IMDb > To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
To Live and Die in L.A.
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To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) -- Special Edition DVD
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   8,742 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Gerald Petievich (novel)
William Friedkin (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for To Live and Die in L.A. on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 November 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again! more
Plot:
A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
3 wins more
User Comments:
Losers, all! more (175 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

William Petersen ... Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen)

Willem Dafoe ... Eric 'Rick' 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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Singapore:M18 | USA:R (certificate #27848) | Australia:R | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1987) | Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
After seeing the film, Michael Mann sued William Friedkin for plagiarism. He accused Friedkin of stealing the entire concept of "Miami Vice" (1984) and lost the lawsuit. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: In the original 1985 theater release, there was a large shadow of the crew and equipment visible on the ground as John Vukovich approaches the warehouse with Chinese character. more
Quotes:
[Richard Chance gets the judge's authorization to hold Carl Cody]
Judge Filo Cedillo: If this prisoner escapes from custody, I'll make you testify in open court about how he made a fool out of you.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
The Conductor Wore Black more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Losers, all!, 18 July 2008
7/10
Author: sc8031 from United States

Despite a confusing (or irrelevant?) opening segment, To Live and Die in L.A. is an authentic and somewhat disturbing crime film. In fact, some of the film is so harrowing and caustic it evokes almost horror-like inspiration. As you might have heard by now, it involves one of the finest car chase scenes ever put to film.

The film follows a couple of Secret Service agents for the National Treasury as they try to track down a counterfeiter. As the movie rolls on, it becomes clear that these agents are pretty shady in the way they gleam information and that the ties between crime and justice are actually quite close. I know, it sounds like an obvious plot, but the editing, pacing, characters and twists are all pretty unexpected or original. It is not nearly as cliché as it sounds.

The downsides to the movie could be some of the aesthetic choices: the neon colors are sweet (I think) but some of the soundtrack is just too grating. You REALLY feel like you're hopped up on speed after hearing the main theme for too long. It's done by Wang Chung, but I think Tangerine Dream would've created something much more provocative. Oh well. Also, I felt like one or two characters' stories were not really concluded properly. There was a minor hang-nail or two left at the end.

But all in all, this is a solid film. Very inspired, very dark, simultaneously exciting and depressing. Seriously, this movie is way more intensely real than anything Tarantino has tried to do. It may not actually be more violent per say, but the violence itself it much more effective and the social ties are far more believable. This junk is scary.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Vukovich's reaction during chase sequence shiftydave77
This movie gets better every time I see it... markspiegel
10 Star Film if not for the Plot Holes eternal_buzz
Willem Dafoe as a villain cellery
What's the deal with that girl Chance kept banging? FeistyIntruder
Wow. Chance sucks. malachiX2000
more

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