CHINATOWN (1974)

Engaged by a mysterious femme fatale (Dunaway) to spy on L.A. Dept. of Water and Power Chief Engineer Hollis Mulwray, private eye J.J. Gittes (Nicholson) uncovers an intricate power struggle and more skullduggery than he bargained for in this acclaimed noir thriller directed by Roman Polanski and written by Robert Towne. When Mulwray ends up dead and Gittes's nose is slashed by shadowy henchmen, the mystery deepens into conspiracy and psychodrama, leading to an emotionally wrenching climax.

The cast includes: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, John Hillerman, Roy Jenson, James Hong, Burt Young, and Noble Willingham.

#19 on the AFI Top 100.

CHINATOWN was nominated for the Best Picture award. Eleven Oscar nominations; one win (Original Screenplay)

Director Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" is a gripping, disturbing detective crime drama in the Hammett/Chandler tradition. Polanski received a nomination for best directing.

The Chinatown Review * Moments