Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Jack Nicholson
J.J. 'Jake' Gittes
Faye Dunaway
Evelyn Cross Mulwray
John Huston
Noah Cross
Perry Lopez
Lieutenant Lou Escobar
John Hillerman
Russ Yelburton
Diane Ladd
Ida Sessions
Roman Polanski
Man with Knife
Roy Jenson
Claude Mulvihill
Richard Bakalyan
Detective Loach
James Hong
Evelyn's Butler
Bruce Glover
Duffy
Joe Mantell
Lawrence Walsh
Roy Roberts
Mayor Bagby
Noble Willingham
Councilman
Rance Howard
Irate Farmer
Jesse Vint
Farmer in the Valley
Burt Young
Curly
Lee de Broux
Policeman
Darrell Zwerling
Hollis I. Mulwray
Nandu Hinds
Sophie
James O'Rear
Lawyer
Beulah Quo
Maid
Jerry Fujikawa
Gardener
Belinda Palmer
Katherine
Elliott Montgomery
Councilman
George Justin
Barber
C.O. Erickson
Customer
Charles Knapp
Mortician
Claudio Martínez
Boy on Horseback
Federico Roberto
Cross' Butler
Allan Warnick
Clerk
John Holland
Farmer in the Valley
Jim Burk
Farmer in the Valley
Denny Arnold
Farmer in the Valley
Elizabeth Harding
Curly's Wife
John Rogers
Mr. Palmer
Cecil Elliott
Emma Dill
Paul Jenkins
Policeman
Bob Golden
Policeman
Richard Warren
Driver (uncredited)
Fritzi Burr
Mulwray's Secreatry
Cosmo Sardo
Barber (uncredited)
Charles Fogel
Retirement Home Resident (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Roman Polanski
Writer
Robert Towne
September 24, 2015
10
He nose you know!
Chinatown is directed by Roman Polanski and written by Robert Towne. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez and John Hillerman. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by John A. Alonzo.
Private investigator J.J. Gittes (Nicholson) is working on an adultery case but quickly finds himself embroiled in murder and corruption.
The gathering of Polanski, Towne, Nicholson and Robert Evans (producer) put their respective skills together to craft one of the most lauded neo-noir films of all time. It's a searing picture awash with the staples of the film noir and gumshoe detective movies that graced cinema in the 40s and 50s. From the characterisations (suspicious femmes - mouthy coppers - sleazy kingpin - tough protagonist in a whirlpool of unravelling layers), to the hard boiled script, violence, sex and brutal revelations, it's a noir essential that only lacks chiaroscuro and expressionistic swirls to seal the complete deal.
Allegoraries unbound, iconography assured and dialogue now in the lexicon of legends, Chinatown is not to be missed, not just by fans of noir, but fans of cinema, period. 9.5/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$6,000,000.00
Revenue:
$30,000,000.00