Evie Summers
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). Polanski admitted to the statutory rape of the 13-year-old girl and fled the US in 1978 before he could be sentenced. The case has spanned 45 years, sparking court battles on both sides of the Atlantic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 March 1977 |
| Location | Jack Nicholson's house, Los Angeles |
| Victim | Samantha Gailey (now Geimer) |
| Age of victim | 13 |
| Age of Polanski | 43 |
| Charges | Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor |
| Outcome | Polanski fled the US in 1978 before sentencing |
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What You'll Learn
The charges against Roman Polanski
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. At his arraignment, Polanski pleaded not guilty to all charges but later accepted a plea bargain, admitting to the statutory rape of 13-year-old Samantha Geimer to avoid a trial on more serious charges.
The charges against Polanski arose from an incident in March 1977 when Polanski took Gailey, who he knew was 13 years old, to Jack Nicholson's house to take photos of her for a magazine. During the drive to the photoshoot, Polanski asked Gailey inappropriate questions about her sexual history, as described in his autobiography written seven years after his arrest. This incident led to Polanski being arrested and charged with the six offenses mentioned above.
Following his arrest, Polanski underwent a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and was placed on probation. However, upon learning that he might face imprisonment and subsequent deportation, Polanski fled to England and then France in February 1978, just hours before he was due to be formally sentenced. This made him a fugitive from justice.
In December 2008, Polanski's lawyer filed a request to have the case dismissed due to judicial and prosecutorial misconduct, alleging that the judge had violated the plea bargain by communicating about the case with a deputy district attorney who was not involved. This request was tentatively denied, and Polanski continued to avoid appearing in court.
In 2013, Samantha Geimer published her account of the rape in her autobiography, "The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski." Despite Polanski's flight from justice and ongoing legal proceedings, some in the movie industry continued to celebrate his work, with Meryl Streep, for example, applauding his Best Director Oscar win in 2003.
In June 2023, Polanski was sued in the Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman who alleged that he raped her at his home in 1973 when she was a minor. This case was settled and dismissed in October 2024.
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The photo shoot with Samantha Gailey
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
Polanski had met Samantha's mother at a party and asked to photograph her child. Samantha, an aspiring actress, thought this would be her big break. Polanski told her the photo shoot was for French Vogue, which he had been invited to guest edit. On the day of the shoot, Polanski picked Samantha up in his car. She was not wearing a bra because she was built like a child. Polanski gave her champagne and Quaaludes and then raped her.
Samantha testified to the grand jury that she felt uncomfortable during the first session, in which she posed topless at Polanski's request, and initially did not want to take part in a second shoot but agreed anyway. After the assault, she came home confused and still feeling the effects of the drugs and alcohol. She said she knew it was wrong, but she felt foolish and angry at herself.
In 1988, Samantha filed a civil suit against Polanski and gained possession of the photos from the photo shoots, as well as the rights to them. In her memoir, "The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski," Samantha writes about her experiences with the media and the legal system in the aftermath of the assault. She has been hounded by the media ever since the incident and says she feels more wounded by the "victim industry" of lawyers, judges, and journalists whom she feels sensationalized her case.
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Polanski's escape from the US
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, sodomy, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
Polanski pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sex with a minor in exchange for a probation-only sentence. However, on the night before his sentencing hearing in 1978, he learned that the judge was likely to reject the plea bargain and imprison him. As a result, Polanski fled the U.S. to Europe, where he continued his career. He has been a fugitive from the U.S. justice system ever since.
Despite his fugitive status, Polanski has continued to work in the film industry and receive accolades. He has directed films such as "Frantic" (1988) and "The Pianist" (2002), and received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, three British Academy Film Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.
Polanski's case has sparked ongoing debates about the intersection of art and morality. While some have defended his work and celebrated his accolades, others have criticized Hollywood's reverence for a convicted child rapist.
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The 2008 documentary about the case
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
The documentary included an interview with Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer (previously known as Samantha Gailey), who stated that she wished Polanski would be forgiven. She expressed her belief that Polanski was sorry and knew that his actions were wrong. Geimer also mentioned that she did not consider him a danger to society and did not want him to be locked up forever.
Following the documentary's release, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Wells announced that he had lied in the documentary. He claimed that director Marina Zenovich told him the documentary would not air in America if he refused to lie. Wells criticized Polanski, calling him a rapist and a pedophile. The documentary sparked discussions about Hollywood's reverence for Polanski, with many in the industry defending him despite the seriousness of the charges.
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The victim's stance and defence of Polanski
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, has since asked for the case to be dismissed, stating that Polanski "owes her nothing". In her 2013 memoir, "The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski", Geimer recounted her version of the events and expressed her feelings of being wounded by the "victim industry", referring to the lawyers, judges, and journalists whom she felt sensationalized her case for their interests. Geimer has also been critical of the district attorney's office for its stance and for not investigating allegations of judicial misconduct, stating that her opinion would only count if she wanted Polanski to face harsher consequences.
Geimer's stance has been supported by Polanski's wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, who described the two women as "kindred spirits" linked by Polanski. Seigner has expressed shame and humiliation at the way she has been treated by people who assume she condones Polanski's actions.
Despite the charges, Polanski has received support from over 160 film industry professionals, including directors and actors, who signed a petition urging his release. However, several signatories, such as Emma Thompson and Natalie Portman, later removed their names or expressed regret over signing the petition.
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Frequently asked questions
On March 10, 1977, 43-year-old Roman Polanski conducted a photo shoot with 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Geimer) at Jack Nicholson's house. Polanski gave Gailey champagne and a sedative before forcing himself on her.
Polanski was charged with six offenses: unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after admitting to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old and has since been living in France, Poland, and Switzerland.
In 2018, the film academy expelled Polanski from its membership. Additionally, in 2024, a civil suit alleging that Polanski sexually assaulted a 16-year-old in 1973 was settled to the "mutual satisfaction" of both parties.
Hollywood's reaction to the Roman Polanski sexual abuse case has been controversial. Some, like Quentin Tarantino, have defended Polanski, while others have applauded him at award shows despite knowing about the case.
