The big-budget horror film grossed about $33.4 million (on a budget of $2.3 million), and received two Academy Award nominations: one for Polanski""s Best Adapted Screenplay, and Ruth Gordon won the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance as one of the well-meaning, ""normal"" NYC neighbors.In the corridor, she spotted Laurie (again on the move but limping badly), and then was stabbed in he back with a scalpel(# 9 death).Suddenly, Madge entered the store and seductively asked Marvin to provide a light for her cigarette, as his family members looked on." An equally plain girl Clara Snyder (Betsy Blair) is in the process of being rejected at the dance by Herb (Alan Wells), her blind date.