The term film noir was coined in France in 1946 to describe a certain kind of American film, which had become quite popular. Meaning black film in French, many of the directors of the time were not even aware they were contributing to the phenomenon. It is still debated today what exactly film noir is: a genre, a mood, a style, or something else? Whatever it is exactly, by the mid-seventies the high period of film noir had long since ended. Chinatown (released in 1974), perhaps acclaimed director Roman Polanski’s finest movie, was made as a tribute to the style/genre.
In classifying a film as noir, film historians look for several elements, not all of which have to be evident in each film. The cynical private eye, the femme fatale, and the bleak worldview are three of the most famous film noir essentials. Unlike most of the noir movies filmed during the high period, Chinatown was filmed with the specific intention of being film noir and so concentrated on and emphasized these classic components.
Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a cynical wisecracking private eye with a past. A former police officer in Los Angeles, where he still works, he is hired by one Mrs. Mulwray, played by Diane Ladd, to spy on her husband and produce proof of his affair. Jake gets the proof, which somehow winds up on the front page of the local newspaper.
The next day, another woman, played by Faye Dunaway, shows up in his office and demands to know if Jake remembers ever meeting her before. When Jake assures her he has never met her, she reveals that she is the real Mrs. Mulwray and therefore, by his own admission, she could never have hired him to spy on her husband. Her lawyer serves him with some legal documents with the comment he will wait for the reply from Jake’s attorney.
Article comments
1 - Bliffle
I reprised "Chinatown" a couple months ago and it was as good as I remembered.
I think the use of color film was right: maybe it even added to the feel of the movie, especially with the sepia hue.
2 - LOUISE
one of the best movies we have ever seen. was it from a book by robert towne? if it is from a book, i would deapley appreciate the name in order to purchase. any info will be greatly appreciated.
thank you.