Chinatown [Blu-ray]

 

 

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The mid-1970s saw a spate of "government conspiracy" films, all with liberal themes that emanated from Watergate. None of them were about Kennedy stealing the 1960 election. Hmm.
"Chinatown" (1974) may be the best screenplay ever written. A historical look at 1930s Los Angeles, it actually condensed events from the 1900s with events that, uh, never happened but made for good drama. Written by L.A. native Robert Towne, directed by Roman Polanski, produced by Evans and starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunnaway and famed director John Huston, it told the story of how Los Angeles became a metropolis. In Towne's version, Huston "owns" the L.A. Department of Water & Power with a character based on actual L.A. City engineer William Mulholland. Mulholland had orchestrated the political deal which built the aqueduct that brought water from the Owens Valley into the L.A. Basin, allowing millions of Southern Californians to keep their lawns green to this day.
The Mulholland character is "sacrificed" at the altar of greed, embodied by Huston, who secretly buys the San Fernando Valley, knowing that once the water deal is set, it will be incorporated into the city, making him a gazillionaire. It is rather cynical, although nobody suggests the L.A. "city fathers" were boy scouts. The same old theme is that capitalism and American political power are corrupt. To make sure the audience is convinced the corruption is beyond redemption, Huston is in the end found out be an insatiable, incestual monster. He plays the role so well it brings up minds-eye imagery of his real daughter, Angelica. The film is utterly beyond any criticism, regardless of political colorization. For decades, film students and screenwriters have studied it. It spawned an artistic quest to lace the screen with symbols, metaphors, backstory, and twists.
"Chinatown" seems to be the apex of the American film period, the mid-1970s. The period from 1960 to 1979 is unparalleled, but the backstory of the people who created these classics is a telling tale of why the genre leans to the Left. In the 1960s, film schools became popular. Four schools emerged, and have held their place as the place to learn the craft. In Los Angeles there was the USC School of Cinema-Television. Their first big alumnus was "Star Wars" director George Lucas. UCLA combined their film school with their drama program, so as to bring actors, writers, directors and producers together. Coppola went to UCLA along with a future rock star named Jim Morrison, who would form The Doors with another UCLA film alumnus, keyboardist Ray Manzarek.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

This is a really good film with fascinating atmosphere and great performances. I just regret it has taken me thirty years to get around to seeing it. In some respects it reminds me of more recent films such as L.A. Confidential and Hollywood, two films that also showed an underside to mid century California.

I highly recommend this!

this was my first viewing and i have to say the cinematography still is of a quality that i can recommend.

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5.0 out of 5 stars And I still think that you're hiding something....
I re-watched this movie today for the first time in years and I have to say that it never gets old. Along with Taxi Driver and On the Waterfront, this is one of the only truly... Read more

Published on Jan 20 2008 by Kathleen YO!

5.0 out of 5 stars I have now seen 2 first rate Polanski films (4.5/5)
Well,i never thought i'd say this,but,i have now seen 2 very good Roman
Polanski movies.(the other being the brilliant"The Ninth
Gate")anyway,Chinatown is a simple story... Read more

Published on Oct 24 2007 by falcon

5.0 out of 5 stars Chinatown-A must own for Noir fans
To all classic film lovers, and movie fans in general,this film has it all. An incredible screenplay brought out to perfection by an A list cast and an incredible(and... Read more

Published on May 6 2006 by Mohid Bazian

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Screenplay, A Perfect Film
Many writers consider Robert Towne's screenplay for 'Chinatown' as the perfect screenplay. It is, and is also in fact the example of how important good writing is in the art of... Read more

Published on July 9 2004 by Michael C. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars I cut my nose shaving
Not since Otto Preminger's LAURA had filmgoers the pleasure of watching a classic film noir, until Polanski's CHINATOWN. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2004 by Rocco Dormarunno

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Great Noir Film
If it wasnt for Noah Cross, the San Fernando Valley would be farming areas versus what it is today, a large metropolitan area of L.A. "you can bring L.A. Read more

Published on May 21 2004 by J. E Magoon

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget it, Jake! It's Chinatown!
The final last words off a legendary film. Before self-bannishment, Roman Polanski developed this classic who done it. Read more

Published on April 12 2004 by smoothjazzandmore

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the oldest stories: water + deserts = big money
A great period piece about a struggle many desert areas have encountered over the years - who should get the water. Read more

Published on Mar 26 2004 by Mark Guzowski

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect.
From its opening scene to the infamous ending, (I refuse to spoil it, and shame on the reviewers who have the audacity to do so)Chinatown ranks alongside All About Eve and Citizen... Read more

Published on Feb 27 2004 by D.W. Griffith

5.0 out of 5 stars Chinatown: A Cinematic Masterpiece
This is simply one of the finest films EVER made. It is MY personal favorite film of all time and was judged one of the top 25 best films of all time by the American Film... Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004 by classicmoviefan

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