Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1970s
    Movies - 1970s Movies - C 2 Mins Read

    Chinatown (1974)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Director Roman Polanski’s finest two hours take the Chandleresque mystery into bizarre byways and deep psychological territory, with Jack Nicholson’s jaded private eye Jake Gittes (named after Jack Nicholson’s friend, producer Harry Gittes) led by a neurotic femme fatale (Faye Dunaway), and even more dangerous self-delusion, into a maelstrom of greed, murder and incest in the mean streets and orange groves of 1930’s Los Angeles.

    chinatown_37

    Ironically, the title may be somewhat misleading as the only time an audience actually gets to Chinatown is during the explosive finale, yet all the time a foreboding nastiness about this specific zone in LA is made reference to as past experience Gittes would rather forget.

    Nicholson’s performance is, to say the least, flawless as a man about to uncover dirty politics and conspiracy underneath the guise of a simple infidelity case.

    So too the attention to detail and atmospherics care of the soon to be outcast Polanski (four years later he would flee the USA to avoid charges of raping a 13-year-old girl), lasting forever in the memory via a nasty cameo in which he slits our leading man’s nose.

    Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, yet only walking away with one (Original Screenplay), Chinatown is what all cinematic delivery is ever trying to achieve: interesting characters developing throughout an engrossing scenario.

    chinatown_08Polanski famously fell out with screenwriter Robert Towne when he scrapped the original ending – in which Faye Dunaway’s character is allowed to escape – and decided to think up a new one himself.

    Even though he wasn’t sure yet what it would be he told production designer Richard Sylbert to build a set of a street in Chinatown. He’d work the rest out later . . .

    And sure enough, it’s on this street in the finished movie that Dunaway’s character is shot through the eye as she tries to escape, allowing violence and corruption to triumph.

    J.J. “Jake” Gittes
    Jack Nicholson
    Evelyn Mulwray

    Faye Dunaway
    Noah Cross
    John Huston
    Escobar
    Perry Lopez
    Yelburton
    John Hillerman
    Hollis Mulwray
    Darrell Zwerling
    Ida Sessions
    Diane Ladd
    Mulvihill
    Roy Jenson
    Loach 
    Richard Bakalyan
    Walsh
    Joe Mantell
    Duffy
    Bruce Glover
    Sophie
    Nandu Hinds
    Lawyer 
    James O’Rear
    Evelyn’s Butler
    James Hong
    Man with Knife
    Roman Polanski

    Director
    Roman Polanski

    Related Posts

    • Five Easy Pieces (1970)
      Five Easy Pieces (1970)
      Bob Rafelson's Five Easy Pieces is a road movie built around the evasive charm of Jack Nicholson. Screenwriter Adrien Joyce has partly…
    • Death On The Nile (1978)
      Death On The Nile (1978)
      Peter Ustinov takes over from Albert Finney as pernickety Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot in this solid, star-studded dramatisation of Agatha…
    • Keep It Up, Jack! (1973)
      Keep It Up, Jack! (1973)
      Jack James (Mark Jones) is a failing music hall impersonator and quick-change artist. When his aunt dies leaving him a…
    • Conversation, The (1974)
      Conversation, The (1974)
      Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1974 film starring Gene Hackman as lonely, paranoid surveillance expert Harry Caul - a wire-tapper…
    • Little Big Man (1970)
      Little Big Man (1970)
      Dustin Hoffman plays Jack Crabb, a 121-year-old survivor of Custer's Last Stand, who narrates his long and eventful life to…
    • King of Marvin Gardens, The (1972)
      King of Marvin Gardens, The (1972)
      The introverted host of a late-night radio chat show becomes embroiled in his younger brother's get-rich-quick schemes in Atlantic City…
    • Black Eye (1974)
      Black Eye (1974)
      Shep Stone (Fred Williamson) is a cheap, affable, and forever in debt Los Angeles-area private eye and former Los Angeles cop.…
    • Day of the Locust, The (1975)
      Day of the Locust, The (1975)
      Based on Nathanael West’s 1939 novel of the same name, The Day of the Locust is an oft-forgotten entry into…

    1974
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleChitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
    Next Article China Syndrome, The (1979)

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Morons from Outer Space (1985)
      A box-office failure from 1986 starring Mel Smith, Griff Rhys […]
    • Billie Holiday
      Born Eleanora Fagan on 7 April 1915 and abandoned by her parents […]
    • That’s Life
      1 9 6 8 – 1 9 6 9 (USA) 26 x 60 minute episodes Produced […]
    • Chessgame
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 6 x 60 minute episodes Former Oxford don Dr David […]
    • Three-Day Week (1973 – 1974)
      In 1973, the oil-producing nations of the world finally decided […]
    • Sporting Chance
      1 9 8 1 (Australia) 10 x 50 minute episodes Ray Barrett had the […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.