Private detective Jake Gittes is hired by a Mrs. Mulwray to tail her husband. She suspects him of cheating on her. Jake takes the job and gets the goods on the husband, exposing him publicly. After the fact the real Mrs. Mulwray shows up at Jake’s office and serves him with papers. She’s suing him. Jake was set up and doesn’t like it. He sets out to find out who set him up and why. Meanwhile Hollis Mulwray, the husband is found dead. The real Mrs Mulwray drops the lawsuit and hires Jake to find out who killed her husband.
We follow Jake as he gets deeper and deeper into his investigation. He just keeps finding new information and is like a dog with a bone. He won’t let it go. It’s all about water and the corruption on who’s going to supply it and how. Jake gets in over his head with people who have real power and who are dangerous beyond his comprehension. His nose for trouble finds all he can handle.
CB was looking forward to seeing this film when it came out. He wanted it to be good. He got his wish. It’s real good. He totally got swept up in this film. The story, the look, music, writing, performances are all very good. Roman Polanski creates LA in the thirties. His direction is flawless. He draws us into this story using Jake as our guide into the underbelly of LA. The film looks great. Production design is bang on and John A Alonzo’s cinematography gives the film it’s great look.
CB loves character actors and there are plenty of good ones in this movie. Every role is great casting. The leads are perfect. Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Mulwray is the perfect casting I’m talking about. High marks for her work. John Huston’s Noah Cross is one of CB’s favorite film performances. John was a great director and his acting was just as good. I get creeped out thinking about the character. Jack Nicholson does some of his best work as Jake. He was at the top of his game and one of the main reasons I went to see the film.
A CB fave for sure. The detective/mystery genre is a fave and this is one of the best. Right in the wheelhouse. I’l leave you with a line from the movie that has stuck with me and still sends chills down my back.
“Most people never have to face the fact, at the right time right place they’re capable of anything”
Fantastic flick. One of my faves.
Happy New Year to you and yours, CB!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Top to bottom “a fantastic flick”.
Same to you on the New Year thang!
LikeLike
👍👍
LikeLike
After Raymond Chandler’s novels, there has not such beautiful movie been shot as “Chinatown”, which is not shot after a novel by Raymond Chandler.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Chinatown” is a special film. I devour all Chandlers work. He gives a distinct vibe of the LA he knew. James Ellroy also has an interesting take of LA in the 50’s and on. I love that stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To talk about a distinct vibe of 30s LA. I always loved John Fante (and his character Arturo Bandini).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I will check out his work. Sounds interesting. I was reading up on him. He was an acquaintance of Bukowski.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“She’s my daughter.” {slap} “She’s my sister.” {slap}. “She’s my daughter.” etc. My friend Bill’s favorite movie. I dig it too but that nose bandage is so distracting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bill has good taste. Faye was doing some good stuff back then. Wolf musta been advising her. I get the chills just thinking about the nose thing. Ouch!
LikeLike
Alas, she’s old news. A lotta people remember her more for “Mommie Dearest” rather than that or “Bonnie and Clyde.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Network
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haven’t seen this in a long time. Actually wishing I still had the DVD, but I had moved it on (like the rest of the collection). I’ll have a look on Netflix…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, it’s not up there, J. Don’t know if it ever was. And Netflix drops movies periodically for licensing reasons. They don’t license stuff indefinitely and so when licenses expire, they re-evaluate whether or not to re-license.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Jim says, these movies are hard to find . I’ve looked at Netflix and films like this (and rarer) are hard to find. They sprinkle one in once in a while. Hang onto your DVDs J. Most the films I like are a little harder to find. TCM is pretty good at showing more obscure films. Don’t know if you have that in your neighborhood. ‘Chinatown’ is such a good watch!
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you get a channel called RETRO check there I just watched it a couple weeks ago and just looked ans it’s playing again on the 10th
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to check that channel out. Thanks.
LikeLike
I’m not aware of that one… is it a US channel?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know. First I heard of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great film which I happened to watch a couple weeks ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a re watch every now and then
LikeLiked by 2 people