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To Live and Die in L.A.

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,971
274
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:11
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,971
274
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Gerald Petievich(novel)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Petersen
    • Willem Dafoe
    • John Pankow
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Gerald Petievich(novel)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Petersen
    • Willem Dafoe
    • John Pankow
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 269User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins

    Videos2

    To Live and Die in L.A.
    Trailer 2:11
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    Trailer 1:20
    To Live and Die in L.A.

    Photos116

    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Michael Chong, John Pankow, and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Michael Chong, John Pankow, and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe and Debra Feuer in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Darlanne Fluegel and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Petersen
    William Petersen
    • Agent Richard Chanceas Agent Richard Chance
    • (as William L. Petersen)
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Eric Mastersas Eric Masters
    John Pankow
    John Pankow
    • Agent John Vukovichas Agent John Vukovich
    Debra Feuer
    Debra Feuer
    • Bianca Torresas Bianca Torres
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Carl Codyas Carl Cody
    Darlanne Fluegel
    Darlanne Fluegel
    • Ruth Lanieras Ruth Lanier
    • (as Darlanne Fleugel)
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Bob Grimesas Bob Grimes
    Steve James
    Steve James
    • Jeff Riceas Jeff Rice
    Robert Downey Sr.
    Robert Downey Sr.
    • Thomas Batemanas Thomas Bateman
    • (as Robert Downey)
    Michael Greene
    Michael Greene
    • Agent Jim Hartas Agent Jim Hart
    Christopher Allport
    Christopher Allport
    • Max Waxmanas Max Waxman
    Jack Hoar
    • Jackas Jack
    Valentin de Vargas
    Valentin de Vargas
    • Judge Filo Cedilloas Judge Filo Cedillo
    • (as Val DeVargas)
    Dwier Brown
    Dwier Brown
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Michael Chong
    Michael Chong
    • Thomas Lingas Thomas Ling
    Jacqueline Giroux
    Jacqueline Giroux
    • Claudia Leithas Claudia Leith
    • (as Jackely Giroux)
    Michael Zand
    Michael Zand
    • Terroristas Terrorist
    Bobby Bass
    Bobby Bass
    • FBI Agentas FBI Agent
    • Director
      • William Friedkin
    • Writers
      • Gerald Petievich(novel) (screenplay)
      • William Friedkin(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the opening, when Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe) is printing money, the film crew was actually creating counterfeit bills. A convicted counterfeiter was on set showing them how it's done. They were filming out in the desert, and Dafoe said that every time a helicopter flew over the building, they were sure it was the police coming to arrest them all.
    • Goofs
      When Chance is shot with the shotgun in the locker room, the blood - supposedly from his wound - is thrown on him from off-screen.
    • Quotes

      Eric 'Rick' Masters: You have my word you won't have to do the whole nickel.

      Carl Cody: What does that mean?

      Eric 'Rick' Masters: Grimes is the best lawyer in the state. It'll either be an appeal bond or a sentence reduction.

      Carl Cody: And the check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth...

    • Crazy credits
      Right at the end, after the credits, there is a shot of William Petersen's face
    • Alternate versions
      German theatrical and VHS versions were cut by 25 seconds to secure a "Not under 16" rating. DVD release is uncut with the same rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into Counterfeit World: Making 'to Live and Die in L.A.' (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Cold Day in Hell
      Performed by Otis Rush

      Courtesy of Delmark Records

    User reviews269

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    slick 80s thriller
    Secret service agents Jimmy Hart and Richard Chance (William Petersen) thwart an Islamic terrorist during a Presidential visit. Hart has a few days left before retirement. He tries to investigate and gets killed by counterfeiter Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Chance vows to take him down. He gets John Vukovich (John Pankow) as his new partner. They catch Masters' delivery boy Carl Cody (John Turturro). Masters' lawyer Bob Grimes (Dean Stockwell) says Cody has to do 3 years. Chance's C.I. Ruth Lanier (Darlanne Fluegel) directs them to lawyer Max Waxman. Waxman was Cody's last stop and Masters suspects he set them up. Masters and his girlfriend Bianca Torres (Debra Feuer) go to demand repayment and ends up killing him. Chance steals Waxman's black book as he becomes more morally corrupt in order to take down Masters.

    William Friedkin delivers a slick thriller of amoral cops and immoral everyone else. I love Dafoe's montage of counterfeiting. Friedkin delivers so many great action scenes. The wrong way car chase is the highlight and probably the height of his action work. It is so slick and so stylized that I accept the avant-garde artsy stuff. It fits into the movie. It also has an early bungee jump on film. This is one of the most fun 80s action thriller filled with relatively unknown actors at the time. I can't help but think of Michael Mann who was showrunning Miami Vice TV show at the time.
    helpful•10
    2
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Jan 23, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Leben und sterben in L.A.
    • Filming locations
      • 600 Mesquit Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • SLM Production Group
      • New Century Productions
      • United Artists
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,307,019
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,551,761
      • Nov 3, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,307,019
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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