10 Henchman Movie Roles Made Epic By Casting

To understand the importance of Elisha Cook Jr.'s appearance as the landlord of the Satanists' apartment complex in Rosemary's Baby, we first must go back to William Castle.

Castle had become something of a shock-jock version of Alfred Hitchcock, a horror producer and director who became as well-known as the films he put out. Like Hitch, he often appeared in his film's trailers, warning audiences of the dangers of seeing his films.

The dangers were parlour tricks. For The Tingler, a film about a spinal parasite that feeds on people's fears, he had randomly placed electric charges in certain seats in theatres across the country.

But his signature work was House On Haunted Hill, the Vincent Price-led 3D haunter shot at Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House. Cook appears as the house's owner, suffering from PTSD having suffered the horrors of the building all his life.

Castle's wanted to adapt Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby before it had even been published, rushing to producer Robert Evan's office with the galleys. But his B-movie reputation didn't impress Evans, who insisted on his first choice, Roman Polanski.

Nevertheless, Polanski offered Castle a cameo. He's the man waiting for the phone booth.

Cook's role is an extension of that cameo, and he plays the frazzled landlord with the same, harried intensity he brought to House. It's even more effective when you recognize him, as the role is the exact opposite of what he played before - instead of warning Rosemary away, he invites her in.