Chinatown
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Critics Sentiment
Police kill Evelyn while Cross takes Katherine away forever
Cross forces Gittes at gunpoint to drive to Chinatown
The film reaches its emotional peak with the incest revelation scene, then builds to an even higher climactic devastation in Chinatown.
Chinatown maintains consistently high critical praise throughout, building from a strong noir setup through increasingly complex revelations. The film peaks with two devastating emotional moments - the incest revelation and the tragic ending - that critics universally hail as masterful. Even the lowest-scored moments receive strong praise, reflecting the film's reputation as a near-perfect example of neo-noir filmmaking.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 64
Jack Nicholson
J.J. 'Jake' Gittes
Faye Dunaway
Evelyn Cross Mulwray
John Huston
Noah Cross
Perry Lopez
Lieutenant Lou Escobar
John Hillerman
Russ Yelburton
Darrell Zwerling
Hollis I. Mulwray
Diane Ladd
Ida Sessions
Roy Jenson
Claude Mulvihill
Roman Polanski
Man with Knife
Richard Bakalyan
Detective Loach
Joe Mantell
Lawrence Walsh
Bruce Glover
Duffy
Nandu Hinds
Sophie
James O'Rear
Lawyer
James Hong
Evelyn's Butler
Beulah Quo
Maid
Jerry Fujikawa
Gardener
Belinda Palmer
Katherine
Roy Roberts
Mayor Bagby
Noble Willingham
Councilman
Crew
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