I have to admit, I enjoyed every minute of this film. Mia Farrow played her role very well. Many times during the film, we feel the fear and worry she feels. Ruth Gordon also played her role very well, as did John Cassavetes, Charles Grodin, Tony Curtis, Hope Summers and Sidney Blackmer. You'd be hard-pressed to find actors and actresses and consummate as these.
A good choice.
Probably one of the best horror films ever made. And certainly one of the best horror films ever made within the past fifty years.
John Cassavetes, Tony Curtis, Ruth Gordon, and Robert Redford
Ruth won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, while John went home empty handed. Not even nominated. Whcih I do think points out one of the problems with the Oscars.
The Academy prefering the flashy performance of a Ruth Gordon to the quiet and understated performance of a John Cassavetes. Though, many times, as here, I think the quiet and understated performance is superior, if only if it is harder to do, than the flashy performance.
And you are one up on me. Tony Curtis is in the film, but only his voice is used. But watch for horror actor/director/producer Wiliiam Castle as the Man by the Payphone.
And can you see Robert Redford in the role played by John Cassavetes? Redford was actually offered the role, but he turned it down.
Polansaki and Horror
And since we are talking about Roman Polanski and horror, one may want to check-out Polanski's version of "Macbeth." Though he was criticized for using the film as a means to work through the feelings he had after his wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered.
That may be why that film, "A Clockwork Orange," "The Cowboys," and "Straw Dogs" are four of the most controversial films to be released in 1971 and 1972.