To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
Two Secret Service agents go to extreme lengths to track down and arrest a dangerous counterfeiter in Los Angeles.
The story
After foiling an assassination attempt on President Reagan, Secret Service agents Richard Chance and Jimmy Hart are assigned as counterfeiting investigators in the Los Angeles field office. Just before Hart's retirement, he is killed during a stakeout of a warehouse used by artist-turned-counterfeiter Eric "Rick" Masters. Chance, known for his impulsive behavior, vows to his new partner, the by-the-book John Vukovich, that he will take Masters down by any means necessary. The pair begins a high-stakes investigation into the counterfeiting ring, navigating a web of informants and dangerous deals in the city.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the death of agent Jimmy Hart, partners Richard Chance and John Vukovich hunt counterfeiter Eric "Rick" Masters. They track down his associates, including a mule named Carl Cody and a lawyer, Max Waxman. While Vukovich prefers standard procedure, Chance utilizes risky tactics, including a relationship with an informant named Ruth. The investigation leads to a tense exchange involving a large sum of counterfeit bills. During a high-speed chase on a Los Angeles freeway, the agents' actions lead to the accidental death of an undercover FBI agent. Despite the complication, Chance remains determined to capture Masters. During a final confrontation at Masters' warehouse, Chance and Masters' bodyguard, Jack, are both fatally wounded. Vukovich enters the warehouse and finds Masters burning evidence; he eventually shoots the counterfeiter as he burns alive. In the aftermath, Vukovich confronts Ruth, assuming control over her life as he adopts Chance's uncompromising methods.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- William Friedkin
- Writers
- William Friedkin · screenplay; Gerald Petievich · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- William L. Petersen · Chance; Willem Dafoe · Masters; John Pankow · Vukovich; John Turturro · none; Darlanne Fluegel · Ruth; Dean Stockwell · none
- Genres
- action; thriller; neo-noir
- Themes
- moral ambiguity; duty vs. ethics
- Tone and mood
- gritty; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- law enforcement; counterfeiting; action
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1984 novel of the same name by Gerald Petievich
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its authenticity and cinematography. It was a financial success.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 81 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Awards and nominations
- Audience Award · Cognac Festival du Film Policier · 1986 · Win; Best 4K Home Media Release · Saturn Awards · 2024 · Win
- Production trivia
- Over one million dollars of counterfeit money was produced for the film.; The film was once voted as one of the best films set in Los Angeles in a 25-year period.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…