days for copulation to obtain a numerologically-correct birth). While the couple has a romantic dinner as a prelude to lovemaking, Minnie knocks at their door to drop off a dessert she made. Rosemary finds that the chocolate mousse has a “chalky taste” but Guy insists that she eats it. Her mousse contained drugs and Rosemary becomes dizzy.

During her trance-like state, Rosemary has incoherent hallucinations involving a JFK look-a-like (the only Catholic US President, who died six years before) images of the Sistine Chapel and the Pope (who is wearing Rosemary’s spherical pendant, symbol of occult control). She is then seen naked on her bed, surrounded by her husband, the Castevets and the entire witch coven, who are chanting ritualistic hymns while an occult ritual is practiced on her.

Markings on Rosemary’s chest, on par with “real” Satanic rituals.

In her dream-like state, Guy begins making love to her, but his appearance changes into a grotesque beast-like figure resembling the Devil, with yellowish eyes and clawed, scaly hands. He strokes the length of her body with his hairy claw. While being ‘raped’ Rosemary realizes:

“This is no dream, this is really happening!”

There have been persistent rumors claiming that Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, played the uncredited role of Satan during the impregnation scene, and also served as a technical advisor for the film. There is no proof of LaVey’s involvement in the movie but he was nonetheless linked to the movie’s aura in another way: Susan Atkins, the member of the Manson family who later murdered Polanski’s pregnant wife Sharon Tate, was an ex-follower of Anton LaVey.

Soon after, Rosemary learns that she is pregnant.

The Pregnancy

Right after learning about Rosemary’s pregnancy, Guy knocks on the door of the Castevets to inform them of the “good news”. Minnie immediately recommends that Rosemary sees “the finest obstetricians of the country”, Abe Sapirstein. He is the elite’s doctor as he “delivers all high society babies”.

Dr. Sapirstein turns out to be part of the Castevet’s witch convent. He uses his prestige and authority to manipulate Rosemary during her pregnancy.

The famous real-life April 1966 cover of Time Magazine in Dr. Sapirstein’s waiting room.  LaVey’s “Church of Satan” was established during the same month of the same year.

The doctor orders Rosemary to avoid all pregnancy books and all friendly advice because “no two pregnancies” are alike. In reality, he knows that this unholy pregnancy will be extremely painful. He also requires Rosemary to consume daily drinks made by her neighbor Minnie Castevet. Rosemary becomes therefore totally dependent on members of the coven for all issues regarding her pregnancy. They keep her sheltered from the outside world, monitored and sedated through numerous ways:

Cakes and drinks made by Minnie

Prescription pills from Dr. Sapirstein

Shots from the Doctor. Rosemary is kept blind to surroundings the same way the general population is: through mind numbing foods, drinks, pills and vaccines.

Even the air Rosemary breathes is controlled by her handlers through air conditioners. At one point Rosemary turns off the air and opens a window – symbolically getting a grip on reality. Rosemary’s caretaker immediately says: “Did you turn off the air conditioner? You mustn’t do that, dear.” She closes the window and turns the air conditioner back on.

Rosemary’s pregnancy is extremely difficult. She loses weight and she keeps feeling sharp pains in her stomach. Dr. Sapirstein dismisses her concerns, telling her that the pain would go away. Rosemary becomes weary of her neighbors, who are a little too “interested” in her pregnancy. She then obtains a book from a concerned friend (who mysteriously dies afterwards): All of Them Witches.

The book describes the Castevet’s international secret society, which is known to practice blood rituals. Rosemary then buys more books on witchcraft. She is seen reading a passage which might describe the reason why Guy had been obtaining important roles.

“Many people during that time died supposedly natural deaths. Since then it has been determined that the United Mental Force of the whole coven could blind, deafen, paralyze, and ultimately kill the chosen victim. This use of a United Mental Force is sometimes called a coven.”

Rosemary reading Eliphas Levi’s Rituals and Dogma. Notice Levi’s depiction of Baphomet.

Rosemary attempts to escape the coven’s control and seeks help but she is tracked down and brought back home. She is drugged by Dr. Sapirstein and, soon after, she goes into labor.

The Baby

When Rosemary wakes up, she is told that her baby was dead (it was taken by the coven). Guy tries to comfort his wife by telling her that big movie production companies like Paramount and Universal were interested in hiring him. He was also promised a big house Beverly Hills – all rewards for Guy’s initiation into the coven and Rosemary’s sacrifice.

Determined to find her baby, Rosemary sneaks into the Castevets’ apartment and stumbles into a Satanic “Adoration of the Magi” scene, with people from all over the world bringing gifts to the baby.

When Rosemary sees the baby’s reptilian eyes, she starts screaming. Roman Castevet tells her:

“Satan is his father, not Guy. He came up from hell and begat a son of mortal woman. Satan is his father and his name is Adrian. He shall overthrow the mighty and lay waste their temples. He shall redeem the despised and wreak vengeance in the name of the burned and the tortured. Hail, Adrian! Hail, Satan! God is dead! Satan lives! The year is One, the year is One! God is dead”

The birth of Rosemary’s baby is the new “Year One.” It is also accurate by Church of Satan standards to call 1966 Year One. This is a self-conscious, parallel reference to the year of Jesus Christ’s birth, also in Year One, A.D. Another unstated fact: The baby is born in June 1966, which is numerically 6/66.

Roman then asks Rosemary to be a “mother to her child” and to take care of the baby.

Roman asking Rosemary to take care of Adrian, who is in a black cradle and under an inverted cross.

Unable to resist her instinctual, almost animalistic need to respond to her baby’s cries, Rosemary starts rocking the cradle.  The movies ends with a rather unsettling scene: The coven gathers around Rosemary while she takes care of the monstrous baby. She accepts the reality of the situation and faintly smiles.

The camera moves to the curtained window and then to the outside of the apartment – ending the film with the same, slow pan across the urban rooftops that opened the film … all of these events happened inside one of New York’s many rooftops and no one will ever suspect a thing.

Aftermath of the Movie

While some will consider Rosemary’s Baby to be nothing more than a scary movie playing on the sensibilities of devout Christians and young mothers, others see it as Roman Polanski’s courageous exposition of high society’s occult mind state. Many however see the movie as an occult manifesto, heralding a new era.  Rosemary’s Baby is Aleister Crowley’s “Child of the new Aeon”, or Horus the son of Isis – the bringer of a new era in world history. Whether it was intentional or not, Rosemary’s Baby did appear at the brink of a new era and became part of an important social change.

“The movie appeared at a moment of optimum spiritual chaos in American life. Rosemary’s Baby remains an iconic memory trace of a time when anything seemed possible, including the birth of the Anti-Christ”.
- Gary Indiana, “Bedeviled”, Village Voice

Rosemary is representative of the traditional and naive American society of the 50s and 60s – filled with idealism and hope. But that hope was sold, drugged and manipulated by a hidden cult (formed by prestigious and respectable members of society) to forcefully give birth to a new era. Shocking events left indelible marks on the public mind, including the mysterious deaths of JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Martin Luther King; horrific ritual murders perpetrated by MK-Ultra patsies like Charles Manson and Son of Sam caused fear and horror. These events slapped America out of its ideals and forced it to stare at an undefinable, yet tangible force influencing society. Conspiracies and cover-ups made the news and the masses gradually discovered the existence of a shadow government. Disillusionment and cynicism ensued, causing American society to accept or to ignore the true nature of its rulers. Society became the equivalent of Rosemary who has learned of the evil nature of her baby, but nonetheless accepted the responsibility of mothering it. Today’s debased pop-culture is simply the evolution of this system.

Even if one is to overlook the symbolic meaning of the movie itself, the synchronistic occurrences surrounding its production are simply astonishing. To look at the events surrounding Rosemary’s Baby is to stare right at the dark side of Hollywood. Here are some of the events:

Murder of Sharon Tate

Roman Polanski with his wife, Sharon Tate

Before settling on Mia Farrow, Roman Polanski originally envisioned his wife, Sharon Tate, as playing the role of Rosemary. She was not cast in the role, but did make an uncredited appearance in the movie, during a party scene. Fourteen months after the release of the movie, Tate (who was 8 months pregnant) was ritualistically killed by members of the Manson family. She was stabbed 16 times and her killers wrote the word “pig” in her blood on the wall of her house.

Charles Manson is described by Fritz Springmeier as “both a Monarch slave and a handler”. According to Springmeier, his programmers knew ahead of time what were going to be the next hits. He was basically used by the elite to carry out ritualistic murders.

“(…) the murders attributed to the Son of Sam, the Manson Family, and numerous other interconnected killings (including possibly the Zodiac murders) were not what they appeared to be.  While these killings appeared to be the random work of serial/mass murderers, they actually were contract hits carried out for specific purposes by an interlocking network of Satanic cults … In other words, these were professional hits orchestrated and disguised to look like the work of yet another ‘lone nut’ serial killer.”
- David McGowan, “There’s Something About Henry”

“The Manson murders sounded the death knell for hippies and all they symbolically represented,” Bugliosi told the Observer last week. “They closed an era. The 60s, the decade of love, ended on that night, on 9 August 1969″.-The Guardian, “Charles Manson follower ends her silence 40 years after night of slaughter”

According to numerous observers, Manson’s killings were programmed using Beatles songs (Manson himself claimed that the song Helter Skelter contained hidden messages intended for his family).

“Charles Manson was programmed with Beatles’ music. (…) They regularly call in slaves and hypnotically make the lyrics to be cues for the slaves before the music comes out. For instance, the lyrics of “Ain’t that a Shame” will make certain alters angry. For another slave the lyrics “Everything is relative, in its own way” reminds the person of the cult family & obedience.”
- Fritz Springmeier, The Illuminati Formula to Create an Undetectable Mind Control Slave

“The Manson killings were performed according to ancient ritual with hoodwinks and “cords of initiation” around the necks of the sacrifices. A line from a John Lennon Beatles’ song was painted on the death house, “Helter Skelter” which was located appropriately on Cielo (Spanish for “sky”) Drive (Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski’s house).

What we are witnessing in the wake of the public enactment of these alchemical psychodramas, whose spiritual consequences for mankind are far more momentous than most have thus far guessed, is a process of global occult initiation”.
- Michael, A. Hoffman, Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare

Speaking of which, the death of John Lennon is another strange piece of the puzzle.  The murder occurred as John was walking into the Dakota, the building where Rosemary’s Baby was filmed, and where he was living at the time. Mark David Chapman, the “lone nut” who killed Lennon is heavily suspected to be a Monarch mind-control slave.

Masses of people in front of the Dakota after Lennon’s death.

Chapman also had ties with high-profile handlers and the strange circle of occult celebrities.

“Lennon’s assassin, Mark David Chapman, met LaVey’s pal Kenneth Anger, an American disciple of Aleister Crowley, in Honolulu in the late 1970′s. In 1967 Anger had directed a film called Lucifer Rising, starring Manson follower Bobby Beausoleil. Another follower and Tate-killer, Susan Atkins, had appeared with LaVey in performances at a Los Angeles area strip club.”
- Ibid.

Why was Sharon Tate “chosen”? She was not Hollywood’s biggest star and she only enjoyed limited commercial success. Was it the inevitable outcome reserved to stars who go too far into the occult side of stardom? Three years before her death, Tate played the role of a witch in the movie Eye of the Devil. The movie’s conclusion: A blood sacrifice was required to “make things right again”.

Eye of the Devil, one of Tate’s last movies. Another case of a celebrity appearing in a symbolic movie before a strange death.

Did Roman Polanski sacrifice his wife (the same way Guy sacrificed Rosemary) to obtain the favors of Hollywood? Soon after the death, he allowed himself to be photographed by Life Magazine in the living room where Tate  had died. Her dried blood was still clearly visible on the floor in front of him. The photo shoot caused him to be heavily criticized.

Other events did not help his credibility. Seven years after Tate’s murder, Polanski was arrested and charged with a number of offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Geimer, including rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. According to Geimer’s testimony to the grand jury, Polanski had asked Geimer’s mother (a television actress and model) if he could photograph the girl as part of his work for the French edition of Vogue. According to author Michael A. Hoffman, Polanski produced snuff films involving minors for sale on the private market, but these allegations remain unproven. Despite all of these accusations, Polanski remains a free man.

Are these events strange coincidences or all part of a big scheme? Is it somewhere in between? Whatever the case may be, they are symptomatic of a hidden force influencing American pop culture.