A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 24 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jack Nicholson | ... |
J.J. Gittes
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| Faye Dunaway | ... |
Evelyn Mulwray
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| John Huston | ... |
Noah Cross
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| Perry Lopez | ... |
Escobar
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| John Hillerman | ... |
Yelburton
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| Darrell Zwerling | ... |
Hollis Mulwray
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| Diane Ladd | ... |
Ida Sessions
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| Roy Jenson | ... |
Mulvihill
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| Roman Polanski | ... |
Man with Knife
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| Richard Bakalyan | ... |
Loach
(as Dick Bakalyan)
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| Joe Mantell | ... |
Walsh
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| Bruce Glover | ... |
Duffy
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| Nandu Hinds | ... |
Sophie
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James O'Rear | ... |
Lawyer
(as James O'Reare)
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| James Hong | ... |
Evelyn's Butler
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Beulah Quo | ... |
Maid
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| Jerry Fujikawa | ... |
Gardener
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| Belinda Palmer | ... |
Katherine
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| Roy Roberts | ... |
Mayor Bagby
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| Noble Willingham | ... |
Councilman
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Elliott Montgomery | ... |
Councilman
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| Rance Howard | ... |
Irate Farmer
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| George Justin | ... |
Barber
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| C.O. Erickson | ... |
Customer
(as Doc Erickson)
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| Fritzi Burr | ... |
Mulwray's Secretary
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Charles Knapp | ... |
Mortician
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Claudio Martínez | ... |
Boy on Horseback
(as Claudio Martinez)
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Freddie Roberto | ... |
Cross' Butler
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| Allan Warnick | ... |
Clerk
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| John Holland | ... |
Farmer in the Valley
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| Jesse Vint | ... |
Farmer in the Valley
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Jim Burk | ... |
Farmer in the Valley
(as Jim Burke)
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Denny Arnold | ... |
Farmer in the Valley
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| Burt Young | ... |
Curly
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Elizabeth Harding | ... |
Curly's Wife
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John Rogers | ... |
Mr. Palmer
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Cecil Elliott | ... |
Emma Dill
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| Paul Jenkins | ... |
Policeman
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| Lee de Broux | ... |
Policeman
(as Lee De Broux)
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Bob Golden | ... |
Policeman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Don Ames | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Jack Berle | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Charles Fogel | ... |
Retirement Home Resident (uncredited)
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| Bob Harks | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Robert Hitchcock | ... |
Councilman (uncredited)
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| Michael Jeffers | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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John Marlin | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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| Alan Marston | ... |
Assistant (uncredited)
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| Monty O'Grady | ... |
Councilman (uncredited)
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| Joe Pine | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Murray Pollack | ... |
Councilman (uncredited)
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Anthony Redondo | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Cosmo Sardo | ... |
Barber (uncredited)
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Jack Slate | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Owen Song | ... |
Pedestrian (uncredited)
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| Norman Stevans | ... |
Maitre D' (uncredited)
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Paul Van | ... |
Assistant (uncredited)
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Richard Warren | ... |
Driver (uncredited)
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| Wally West | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Chalky Williams | ... |
Bailiff (uncredited)
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Kai J. Wong | ... |
Pedestrian (uncredited)
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Sally Yarnell | ... |
Committee Reporter (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Roman Polanski | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Robert Towne | ... | (written by) |
| Roman Polanski | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| C.O. Erickson | ... | associate producer |
| Robert Evans | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | (music) |
Cinematography by
| John A. Alonzo | ... | director of photography |
| Stanley Cortez | ... | (uncredited) |
Film Editing by
| Sam O'Steen | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| Florence Williamson | ... | assistant editor (as Flo Williamson) |
| John Stagnitta | ... | apprentice editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Jane Feinberg | ... | (casting by) |
| Mike Fenton | ... | (casting by) |
Production Design by
| Richard Sylbert | ||
Art Direction by
| W. Stewart Campbell | ||
Set Decoration by
| Ruby R. Levitt | ... | (as Ruby Levitt) |
Costume Design by
| Anthea Sylbert | ||
Makeup Department
| Hank Edds | ... | makeup |
| Susan Germaine | ... | hairstylist |
| Lee Harman | ... | makeup (as Lee Harmon) |
| Vivienne Walker | ... | hairstylist |
Production Management
| C.O. Erickson | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Michele Ader | ... | second assistant director |
| Hawk Koch | ... | assistant director (as Howard W. Koch Jr.) |
| Lee Rafner | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Bill MacSems | ... | property master (as Bill Mac Sems) |
| Gabe Resh | ... | set designer |
| Robert Resh | ... | set designer |
| Richard Amsel | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
| Tom Bartholomew | ... | stand-by painter (uncredited) |
| L. David Gordon | ... | draper (uncredited) |
| Joseph Hurley | ... | production illustrator (uncredited) |
| Terry E. Lewis | ... | property assistant (uncredited) |
| Bill Parks | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Jim Pearsall | ... | creative film services graphic artist (uncredited) |
| Mike Reedy | ... | property maker (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Clint Althouse | ... | boom man (as Clint Althaus) |
| Bob Cornett | ... | sound editor (as Robert Cornett) |
| Charles Grenzbach | ... | re-recording (as Bud Grenzbach) |
| Larry Jost | ... | sound mixer |
| Howard Beals | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| David Dockendorf | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
| James Pilcher | ... | cable man (uncredited) |
| Fred Stafford | ... | adr editor (uncredited) |
| Roger Sword | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| John Wilkinson | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Logan Frazee | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Jim Burk | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Alan Gibbs | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Hal Needham | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Hugh K. Gagnier | ... | camera operator (as Hugh Gagnier) |
| Earl Gilbert | ... | gaffer |
| Bernie Schwartz | ... | key grip |
| Bob Barber | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Sol Berlin | ... | generator operator (uncredited) |
| Edward Borland | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Ken John Borland | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
| Richard Borland | ... | key grip (uncredited) |
| Bruce Catlin | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Richard Debolt | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Ken Johnston | ... | best boy grip (uncredited) |
| Cecil Lupton | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Arnold L. Rich | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Orlando Suero | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Lance Williams | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Richard Bruno | ... | wardrobe |
| Jean Merrick | ... | wardrobe |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Joseff-Hollywood | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| John C. Hammell | ... | music editor |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Artie Kane | ... | musician: keyboard (uncredited) |
| Phillip Lambro | ... | composer: unused music (uncredited) |
| Arthur Morton | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Uan Rasey | ... | musician: trumpet solo (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| May Wale Brown | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Robert Clarke | ... | transportation co-captain (uncredited) |
| Ribello Mastroianni | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Gary Chazan | ... | assistant to the producer |
| Wayne Fitzgerald | ... | titles |
| Justin Buehrlen | ... | auditor (uncredited) |
| Rosalyn Catania | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Ellen Garvey | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Barbara Kalish | ... | secretary to producer (uncredited) |
| Ralph McCutcheon | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Linda Richman | ... | secretary to producer (uncredited) |
| Thelma Roberts | ... | secretary to director (uncredited) |
| Lee Sollenberger | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Edward M. Taylor | ... | Script (uncredited) |
| Ron Weber | ... | craft service (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Manish Muradiya | ... | acknowledgment |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1974) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount A Gulf+Western Company)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1974) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Japan) (theatrical)
- CBS (1978) (United States) (tv)
- Paramount Home Video (1979) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Metropolitan Filmexport (1990) (France) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- CIC Video (West Germany) (video)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1987) (Finland) (tv)
- Malofilm Home Video (1991) (Canada) (VHS) (dubbed)
- Paramount Home Video (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Esselte Video (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
- Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
- Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical) (16 mm)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (video) (laserdisc)
- Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
- Paramount Pictures (1998) (United States) (VHS) (AFI Edition)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (DVD) (2 disc)
- Paramount Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD) (dubbed into French)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD) (widescreen)
- Finnkino I (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- Lusomundo Editores (2001) (Portugal) (DVD)
- Nelonen (1998) (Finland) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Pictures (2007) (United States) (DVD) (Special Collector's Edition)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Award Winning Collection)
- Paramount Pictures (2009) (United States) (DVD) (2 disc Centennial Collection)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Paramount Pictures (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Film4 (2016) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Universal Pictures (2016) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (Limited Edition Steelbook)
- Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
- Odeon (2020) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- HBO Max (2021) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Paramount+ (2021) (United States) (video)
- The Criterion Channel (2021) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The Family Jewels (jewels by)
- Freedom Service Company (production services furnished by)
- ABC Records (soundtrack)
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (camera cranes)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Intrada (soundtrack) (2016 expanded edition)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Perseverance Records (soundtrack) (rejected score)
- Rolly Harper Catering (caterer)
- Walter Allen Plant Rentals (greens)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In 1937 Los Angeles, private investigator Jake 'J.J.' Gittes specializes in cheating-spouse cases. His current target is Hollis Mulwray, high-profile chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, whose wife suspects him of infidelity. In following Mulwray, Gittes witnesses some usual business dealings, such as a public meeting for construction of a new dam to create additional water supply for Los Angeles, as fresh water is vital to the growing community during the chronic drought; Mulwray opposes the dam. Eventually Gittes sees Mulwray meeting with an unknown young woman who isn't his wife. Once news of the supposed tryst between Mulwray and this woman hits the media, additional information comes to light that makes Gittes believe that Mulwray is being framed for something and that he himself is being set up. In his investigation of the issue behind Mulwray's framing and his own setup, Gittes is assisted by Mulwray's wife Evelyn, but he thinks she isn't being forthright with him. The further he gets into the investigation, the more secrets he uncovers about the Mulwrays' professional and personal dealings, including Mulwray's former business-partnership with Evelyn's father, Noah Cross. The identity of the unknown woman may be the key to uncovering the whole story. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | You get tough. You get tender. You get close to each other. Maybe you even get close to the truth. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | At the time of filming, Jack Nicholson had just embarked on his longstanding relationship with Anjelica Huston. This made his scenes with her father, John Huston, rather uncomfortable, especially as the only time Anjelica was on set was the day they were filming the scene where Noah Cross interrogates Nicholson's character with "Mr. Gittes...do you sleep with my daughter?" See more » |
| Goofs | When Mrs. Mulwray drives away from the Coroner's office, a siren is heard in the background. The siren is a modern electronic one. In the 1930s, they only had mechanical sirens, which have a different sound. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Two Jakes (1990). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I Can't Get Started See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The film opens with the 1940's Paramount logo. See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Walsh: Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown. See more » |