CHINATOWN

US, 1974, 125 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, John Hillerman.
Directed by Roman Polanski.

Chinatown is an excellent film nominated for many awards and the receiver of critical acclaim. The gangster private-eye genre is one of the most characteristic of the American film of the 30s and 40s, films which were grim, tough, in stark black and white.

The sixties saw the private eyes as seedy and disillusioned, often taken in by the villains. Paul Newman's Harper is a good example of this. Then there was the trend of Steve McQueen's Bullitt. In the seventies Roman Polanski, famous for his Rosemary's Baby, Macbeth etc., enlivened the genre with widescreen and colour, but uses the styles, fashions and locations of the early films to offer a classic of its kind. The complicated plot holds the attention.

Jack Nicholson at his peak combines the styles of the 30s and the 70s well. Faye Dunaway, nominated for an Oscar, is aloof and moving. John Huston leads an excellent supporting cast as a crooked millionaire. Polanski himself makes a memorable, if momentary appearance. In all its facets, Chinatown is excellent.

Jack Nicholson was to direct a sequel fifteen years later, The Two Jakes.

1. The tone and meaning of the tittle? Chinatown as a symbol for Jake Gittes? As a reality at the end of the film? Summing up Gittes' career? Chinatown as motif of meaning in the film?

2. How well did the film create the private-eye genre atmosphere? In comparison with originals? In terms of screenplay, dialogue, situations, personalities, locations? The parallel with private-eye films of the 30s and 40s? Styles, acting? The use of music, fashions etc.? Yet the modern overtones with the hero loser atmosphere?

3. Comment on the issues on persons being used, the private eye; Gittes, response to this particular world and people using him? The atmosphere of being used?

4. Comment on the skill and intricacy of the plot? How well thought out was it, its strands interconnected? How did it hold audience attention?

5. The film's presentation of the theme of life and death, murders, callous attitudes towards life? The preciousness of life?

6. The theme of wealth - Cross and his ambitions, his not being poor, his seeking of power, means for wealth? Evelyn Mulwray's wealth? Money for Gittes? The poorer people in the story?

7. The film's picture of society? American society? Los Angeles, the city itself, its administration, the water department, the police, officialdom? The hold that millionaires and crooked politicians have on society?


8. The atmosphere of drought in the city, water and life, corruption and death, drownings in water, the use of water as a symbol for the themes of corruption?

9. The theme of poverty - the Orange Grove owners, the buying up of land, the old people whose names were used, Chinese in Chinatown, Curley and his case?

10. The film's presentation of relationships and mystery? Evelyn herself, Hollis and Catherine, the relationship between Evelyn and Hollis? Catherine in herself, Noah Cross' relation to them all? The consequences of relationships?

11. How effective was the telling of the story about Chinatown by Gittes to Evelyn? Its not being finished because of the phone call? The culmination in Chinatown and the ending of the film?

12. How well portrayed was J.J. Gittes? Jack Nicholson's performance? Style, his dialogue, smartness, the nature of his past, police work, the initial work for Curley, his being taken in by the false Mrs. Mulwray, the consequences of his work, the exposition of Hollis Mulwray by the papers, the scene in the barbers, his reaction to the truth? His going for the truth, relationship with Evelyn and its growth, his challenging of Cross, his wanting to help but being too late, his capacity for being disillusioned? What kind of a person was he? What kind of a person must a private-eye be?

13. Comment on the detail of portrayal of his work - his office, relationships with his fellows, the following of Mulwray, the dams, the sea, the Albacore club, going to the home, questions about the Jews etc., taking the page from the archives, the Orange Grove, to see the dead woman, his relationship with the police. his help with Curley at the end.

14. How well portrayed was Evelyn Mulwray? Her haughtiness, her style. place in society, relationship with Mulwray. the fact that she protected her daughter, the truth and its ugliness and repercussions on her? Her capacity for love. the escape. her being brutalised by Gittes? Chinatown as the last chance, the tragedy of her death? The significance and style of Faye Dunaway's performance?

15. The portrayal of N6ah Cross - the past, the photos on the wall, the reality of his power, relationship with Mulwray, his style at the club and power over Gittes, his deals. the murder, the using of thugs, wanting Catherine, the sexual overtones of his power? The finale and his shielding of Catherine, the irony of his evil causing so much havoc?

16. Comment on the portrayal of Hollis Mulwray - his speeches, his visits to the dam, and the water outlets, the seeing of his murdered body, and then the truth?

17. The portrayal of officials such as Yelbertson, Gittes' reaction to him, intimidation of him?

18. The portrayal of thugs like Claude, and the violence of the slitting of Gittes' nose?

19. How violent was the film - was it appropriate? Especially the scene of the slitting of the nose? The murders? The brutalising of Evelyn, the ending and the shooting?

20. How tragic was the film - instead of merely being full of pathos? The role of sorrow. fate?

21. How humorous was the film? Gittes' details of behaviour and reaction to people? His quips? His sorrow and humour as part of humanity of the film?

22. Comment on the wealth of detail in the film. The highlights? The culmination of the whole film in Chinatown?

23. Comment on the excellence of the screenplay and the direction and how this was communicated.

24. Why will this film be considered a classic?