Roman Polanski

Roman Polański (born 18 August 1933) is a Polish-French film director, producer, writer and actor. Born in Paris to Polish parents, Polański relocated with his family to Poland in 1937. After surviving the Holocaust, he continued his education in Poland and became a critically acclaimed director of both art house and commercial films. Polański's first feature-length film, Knife in the Water (1962), made in Poland, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He has since received five more Oscar nominations, and in 2002 received the Academy Award for Best Director for his film, The Pianist. He has also been the recipient of two Baftas, four Césars, a Golden Globe and the Palme d'Or. He left Poland in 1961 to live in France for several years, then moved to the United Kingdom where he collaborated with Gérard Brach on three films, beginning with Repulsion (1965). In 1968 he moved to the United States, immediately cementing his burgeoning directing status with the 1968 groundbreaking Academy Award winning horror film Rosemary's Baby. In 1969, Polański's pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered while staying at the Polański's Benedict Canyon home above Los Angeles by members of the Manson Family. Following Tate's death, Polański returned to Europe and spent much of his time in Paris and Gstaad, but did not make another film until he filmed Macbeth (1971) in England. The following year he went to Italy to make What? (1973) and subsequently spent the ...

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Rosemary's Baby (1968)

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A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  John Cassavetes  •  Ruth Gordon  •  Sidney Blackmer

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  John Cassavetes  •  Ruth Gordon  •  Sidney Blackmer

A Generation (1955)

Stach is a wayward teen living in squalor on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Warsaw. Guided by an avuncular Communist organizer, he is introduced to the underground resistance—and to the beautiful Dorota. Soon he is engaged in dangerous efforts to fight oppression ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Tadeusz Łomnicki  •  Urszula Modrzyńska  •  Tadeusz Janczar  •  Roman Polanski

Stach is a wayward teen living in squalor on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Warsaw. Guided by an avuncular Communist organizer, he is introduced to the underground resistance—and to the beautiful Dorota. Soon he is engaged in dangerous efforts to fight oppression ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Tadeusz Łomnicki  •  Urszula Modrzyńska  •  Tadeusz Janczar  •  Roman Polanski

Bitter Moon (1992)

A passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic's wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Emmanuelle Seigner  •  Peter Coyote

A passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic's wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Emmanuelle Seigner  •  Peter Coyote

Blood for Dracula (1974)

Deathly ill Count Dracula and his slimy underling, Anton, travel to Italy in search of a virgin's blood. They're welcomed at the crumbling estate of indebted Marchese Di Fiore, who's desperate to marry off his daughters to rich suitors. But there, instead of pure ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Morrissey
CAST:  Udo Kier  •  Joe Dallesandro  •  Vittorio De Sica  •  Maxime McKendry

Deathly ill Count Dracula and his slimy underling, Anton, travel to Italy in search of a virgin's blood. They're welcomed at the crumbling estate of indebted Marchese Di Fiore, who's desperate to marry off his daughters to rich suitors. But there, instead of pure ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Morrissey
CAST:  Udo Kier  •  Joe Dallesandro  •  Vittorio De Sica  •  Maxime McKendry

Chinatown (1974)

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Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Faye Dunaway  •  John Huston  •  Perry Lopez

Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Faye Dunaway  •  John Huston  •  Perry Lopez

Cul-de-sac (1966)

A wounded criminal and his dying partner take refuge at an old beachfront fortress. The owner of the fortress and his young wife, initially unwilling hosts, quickly experience their relationship with the criminal shift in a humorous and bizarre fashion.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Donald Pleasence  •  Françoise Dorléac  •  Lionel Stander  •  Iain Quarrier

A wounded criminal and his dying partner take refuge at an old beachfront fortress. The owner of the fortress and his young wife, initially unwilling hosts, quickly experience their relationship with the criminal shift in a humorous and bizarre fashion.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Donald Pleasence  •  Françoise Dorléac  •  Lionel Stander  •  Iain Quarrier

Frantic (1988)

The wife of an American doctor suddenly vanishes in Paris and, to find her, he navigates a puzzling web of language, locale, laissez-faire cops, triplicate-form filling bureaucrats and a defiant, mysterious waif who knows more than she tells.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Betty Buckley  •  Emmanuelle Seigner  •  Djiby Soumare

The wife of an American doctor suddenly vanishes in Paris and, to find her, he navigates a puzzling web of language, locale, laissez-faire cops, triplicate-form filling bureaucrats and a defiant, mysterious waif who knows more than she tells.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Betty Buckley  •  Emmanuelle Seigner  •  Djiby Soumare

Knife in the Water (1962)

On their way to an afternoon on the lake, husband and wife Andrzej and Krystyna nearly run over a young hitchhiker. Inviting the young man onto the boat with them, Andrzej begins to subtly torment him; the hitchhiker responds by making overtures toward Krystyna. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Leon Niemczyk  •  Jolanta Umecka  •  Roman Polanski  •  Zygmunt Malanowicz

On their way to an afternoon on the lake, husband and wife Andrzej and Krystyna nearly run over a young hitchhiker. Inviting the young man onto the boat with them, Andrzej begins to subtly torment him; the hitchhiker responds by making overtures toward Krystyna. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Leon Niemczyk  •  Jolanta Umecka  •  Roman Polanski  •  Zygmunt Malanowicz

The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964)

Five swindle stories, taking place in five international cities: Tokyo, Japan ("Fumiko's Five Benefactors" by Hiromichi Horikawa); Amsterdam, The Netherlands ("A River of Diamonds" by Roman Polanski); Naples, Italy ("The Road Map" by Ugo Gregoretti); Paris, France ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski  •  Jean-Luc Godard  •  Claude Chabrol  •  Hiromichi Horikawa  •  Ugo Gregoretti
CAST:  Mie Hama  •  Ken Mitsuda  •  Nicole Karen  •  Arnold Gelderman

Five swindle stories, taking place in five international cities: Tokyo, Japan ("Fumiko's Five Benefactors" by Hiromichi Horikawa); Amsterdam, The Netherlands ("A River of Diamonds" by Roman Polanski); Naples, Italy ("The Road Map" by Ugo Gregoretti); Paris, France ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski  •  Jean-Luc Godard  •  Claude Chabrol  •  Hiromichi Horikawa  •  Ugo Gregoretti
CAST:  Mie Hama  •  Ken Mitsuda  •  Nicole Karen  •  Arnold Gelderman

Macbeth (1971)

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Scotland, 11th century. Driven by the twisted prophecy of three witches and the ruthless ambition of his wife, warlord Macbeth, bold and brave, but also weak and hesitant, betrays his good king and his brothers in arms and sinks into the bloody mud of a path with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jon Finch  •  Francesca Annis  •  Martin Shaw  •  Terence Bayler

Scotland, 11th century. Driven by the twisted prophecy of three witches and the ruthless ambition of his wife, warlord Macbeth, bold and brave, but also weak and hesitant, betrays his good king and his brothers in arms and sinks into the bloody mud of a path with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jon Finch  •  Francesca Annis  •  Martin Shaw  •  Terence Bayler

Oliver Twist (2005)

Oliver Twist the modern filmed version of Charles Dickens bestseller, a Roman Polanski adaptation. The classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Barney Clark  •  Ben Kingsley  •  Jamie Foreman  •  Harry Eden

Oliver Twist the modern filmed version of Charles Dickens bestseller, a Roman Polanski adaptation. The classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Barney Clark  •  Ben Kingsley  •  Jamie Foreman  •  Harry Eden

Repulsion (1965)

Beautiful young manicurist Carole suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen, leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend, Carole withdraws into her apartment. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Catherine Deneuve  •  Ian Hendry  •  John Fraser  •  Yvonne Furneaux

Beautiful young manicurist Carole suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen, leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend, Carole withdraws into her apartment. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Catherine Deneuve  •  Ian Hendry  •  John Fraser  •  Yvonne Furneaux

Tess (1979)

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Nastassja Kinski  •  Peter Firth  •  Leigh Lawson  •  John Collin

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Nastassja Kinski  •  Peter Firth  •  Leigh Lawson  •  John Collin

Dance of the Vampires (1967)

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A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jack MacGowran  •  Roman Polanski  •  Alfie Bass  •  Jessie Robins

A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Jack MacGowran  •  Roman Polanski  •  Alfie Bass  •  Jessie Robins

The Ninth Gate (1999)

An all-expenses-paid international search for a rare copy of the book 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows' brings an unscrupulous book dealer deep into a world of murder, double-dealing and satanic worship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Frank Langella  •  Lena Olin  •  Emmanuelle Seigner

An all-expenses-paid international search for a rare copy of the book 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows' brings an unscrupulous book dealer deep into a world of murder, double-dealing and satanic worship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Frank Langella  •  Lena Olin  •  Emmanuelle Seigner

The Pianist (2002)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Adrien Brody  •  Thomas Kretschmann  •  Frank Finlay  •  Maureen Lipman

The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Adrien Brody  •  Thomas Kretschmann  •  Frank Finlay  •  Maureen Lipman

The Tenant (1976)

A quiet and inconspicuous man rents an apartment in France where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Roman Polanski  •  Isabelle Adjani  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Bernard Fresson

A quiet and inconspicuous man rents an apartment in France where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Roman Polanski  •  Isabelle Adjani  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Bernard Fresson

What? (1972)

A young American woman traveling through Italy finds herself in a strange Mediterranean villa where nothing seems quite right.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Sydne Rome  •  Hugh Griffith  •  Guido Alberti

A young American woman traveling through Italy finds herself in a strange Mediterranean villa where nothing seems quite right.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Sydne Rome  •  Hugh Griffith  •  Guido Alberti

Kanal (1957)

During the last few days of the Warsaw Uprising following World War II, a modest group of Resistance members remains. The band must take refuge in the sewers under the orders of leader Zadra, but it's only a matter of time before they will have to emerge. However, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Teresa Iżewska  •  Tadeusz Janczar  •  Emil Karewicz  •  Wieńczysław Gliński

During the last few days of the Warsaw Uprising following World War II, a modest group of Resistance members remains. The band must take refuge in the sewers under the orders of leader Zadra, but it's only a matter of time before they will have to emerge. However, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Teresa Iżewska  •  Tadeusz Janczar  •  Emil Karewicz  •  Wieńczysław Gliński

Lotna (1959)

Set in the beginning of Wold War II, when the Polish cavalry still fought with lances against German troops. LOTNA is about a white thoroughbred horse that passed through various hands in a military outfit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Jerzy Pichelski  •  Adam Pawlikowski  •  Jerzy Moes  •  Mieczysław Łoza

Set in the beginning of Wold War II, when the Polish cavalry still fought with lances against German troops. LOTNA is about a white thoroughbred horse that passed through various hands in a military outfit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Wajda
CAST:  Jerzy Pichelski  •  Adam Pawlikowski  •  Jerzy Moes  •  Mieczysław Łoza
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