Roman Polanski: Behind the Scenes of His Classic Early Films

Young (Spike Jones Off the Record) provides not just a new study of Roman Polanski but also intelligent insight into his collaborators, his struggles as a director, and the unsettling brilliance of his early work. While Young does discuss the films Repulsion and Dance of the Vampires (retitled in the U.S. as The Fearless Vampire Killers), his focus is on the filming of Cul-de-Sac and the toll it took on the director, the unhappy crew, and the hostile cast. Cul-de-Sac was Polanski’s favorite film but his worst experience. It gained cult status in the U.S. only after the success of Rosemary’s Baby. Young’s access to Polanski’s shooting schedule and call sheets, coupled with interviews with those involved, provide firsthand accounts of Polanski’s developing style and motivations, as well as his antics; he ripped pages from the script to get back on schedule. While Young had Polanski’s cooperation and a friendly relationship with the director, Polanski was not given final approval on the book, and Young doesn’t gloss over the domineering and often cruel behavior that alienated many on set. He addresses Polanski’s conviction of unlawful sex with a minor in the epilogue.