IMDb >
Chinatown (1974)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at
blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
blockbuster.com
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsChinatown (1974) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 78 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 June 1974 (USA) morePlot:
A private detective investigating an adultery case stumbles on to a scheme of murder that has something to do with water. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Won Oscar. Another 18 wins & 22 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(45 articles)
Weekly Eye Candy: Chinatown via Fukunaga, Yong Kim and Arteta (From ioncinema. 3 July 2009)
Why the Microgrid Could Be the Answer to Our Energy Crisis
(From Fast Company. 23 June 2009, 6:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Gittes gits it done. moreUS Showtimes:
(register to personalize)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jack Nicholson | ... | J.J. Gittes | |
| Faye Dunaway | ... | Evelyn Mulwray | |
| John Huston | ... | Noah Cross | |
| Perry Lopez | ... | Escobar | |
| John Hillerman | ... | Yelburton | |
| Darrell Zwerling | ... | Hollis Mulwray | |
| Diane Ladd | ... | Ida Sessions | |
| Roy Jenson | ... | Mulvihill | |
| Roman Polanski | ... | Man with Knife | |
| Richard Bakalyan | ... | Loach (as Dick Bakalyan) | |
| Joe Mantell | ... | Walsh | |
| Bruce Glover | ... | Duffy | |
| Nandu Hinds | ... | Sophie | |
| James O'Rear | ... | Lawyer | |
| James Hong | ... | Evelyn's Butler |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
131 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
StereoCertification:
Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | UK:15 (video rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Brazil:12 | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:X (original rating)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Roman Polanski 's last American film before statutorily raping a 13 year old and fleeing the U.S. for a safe exile in France rather than be sentenced to prison for his crimes. moreGoofs:
Errors in geography: The clerk in the Hall of Records says some of the plot maps for the northwest San Fernando Valley are in Ventura county. The county line is well to the west in the surrounding hills. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Jake Gittes: All right, Curly. Enough's enough. You can't eat the Venetian blinds. I just had them installed on Wednesday.
more
Soundtrack:
Easy Living moreFAQ
Is "Chinatown" based on a book?A Note Regarding Spoilers
What is the meaning of "Chinatown"?
more
more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Chinatown (1974) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| L.A. Confidential | City of Shoulders and Noses | Body Double | The Two Jakes | Tightrope |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Mystery section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |














Truly deserving of its title as one of the greatest films of all time, Chinatown delivers in spades. Everything about the film shines, and it looks better now than it probably did in 1974; of course, there's a lot of junk in the theaters these days. Acting, cinematography, script, atmosphere, it's all 10s baby. The story of a struggling P.I. getting a case that has more twists and turns than a mountain road is still one of the most crafted storylines ever concocted. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, John Hillerman, and everyone else deliver superb performances. Robert Towne's script, John A. Alonzo's camerawork, and Polanski's direction all make this a classic. You can't be a movie buff if you haven't seen this one.