To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Gerald Petievich (novel), William Friedkin (screenplay),

Stars:

William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Petersen	...	Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen)
Willem Dafoe	...	Eric Masters
John Pankow	...	John Vukovich
Debra Feuer	...	Bianca Torres
John Turturro	...	Carl Cody
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Ruth Lanier
Dean Stockwell	...	Bob Grimes
Steve James	...	Jeff Rice
Robert Downey Sr.	...	Thomas Bateman (as Robert Downey)
Michael Greene	...	Jim Hart
Christopher Allport	...	Max Waxman
Jack Hoar	...	Jack
Valentin de Vargas	...	Judge Filo Cedillo (as Val DeVargas)
Dwier Brown	...	Doctor
Michael Chong	...	Thomas Ling

Storyline

Two cops in Los Angeles try to track down the vicious criminal Eric Masters. Then, one of them is killed by Masters and the other one swears revenge no matter what the cost. After that, the hunt becomes an ob- session and the law he once swore to uphold becomes meaningless to him.

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Plot Keywords:

secret service | secret service agent | revenge | murder | parolee | 

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Taglines:

A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Arabic Spanish

Release Date:

1 November 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vivir y morir en Los Ángeles

Filming Locations:

695 Mesquit Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$967,312 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

SLM Production Group, New Century Productions, United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 101 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

1980s band Wang Chung provided much of the soundtrack for this movie. When Chance enters the topless bar for the first time, Wang Chung's first hit song, "Dance Hall Days", is playing in the background.

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Goofs

Whenever frontal camera angles are used to film revolvers being pointed, it is clear that their cylinders are empty.

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Quotes

Bob Grimes: [to Vukovich] Because I represent Masters, I can't get deeply involved in your case, if you see what I mean.

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Crazy Credits

Right at the end, after the credits, there is a shot of William Petersen's face

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Connections

Referenced in Hairshirt (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Lullaby"
Performed by Wang Chung
Produced by Wang Chung
Courtesy of Geffen Records

User Reviews

Excellent pacing and effective marriage of action and music

Worthy of the director of "French Connection," the pace of this set- in-LA action thriller immediately draws the view in and never lets up. A car chase in the best traditions of "Bullitt" and of Friedkin's own "French Connection" is centers the action, but the motivation of a rogue agent obsessed with the death of his partner, and clearly with his own death, are well- and credibly- drawn. The most sympathetic character in the story is not one of the principals. It is a female informer. An ex-con at the mercy of those on both sides of the law, she is callously exploited by all. Her feelings for Agent Chance are more implied than explicit, but they are believable as is his indifference to her as a person. This riveting film never lets your attention wander. Thanks to Friedkin, we are told, we are given a credible ending to this taut, tightly- wound thriller. An under-exposed, under-appreciated work; excellent for the genre.