While trying to launch her own acting career, Sharon Tate fell in love with, and eventually married, Roman Polanski, the hotshot Polish filmmaker who had his first massive American hit in the summer of 1968, Rosemary’s Baby. Tate and Polanski were often described as Hollywood’s “it” couple during their brief marriage, but behind the scenes their relationship was complicated by his infidelities, and her struggles to prove herself as an actress in films like Valley of the Dolls.
Show Notes:
The base list of sources for this series can be found here. This episode is a continuation of last week’s episode, and was mostly based on the same sources, particularly Roman Polanski’s Roman.
Once again, Ram Bergman played Roman Polanski.
Episode Breakdown:
Intro: “Album Tag Song” by Dennis Wilson; Modern Heavy Guitar Top Line royalty-free track; “Blush” by Wolf Alice
Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate’s early relationship; Polanski’s struggles with Filmways over The Fearless Vampire Killers; Polanski’s meeting with Robert Evans at Paramount about Rosemary’s Baby: “Make a Wish (For Christmas)” by Lee Rosevere
Polanski incorporating his dreams and acid trips into Rosemary’s Baby: “Psychedelic Guitars Movie Soundscape Mystery” royalty-free track
Casting Mia Farrow over Sharon Tate in Rosemary’s Baby; Farrow’s relationship with Frank Sinatra; Polanski’s argument with John Cassavetes about monogamy: “Baby Lullaby Music Box Eerie” royalty-free track
Sharon Tate in Valley of the Dolls: “Gymnopedie No. 3″ by Eric Satie
Don’t Make Waves; Sharon Tate’s media blitz; Polanski publicly disowns the highly compromised release version of The Fearless Vampire Killers: “Blues Guitar Jam, Licks” royalty-free loop
Valley of the Dolls bombs with critics, ages well: “Au coin de la rue” by Marco Raaphorst
Valley of the Dolls is a major hit: “Pretty Eerie Piano Transition” royalty-free track
Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski and the international celebrity jetset; Tate longing for a traditional relationship with Polanski; the downside of the sexual revolution for women: “2PM Wake Up Call” by Apache Tomcat
Sharon Tate decides to retire from acting to get married; Polanski proposes; Polanski and Tate get married at the Playboy Club: “Cylinder Six” by Chris Zabriskie
Polanski’s infidelities become impossible for Tate to ignore; Tate’s continued friendship with Jay Sebring; Tate and Polanski move into her “dream house,” recently vacated by Terry Melcher: “For Better or Worse” by Kai Engel
The Wrecking Crew and The Thirteen Chairs: “Rite of Passage” by Kevin MacLeod
Sharon Tate’s pregnancy; Vojtek Frykowski and Abigail Folger housesit at Cielo Drive; Polanski’s disinterest in his pregnant wife; Polanski and Tate’s goodbye in London; Lonely Tate in Los Angeles; rumors about Jay Sebring and Sharon Tate; rumors that Sharon Tate was promiscuous while pregnant; rumors that Sharon Tate was a witch trained by British Wiccan Alex Sanders; conspiracy theories: “I Need To Start Writing Things Down” by Chris Zabriskie
End credits: “Pop Rock Guitar Rhythm” royalty-free loop
Outro: “Sea Talk” by Zola Jesus