{"id":4157,"date":"2007-09-11T17:16:03","date_gmt":"2007-09-12T00:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4157"},"modified":"2021-10-24T12:43:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T19:43:24","slug":"chinatown-1974","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4157","title":{"rendered":"Chinatown (1974)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Either you bring the water to L.A., or you bring L.A. to the water.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-213x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-69080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-213x300.png 213w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-726x1024.png 726w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-91x128.png 91w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-768x1084.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster-191x270.png 191w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Poster.png 807w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 1930s Los Angeles, a private detective (Jack Nicholson) finds himself embroiled in a complicated plot of murder, corruption, and twisted sexuality.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Corruption<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Diane Ladd Films<\/li>\n<li>Faye Dunaway Films<\/li>\n<li>Jack Nicholson Films<\/li>\n<li>Los Angeles<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<<\/li>\n<li>Roman Polanski Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nWidely acknowledged as a modern American classic, Roman Polanski&#8217;s <em>Chinatown<\/em> is indispensable viewing for all film fanatics. As Peary notes, it&#8217;s a &#8220;superlative detective picture&#8221; with a &#8220;powerful Oscar-winning script&#8221;, and a central mystery which &#8220;gets more complicated by the minute&#8221;; indeed, one must watch carefully and attentively in order to catch all the story&#8217;s nuances. The performances across the board are excellent, with Jack Nicholson particularly well-cast as hardboiled Jake Gittes, a savvy P.I. who nonetheless always seems to be one step behind the game. He&#8217;s often unable to calculate who&#8217;s guilty and who&#8217;s not; it&#8217;s only through sheer persistence, sly investigative techniques, and a willingness to commit occasional violence that he gets anywhere. Faye Dunaway is fragile and mysterious as a woman with a heavy past (who may or may not be guilty), and John Huston is truly frightening as Dunaway&#8217;s wealthy tycoon father. <\/p>\n<p>In addition to its wonderful performances, <em>Chinatown<\/em> is full of many unforgettable scenes: Gittes getting his nose slashed by a thug (Polanski in cameo); Gittes spying on Dunaway and a mysterious young woman through a window (and, later, discovering who the woman is); Gittes driving recklessly through an orange grove while being chased by gun-wielding farmers; Gittes smooth-talking his way into a rest home. Perhaps most memorable, however, is the film&#8217;s overall look and feel, including John Alonzo&#8217;s luminous cinematography, Richard Sylbert&#8217;s meticulous production design, Jerry Goldsmith&#8217;s score, and Polanski&#8217;s excellent use of outdoor locales in the greater L.A. area (ranging from Catalina Island to concrete sewers to farmland to &#8212; famously, in the final scene &#8212; Chinatown itself). While <em>Chinatown<\/em> is too depressing to be a personal favorite, there&#8217;s no denying the sheer visceral power of its story, characters, and settings. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jack Nicholson as J.J. &#8220;Jake&#8221; Gittes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Jake-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Mulwray<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Evelyn-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>John Huston as Noah Cross<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Huston-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jake&#8217;s clever ruse at the public documents office<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Papers-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The infamous &#8220;nose slashing&#8221; scene (with a cameo by Polanski)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Knife-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Evocative period set designs, props, and costumes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Period-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of diverse L.A. landscapes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Landscapes-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gorgeous cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Chinatown-Script-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Robert Towne&#8217;s intelligent script<\/li>\n<li>The surprise plot twist near the end<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. This highly esteemed detective flick is definitely must-see viewing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0071315\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1974\/06\/21\/archives\/screen-polanskis-chinatown-views-crime-of-30s.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-chinatown-1974\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/chin.html\">FilmSite.org Review (detailed synopsis with spoilers)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/4490\/chinatown#articles-reviews?articleId=28063\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/69186\/chinatown.html\">Time Out Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Either you bring the water to L.A., or you bring L.A. to the water.&#8221; Synopsis: In 1930s Los Angeles, a private detective (Jack Nicholson) finds himself embroiled in a complicated plot of murder, corruption, and twisted sexuality. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Corruption Detectives and Private Eyes Diane Ladd Films Faye Dunaway Films Jack Nicholson Films Los Angeles Murder Mystery<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4157"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77683,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4157\/revisions\/77683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}