The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. The correct title is Roman Polański.

Roman Polański (born August 18, 1933) is a Polish film director and actor.

Contents

1 Early Life 2 Career & Tragedy 3 Controversy 4 Trivia 5 Selected directorial filmography 6 References 7 External links

Early Life

Roman Polański was born in Paris as Raimund Liebling to Ryszard Polański (aka Ryszard Liebling), a Jew, and Bula Polański (née Katz), a Roman Catholic. In 1937 his family moved back to Poland. His mother died in a concentration camp, but Polanski avoided incarceration there, escaped the Cracow Ghetto and spent the war wandering the countryside of Europe. He was educated at the film school in Lodz, Poland (graduated in 1959).

Career & Tragedy

Several short films made during the study gained considerable recognition. His first major film Knife in the Water (1962) was the first significant Polish film after the war that was not associated with the war theme. It was Polanski's first nomination for the Oscar.

Polanski then made films in Great Britain; Repulsion, a disturbing tale of madness and alienation, and Cul-de-Sac.

Roman met rising starlet Sharon Tate while filming The Fearless Vampire Killers and during their time together doing the film they began dating. In 1968 Polanski went to Hollywood where he gained reputation with the sophisticated psychological thriller Rosemary's Baby (1968). On 25 January, 1968 he married Sharon in London, England.

On 9 August 1969, an eight months pregnant Sharon and three of her and Roman's friends (coffee heiress Abigail Folger, international hairdresser Jay Sebring, Polanski's friend Wojciech Frykowski, and an unknown boy, Steven Parent) were brutally murdered by Charles Manson's gang. Distraught and heartbroken, Polanski returned to Europe shortly after Tate's funeral.

Controversy

In 1974 he returned to the USA with the film Chinatown (1974). The film seemed to be the beginning of a new start for Polanski's professional life, as it brought him a nomination for an Academy Award for Directing. However, he became embroiled in a scandal surrounding rape charges involving him and a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer , daughter of an actress. Polanski was initially charged with rape, suspicion of Censored page, child molestation and furnishing dangerous drugs to a minor; however these charges were eventually reduced to statutory rape at the request of the victim's mother. According to reports, his fame gained him the trust of her mother to host the young model at his home for a photo session. Her mother hoped he would help her daughter into show business. After convincing her to get into his hot-tub, the victim alleged he drugged her with quaaludes and alcohol, and then proceeded to have nonconsensual Censored page with her. The sister of the girl heard her reporting the fact of sexual intercourse to her friend over the phone. When her mother reported the incident to the police, he fled the United States but returned later to face the charges. On February 1, 1978, after pleading guilty to the charges, Polanski skipped bail and fled to France.

He received another Academy Award nomination for Tess (1979). During the filming he had a relationship with the young Nastassja Kinski; the relationship failed. Since Tess Polanski has spent his time in France and Poland, and continues to direct movies and theater and act in films. He married actress and model Emmanuelle Seigner in 1989. They have two children: Morgane and Elvis.

Polanski was laureate of the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) award at the Cannes Film Festival on May 26 2002 for The Pianist, later winning the 2002 Academy Award for Directing. He could not attend the awards, held in Hollywood, because he still faces sentencing of up to 50 years in prison if he ever returns to the USA.

During the summer and autumn 2004, Roman Polanski shot a new film adaptation of the famous 'Oliver Twist' novel from Charles Dickens. The shooting took place at the Barrandov studios in Prague, Czech Republic. Ronald Harwood wrote the screenplay. Starring are Barney Clark (Oliver Twist), Jamie Foreman (Bill Sykes), Harry Eden (the Artful Dodger), Ben Kingsley (Fagin), Leanne Rowe (Nancy), Edward Hardwicke (Mr Brownlow). Besides the cast, the director gathered again some of his colloborators from his previous movies : Ronald Harwood (screenplay), Allan Starski (production designer), Pawel Edelman (director of photography), Anna Sheppard (costume designer). It seems somehow important to Polanski at this point to make a film for children, and maybe also for his own children. Although one could expect some dark aspects in the movie, it is also likely to be quite joyful and full of humour.

Roman Polanski speaks five languages: Polish, Russian, English, French and Italian.

Trivia

• Roman has said that the greatest regret he has about his life was not being at Cielo Drive when his wife Sharon, their unborn son, and friends died.
• Dedicated the movie Tess to Sharon. Sharon put the book on his nightstand before leaving London and also left a note saying how it would make a wonderful movie.
• His wife was reportedly 8 months pregnant when she was murdered.

Selected directorial filmography

• Oliver Twist (2005)
• The Pianist (2002)
• The Ninth Gate (1999)
• Death and the Maiden (1994)
• Bitter Moon (1992)
• Frantic (1988)
• Pirates (1986)
• Tess (1979)
• Le Locataire (aka The Tenant) (1976)
• Chinatown (1974)
• What? (aka Diary of Forbidden Dreams) (1973)
• Macbeth (1971)
• Rosemary's Baby (1968)
• The Fearless Vampire Killers (aka Dance of the Vampires) (1967)
• Cul-de-Sac (1966)
• Repulsion (1965)
• Nóż w wodzie (aka Knife in the Water) (1962)
• Dwaj ludzie z szafą (aka Two Men and a Wardrobe) - a short film (1958)

References

• Aloviso, Silvio. (2002). "Roman Polanski: Chinatown". Torino: Lindau. 134p. ISBN 8871804139
• Avron, Dominque. (1987). "Roman Polanski". Paris: Rivages. 194p. ISBN 2869300557
• Belmans, Jacques (ed). (1971). "Roman Polanski: presentation par Jacques Belmans". Paris: Seghers. 185p.
• Berkoff, Steven. (2003). "Tough acts: memories of working with Stella Adler, Christopher Plummer, Leonard Rossiter, Stanley Kubrick, Brad Davis, Eddie Murphy, Sylvester Stallone, Roman Polanski, Christopher Walken, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Joan Collins, Al Pacino". London: Robson. 164p. ISBN 1851056699
• Bird, Daniel. (2002). "Roman Polanski". Harpenden: Pocket Essentials. 96p. ISBN 1903047897
• Bisplinghoff, Gretchen (ed). (1979). "Roman Polanski: a guide to references and resources". Boston/London: GK Hall. 116p. ISBN 0816179069
• Blume, Antje. (2003). "Roman Polanski, Macbeth". Paderborn: Schoningh. 103p. ISBN 3140412355
• Bonnotte, Stephane; Zamochnikoff, Frederic. (2004). "Polanski entre deux mondes". Neuilly sur Seine: Lafon. 324p. ISBN 2749901081
• Boutang, Pierre-Andre (ed). (1986). "Polanski par Polanski: textes et documents". Paris: Chene. 231p. ISBN 2851084380
• Bruno, Edoardo (ed). (1993). "Roman Polanski". Roma: Gremese. 123p. ISBN 8876067943
• Butler, Ivan. (1970). "The cinema of Roman Polanski". London: Zwemmer. 192p. ISBN 0302020616 (pbk)
• Butler, Ivan. (1970). "The cinema of Roman Polanski". New York: Barnes. 191p. ISBN 0498077128
• Castro, Antonio (ed). (1999). "Miradas sobre el mundo: veinte conversaciones con cineastas [includes Polanski]". Caceres: Cinefila Re Bross. 288p.
• Censorini, Debora. (1997). "Il luogo chiuso e il perturbante nel cinema di Roman Polanski". Pavia Universita: thesis.
• Ciment, Michel. (1987). "Passeport pour Hollywood: entretiens avec Wilder, Huston, Mankiewicz, Polanski, Forman, Wenders". Paris: Seuil. 392p. ISBN 2020095270
• Conde, Michel. (2002). " Le pianiste : un film de Roman Polanski". Liege: Les Grignoux. 64p. ISBN 293036601X
• Couvy, Claire. (2003). "Anormalite, transgression et creation: a partir de l'etude du transsexualisme et du transvestisme dans l'analyse de L'annee des treize lunes de Fassbinder et Le locataire de Polanski". Paris: Sorbonne University. Thesis. 93p.
• Daubner, Anton. (1985). "Psychologische element in den filmen Roman Polanskis". Erlangen-Nurmberg Universtaat: Magisterarbeit. 157p.
• Eagle, Herbert J. (2003). "Exile and emigration in the films of Roman Polanski". IN

Stephan, Halina (ed). "Living in translation: Polish writers in America". 382p. Amsterdam; New York: Rodopi. ISBN 9042010169 (pbk)

• Eaton, Michael. (1997). "Chinatown". London: British Film Institute. 79p. ISBN 0851705324
• Edenberger, Patrizia. (1997). "Die probleme bei der audiovisuellen umsetzung phantastischer Literatur am beispiel von Der Sandmann von E.T.A. Hoffmann und Der Meister des Jungsten Tages und St. Petri-Schnee von Leo Perutz im Vergleich mit Rosemary's Baby von Ira Levin". Wien Universtaat: Dissertation. 335p.
• Elliott, Kamilla. (2003). "Rethinking the novel/film debate[discusses Polanski's Tess]". Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. 302p. ISBN 0521818443
• Fischer, Jens Malte. (1983). "Filmwissenchaft filmgeschichte: studien zu Welles, Hitchcock, Polanski, Pasolini und Max Steiner". Tubingen: Narr. 174p. ISBN 3878089074
• Gelmis, Joseph. (1970). "The film director as superstar [includes Polanski]". New York: Doubleday. 316p.
• Gieysztor, Stefan. (2002). "Moj Pianista [Gieysztor played the piano for Adrien Brody in the movie 'The Pianist']". Jelenia Gora: Oficyna Wydawnicza ER. 111p. ISBN 8390049449
• Goodridge, Mike (ed). (2002). "Directing [interviews with Directors, including Roman Polanski]". Boston: Focal Press. 176p. ISBN 0240804988
• Goulding, Daniel J (ed). (1994). "Five filmmakers: Tarkovsky, Forman, Polanski, Szabo, Makavejev". Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 289p. ISBN 0253326095 (hbk) ISBN 025338254 (pbk)
• Heffernan, Kevin. (2004). "Ghouls, gimmicks, and gold : horror films and the American movie business, 1953-1968 [chapter on Polanski's Rosemary's baby]". Durham: Duke University Press. 323p. ISBN 0822332027 (hbk) ISBN 0822332159 (pbk)
• Henderson, Summers. (1999). "Polanski and Scorsese: violence sex and alienation in the New American Cinema". 250p. Austin: University of Texas. MA Thesis
• Hobbs, William. (1995). "Fight directions for stage and screen [foreword by Polanski]". Portsmouth [NH]: Heinemann; London: A&C Black. 143p. ISBN 0435086804 (hbk) ISBN 0713640227 (pbk)
• Jacobsen, Wolfgang (ed). (1986). "Roman Polanski". Munchen: Hanser. 222p. ISBN 3446144099
• Jakubowski, Witold. (1997). "Lek w filmie: refleksje pedagoga [Polanski and Bergman]". Krakow: Impuls. 119p. ISBN 8386994428
• Jankun-Dopartowa, Mariola. (2003). "Labirynt Polanskiego". Krakow: Rabid. 277p. ISBN 8391296105
• Kane, Pascal. (1970). "Roman Polanski". Paris: Editions du Cerf. 122p.
• Kiernan, Thomas. (1981). "Repulsion: the life and times of Roman Polanski". Sevenoaks: New English Library. 288p. ISBN 0450048373 (hbk) ISBN 0450052648 (pbk)
• Kiernan, Thomas. (1980). "Roman Polanski story". New York: Grove Press/Delilah. ISBN 0394513967 (hbk) ISBN 0394179455 (pbk)
• Kroner, Marion. (1981). "Roman Polanski: seine filme und seine welt". Schondorf: Roloff & Seelsen. ISBN 3881442197
• Lagier, Luc. (1996). "L'ambiguite dans le film d'epouvante: un essai sur la peur et son spectateur [includes discussion of Polanski's Rosemary's baby]". Paris. 76p.
• Leaming, Barbara. (1982). "Roman Polanski: his life and films". London: Hamilton. ISBN 0241107520
• Leaming, Barbara. (1981). "Roman Polanski: the filmmaker as voyeur". New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671249851
• Magrelli, Enrico. (1979). "Roman Polanski". Milano: Il formichiere. 143p.
• Martin, C. (1999). "Shakespeare's 'fiend-like queen': a study of the characterisation of Lady Macbeth in the films of Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa and Roman Polanski". Birmingham: University of Birmingham. Dissertation for MA.
• Niemeyer, Paul. (2003). "Seeing Hardy: film and television adaptations of the fiction of Thomas Hardy [includes Polanski's "Tess"]". Jefferson: McFarland. 302p. ISBN 0786414294 (pbk)
• [No author/ed]. (1985). "Polanski und Skolimowski: das absurde in film". Zurich: Filmstelle VSETH/VSU. 234p.
• Parker, John. (1993). "Polanski". London: Gollancz. 287p. ISBN 0575056150
• Polanski, Roman. (1975). "Three film scripts : Knife in the water [original screenplay by Jerzy Skolimowski, Jakub Goldberg and Roman Polanski ; translated by Boleslaw Sulik]; Repulsion [original screenplay by Roman Polanski and Gerard Brach]. Cul-de-sac [original screenplay by Roman Polanski and Gerard Brach] ; introduction by Boleslaw Sulik". New York: Fitzhenry and Whiteside. 275p. ISBN 0064300625
• Polanski, Roman. (1984). "Knife in the water, Repulsion and Cul-de-sac: three filmscripts by Roman Polanski". London: Lorrimer. 214p. ISBN 0856470511 (hbk) ISBN 0856470929 (pbk)
• Polanski, Roman. (2003). "Le pianiste". Paris: Avant-Scene. 126p. ISBN 2847250166
• Polanski, Roman. (1985). "Roman". London: Heinemann. London: Pan. 456p. ISBN 0434591807 (hbk) ISBN 0330285971 (pbk)
• Polanski, Roman. (1984). "Roman". New York: Morrow. ISBN 0688026214
• Polanski, Roman. (1973). "Roman Polanski's What? From the original screenplay". London: Lorrimer. 91p. ISBN 0856470333
• Polanski, Roman. (1973). "What?". New York: Third press. 91p. ISBN 089388121X
• Preljocaj, Angelin (ed). (1992). "Roman Polanski". Paris: A Colin. 130p. ISBN 2200372876
• Reynolds, Brian. (2002). "Untimely ripped: mediating witchcraft in Polanski and Shakespeare". IN Starks, Lisa (ed). "The reel Shakespeare: alternative cinema and theory". Madison: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. ISBN 0838639399
• Rodriguez, Mauricio. (2001). "Jazz som filmmusik : Krzysztof Komedas musik till tva filmer av Polanski [Rosemary's baby]". Lund University: Institutionen for konst och musikvetenskap. Dissertation. 35p.
• Rulli, Stefano. (1975). "Roman Polanski". Firenze: La Nuova Italia. 126p.
• Scandola, Alberto. (2002). "Il fantasma e la fanciulla: tre film di Roman Polanski". Caselle di Sommacampagna: Cierre. 116p. ISBN 8883141032
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• Sehrer, Claudia. (2003). "Die filmsche umsetzung von isolation in Roman Polanski filmen". Erlangen-Nurmberg Universtaat: Magisterarbeit. 106p.
• Stachowna, Grazyna. (1994). "Roman Polanski i jego filmy". Warszawa: PWN. 271p. ISBN 8301113006
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• Thymark, Nina. (1978). "Polanski's films: psychoanalysis based on symbolic language". Lund: Studenlittelatur. 235p. ISBN 9144146914
• Towne, Robert. (1994). "Chinatown: the last detail, screenplays". New York: Grove. 275p. ISBN 0802134017
• Towne, Robert. (1998). "Chinatown". London: Faber. 146p. ISBN 0571204813
• Ustinov, Peter. (1999). "Reception par Sir Peter Ustinov, membre associe etranger de l'Academie des Beaux Arts de Roman Polanski elu membre de la Section des creations artistiques dans le cinema et l'audiovisuel au fauteuil precedemment occupe par M. Marcel Carne". Paris: Palais de l'Institut. 24p.
• Visscher, Jacques de. (1981). " Der tragiek van het kwaad. Een ethicologische hermeneutiek van de religieuze symboliek in 'Macbeth' van William Shakespeare in de film versie van Roman Polanski". Gent: Rijksuniveristeit. 457p.
• Visscher, Jacques de. (1984). "Het belstan als valstrik: kwaad en onschuld in de symbolische filmkunst van Roman Polanski". Wetteren: Universa. 238p.
• Werner, Paul. (1981). "Roman Polanski". Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch. 281p. ISBN 3596236711
• Wexman, Virginia Wright. (1985). "Roman Polanski". Boston: Twayne. London: Columbus. 160p. ISBN 086287355X (hbk) ISBN 0805792961 (pbk)
• Willoughby, Bob. (1992). "Rosemary's baby". Kiel: Nieswand. ISBN 3926048301
• Woodward, Steven. (2001). "No safe place: gender and space in Polanski’s recent films". IN Pomerance, Murray (ed). "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: gender in film at the end of the twentieth century". Albany: State University of New York Press. 349p. ISBN 0791448851 (hbk) 079144886X (pbk)

External links

• Polanski's official site http://www.rp-productions.com
• The IMDb entry on Polanski http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/
• Media coverage of the Polanski rape trial http://www.vachss.com/mission/roman_polanski.html
• March, 1977 Grand Jury Testimony of Polanski's victim http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/polanskia1.html