Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #236 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-11-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Collector's Edition, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 125 minutes

Synopsis
Director Roman Polanski's neo-noir detective story is set during a heat wave in 1930s Los Angeles, whose residents are suffering from a water shortage as a result of an ongoing drought. Private investigator Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) runs a detective agency specializing in matrimonial strife and infidelity. When a client posing as the wife of the L.A. water commissioner hires him to spy on her husband, who is rumored to be having an affair with a younger woman, Jake uncovers a plot against the commissioner--but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Yet to emerge are a sex scandal implicating the actual Mrs. Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), with whom Jake is destined to become more closely acquainted, and a real estate swindle of tremendous proportions devised by her father, powerful tycoon Noah Cross (John Huston), who has a vast network of corrupt city officials and landowners backing him up.
With stellar contributions from Robert Towne, whose script recalls the hard-boiled cynicism of the writings of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett; director of photography John Alonzo; production designer Richard Sylbert; and composer Jerry Goldsmith, CHINATOWN evolved into a complex and superbly crafted period drama that represents Polanski's most critically acclaimed film.

Customer Reviews

Classic, brilliant movie
This film is superb in every department. Buy it, watch it, rewatch it. Great stuff.

Classsic Film, brilliantly presented
For story, direction, acting, and sheer period class, this is worthy of its status as a classic. Whether you are a serious film addict, or whether you are looking for a great 'hollywood' movie, this does the trick. And this is one of those special movies that rises higher in the ranks as time goes by - looking back it can be appreciated even more. The quality of the picture on this 'collectors edition' (the one with red case if you're ordering) is probably the best transfer of any film I've watched on DVD - a clear, crisp, vibrant print that does the whole experience proud - an all round treat.

one of the best 70's films
Jack Nicholson (One flew over the cuckoo's nest) stars alongside Faye Dunaway (Bonnie and Clyde) in Roman Polanski's (The Pianist) compelling crime drama Chinatown where Jake Gittes is hired to investigate an affair, which ultimately leads into a political and deadly investigation surrounding the town's water supply.

With a gritty opening and a fascinating and dramatic climax, Chinatown has established itself as one of the best written crime dramas of the 70's and deserved Oscar winner for best writing original screenplay with excellent dialogue, no cheesy clichés or anything like that, a true realistic approach to the crime world, which is helped along by an excellent cast and brilliant direction.

One of my favourite Nicholson performances, he plays central protagonist detective Jake Gittes, a professional with an edge, a real cutting attitude to seek out what he wants.

Faye Dunaway is equally as impressive as Mrs Mulwray and these two characters with strong personalities and agendas create tense and engaging situations, justifying the genre beautifully.

It is one of the best directed films I have ever seen, perhaps only behind a couple which include The Good the bad and the ugly among others.
The settings are effective along with the situations and the lighting.

Costume design and general cinematography are all effectively established to give the film the emotion and sophistication it needed.

Though I got lost at a couple of turns with the plot, there is still no question that the dialogue and the timing of the situations deserve its praise. Had it not been for the brilliant Godfather II then this film noir classic would surely have scooped a few more Oscars.

the special features are very interesting as well undertanding how the film came about and is a great purchase

9/10