When John Cassavetes obliterated Roman Polanski: “You know nothing about women”
Roman Polanski remains one of the most controversial and reprehensible figures in the film industry, embodying the insidious side of Hollywood that protects and enables abusers. This toxic culture has allowed such behaviour to persist without consequence. While he has been endlessly praised for films such as Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby, he has never faced justice for his crimes, conveniently fleeing to France to escape prosecution for statutory rape.
The director has continued making films over the years, with actors and producers choosing to disregard his criminal behaviour and carry on working with him, speaking volumes about a business that prioritises profit over women’s safety. However, while many audience members and people in the industry chose to turn a blind eye to his convictions, there was one director who saw Polanski for who he really was and often called out his problematic views.
John Cassavetes is one of the most influential independent directors of all time, being cited by countless actors and filmmakers as a huge creative inspiration and pioneering cinematic force. Whether it be his work in front of the camera in Rosemary’s Baby or his revolutionary directorial work on films such as Mikey and Nicky, Opening Night, Love Streams or Husbands, he has become known for his emotional vulnerability and incisive understanding of human psychology, creating cutting and devastating films that explore everything from strained family dynamics, mental illness and oppressive gender roles.
In many ways, Polanski’s work does not come close to the genius of Cassavetes, who displayed a level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness that Polanski couldn’t even dream of, remaining leagues ahead of the director, who couldn’t even maintain relationships with adult women.
However, while the pair worked together and crossed paths many times, Mia Farrow detailed their strained relationship in her biography, recalling constant disagreements while filming Rosemary’s Baby. During one argument, they clashed over the nature of romantic love and monogamy—topics on which Polanski held notoriously despicable views, fuelled by his deep-rooted misogyny.
But, Cassavetes responded in his typical biting tone and obliterated the director’s infantile opinions, with Farrow writing, “One workday, while we were waiting to shoot, Roman was discoursing about the impossibility of long-term monogamy given the brevity of a man’s sexual attraction to any woman. An impassioned John Cassavetes responded that Roman knew nothing about women, or relationships, and that he, John, was more attracted than ever to his wife, Gena Rowlands. Roman stared at him and blinked a few times, and for once had no reply”.
Cassavetes became infamous for his creative partnership with his wife and fellow actor, Gena Rowlands, often regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time for her emotionally demanding and provocative performances. It’s hardly surprising that Polanski held such outdated views on love and marriage, but for once, it’s refreshing to hear about someone standing up to him—challenging the absurdity of his opinions rather than pretending that his work excuses his wrongdoing.
