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.
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Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- J.J. ‘Jake’ Gittes: Jack Nicholson
- Evelyn Cross Mulwray: Faye Dunaway
- Noah Cross: John Huston
- Lieutenant Lou Escobar: Perry Lopez
- Russ Yelburton: John Hillerman
- Ida Sessions: Diane Ladd
- Man with Knife: Roman Polanski
- Claude Mulvihill: Roy Jenson
- Detective Loach: Richard Bakalyan
- Evelyn’s Butler: James Hong
- Duffy: Bruce Glover
- Lawrence Walsh: Joe Mantell
- Mayor Bagby: Roy Roberts
- Councilman: Noble Willingham
- Irate Farmer: Rance Howard
- Farmer in the Valley: Jesse Vint
- Curly: Burt Young
- Policeman: Lee de Broux
- Hollis I. Mulwray: Darrell Zwerling
- Sophie: Nandu Hinds
- Lawyer: James O’Rear
- Maid: Beulah Quo
- Gardener: Jerry Fujikawa
- Katherine: Belinda Palmer
- Councilman: Elliott Montgomery
- Barber: George Justin
- Customer: C.O. Erickson
- Mortician: Charles Knapp
- Boy on Horseback: Claudio Martínez
- Cross’ Butler: Federico Roberto
- Clerk: Allan Warnick
- Farmer in the Valley: John Holland
- Farmer in the Valley: Jim Burk
- Farmer in the Valley: Denny Arnold
- Curly’s Wife: Elizabeth Harding
- Mr. Palmer: John Rogers
- Emma Dill: Cecil Elliott
- Policeman: Paul Jenkins
- Policeman: Bob Golden
- Driver (uncredited): Richard Warren
- Mulwray’s Secreatry: Fritzi Burr
Film Crew:
- Casting: Jane Feinberg
- Casting: Mike Fenton
- Director of Photography: John A. Alonzo
- Original Music Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
- Music Editor: John C. Hammell
- Special Effects: Logan Frazee
- Director: Roman Polanski
- Production Design: Richard Sylbert
- Producer: C.O. Erickson
- Art Direction: W. Stewart Campbell
- Editor: Sam O’Steen
- Costume Design: Anthea Sylbert
- Screenplay: Robert Towne
- Producer: Robert Evans
- Set Decoration: Ruby R. Levitt
- Sound Editor: Bob Cornett
Movie Reviews:
- John Chard: 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