Chinatown (1974)
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A private investigator becomes entangled in a web of corruption and conspiracy involving water rights in 1930s Los Angeles.
The story
In 1937 Los Angeles, a woman named Evelyn Mulwray hires private investigator J. J. "Jake" Gittes to tail her husband, the chief engineer at the Department of Water and Power. After a series of photographs leads to a public scandal, Gittes is confronted by the real Evelyn, who threatens legal action. However, the situation complicates when Gittes discovers his client's husband has been found dead in a reservoir. As Gittes begins to investigate the circumstances of the death, he uncovers a mysterious plot involving the city's water supply and a series of suspicious land deals, leading him into a dangerous conspiracy involving powerful interests.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1937 Los Angeles, private investigator J. J. "Jake" Gittes is hired by Evelyn Mulwray to tail her husband, Hollis, a water department engineer. After a scandal involving a photo of Hollis with another woman, Gittes is confronted by Evelyn. Following the discovery of Hollis's body in a reservoir, Gittes begins investigating the circumstances of his death. He discovers a conspiracy involving the release of water during a drought and a massive land grab in the Northwest Valley. Gittes learns that the land is being manipulated by a wealthy man, Noah Cross, who is orchestrating a scheme to secure water rights for the city. Gittes and Evelyn discover that many residents in a retirement home are unwitting participants in the land deal. The investigation leads Gittes to realize that the woman he thought was Evelyn's sister is actually her daughter, a product of a tragic past. In the climax, Gittes leads the women to safety while confronting Cross at the Mulwray estate. Cross admits to the conspiracy, and a final confrontation occurs in Chinatown where the police intervene, resulting in Evelyn's death and the failure of Gittes to stop the overarching corruption.
- First release year
- 1974
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roman Polanski
- Writers
- Robert Towne · writer; Roman Polanski · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jack Nicholson · J. J. "Jake" Gittes; Faye Dunaway · Evelyn Cross-Mulwray; John Huston · Noah Cross; Perry Lopez · Lou Escobar; John Hillerman · Russ Yelburton; Burt Young · Curly; Diane Ladd · Ida Sessions; Roy Jenson · Claude Mulvihill
- Genres
- neo-noir; mystery; thriller
- Themes
- moral ambiguity; corruption; fatalism; power of institutions; subversion of the femme fatale
- Tone and mood
- cynical; bleak; noir
- Setting
- 1937 Los Angeles
- Premise and plot tags
- detective; conspiracy; noir; water rights
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by the California water wars
- Franchise connections
- Trilogy (planned)
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, praised for its screenplay, performances, and direction.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 98% · scale: percentage · review count: 147; Metacritic · score: 92 · scale: 100 · review count: 23
- Awards and nominations
- Best Direction · British Academy Film Awards · win; Best Screenplay · British Academy Film Awards · win; Best Actor in a Leading Role · British Academy Film Awards · win; Best Film · British Academy Film Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's score was composed in just ten days.; The character of Hollis Mulwray was inspired by real-life engineer William Mulholland.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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