Director :Roman Polanski

Stars :
Jack Nicholson .... Jake 'J.J.' 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

Preparation :
Read the movie reviews by Roger Ebert, Culturedose.net and the article on Film Noir

Historical/Social Significance :
"the film's claustrophobic, cyclical, bleak mood surrounding the heroic quest of the detective struck a chord after the scandalous Watergate era of the early 1970'." Tom Dirks

Writer Robert Towne's screenplay was partially based on a true Los Angeles scandal in the early part of the 20th century (the story of the nefarious 1908 Owens Valley 'Rape' and scandalous San Fernando Valley land-grab by speculators). The film's character, Hollis Mulwray, was loosely derived from LA's water engineer William Mulholland, who orchestrated the purchase of water rights and the piping of water from the High Sierras into Los Angeles by an aqueduct that flowed through the now-valuable San Fernando Valley north of LA. (Tom Dirks)

The water-rights scandal at the heart of the film expresses how ecological rape of the land has occurred in outrageous land-development schemes that redirect the water's flow. It reminds viewers that the days of abundant natural resources (and life-giving water that turns a forbidden wilderness into a plentiful garden) are past - the land has become barren due to the selfish manipulations of rich and powerful businessmen.

Synopsis :
Set in 1937 in Los Angeles private detective-hero, J. J. (Jake) Gittes (Jack Nicholson) gets more than he bargained for when he pursues an investigation.

Guided Questions for Viewing :
Assessment questions will be based on the following :
• Noah Cross is one of the most evil characters ever portrayed on the silver screen. What did he do that made him so evil?
• Why did Noah Cross want to create a draught for the farmers?
• The final line of the movie is "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Chinatown represents both a real place and an idea in the movie. What is the meaning of "Chinatown" as a concept in the movie?
• Chinatown is a noir style movie even though it was made in 1974? What makes it a noir style movie?