Guy Lochhead, 30/08/10
Polish-French film director. He began his film career in Poland, directing a few art house and commercial films, before moving to France, Britain, and finally Hollywood. He is best known for ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ and ‘Chinatown’. His wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson family in 1969. In 1977, Polanski was arrested and charged with the rape of a thirteen year-old girl. He fled to his native France before a verdict was reached. I love Chinatown, but Polanski’s films aren’t the sort I’d like to include. Plus, his merits as a filmmaker are outweighed by the rape charge. Whether or not he raped her, he gave her champagne and quaaludes, and admitted to unlawful sexual intercourse.