Rosemary's Baby (1968), starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes (VIDEO)

Watch the trailer for Rosemary's Baby, starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes; No. 4 on our list of the 100 best New York movies.

By Joshua Rothkopf Tue Jul 3 2012

New York movies: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Released at a time when horror mostly meant Vincent Price in a goofy cape, Roman Polanski’s realistic supernatural drama was a transfusion of thick, urbane blood. Much of the movie’s revolutionary impact should be credited to the city itself: The Dakota looms menacingly, every bit the Gothic pile as any Transylvanian vampire’s mansion. A young couple, played by Mia Farrow (in a fashion-forward NYC pixie cut) and John Cassavetes, moves in—they’re recognizable enough. But in another one of the film’s clever subversions, the perennial lovable but nosy neighbor (Ruth Gordon) hides an evil intent. Weird obstetricians, mysterious night noises and even Farrow’s improvised stroll into actual oncoming traffic add up to a bustling nightmare that’s spawned many a Black Swan since.—Joshua Rothkopf

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