Chinatown (1974) ft. Scott Cole

Dana and Tom welcome new guest, Scott Cole (Twitter-X/IG (@colecommascott) movie commentator, and occassional writer/contributor for The Movie Friends podcast.com (@moviefriendspodcast)), to the show to discuss the neo-noir classic, Chinatown (1974): directed by Roman Polanski, written by Robert Towne, starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston.

Plot Summary: Chinatown (1974), directed by Roman Polanski, is a masterful blend of noir and tragedy that stands as one of the great achievements in American cinema. The film stars Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes, a private detective whose specialty is uncovering marital infidelities. When he is hired by a woman claiming to be Evelyn Mulwray (Diane Ladd) to investigate her husband’s suspected affair, Gittes is drawn into a labyrinth of deceit, corruption, and murder. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Los Angeles, the plot thickens as Gittes discovers the true Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) and realizes he has been duped. The deeper he digs, the more he uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving water rights and the powerful land magnate Noah Cross (John Huston).

Chinatown is not just a detective story; it is a commentary on the corruption and decay that lie beneath the surface of society, a theme that remains relevant to this day. In the end, as the iconic final line suggests, "Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown," the film reminds us that some mysteries are better left unsolved, and some wounds never heal.

0:00 Welcome – First-Time Guest Questions

5:05 Cast and Recognition

9:03 Relationship(s) to the Film

14:19 What is this Film About?

22:52 Why is this Film Important to the Detective/Mystery Genre?

26:46 The Elephant in the Room…

34:55 Plot Summary

36:27 Did You Know?

38:51 First Break

41:14 Ask Dana Anything

54:17 Best Performance(s)

1:08:23 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)

1:16:20 In Memoriam

1:17:41 Best/Funniest Lines

1:19:38 The Stanley Rubric/Legacy

1:25:24 Impact/Significance

1:31:53 Novelty

1:37:09 Classicness

1:42:05 Rewatchability

1:46:02 Audience Score/Recap

1:46:27 Final Score

1:47:22 Remaining Question(s)

1:53:02 Listener Question(s)

1:57:23 Guest Acknowledgement

1:58:30 Final Thoughts

1:59:55 Credits

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