
Chinatown(1974)
“You get tough. You get tender. You get close to each other. Maybe you even get close to the truth.”
Overview
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Director
Roman Polanski
Studio
Paramount Pictures
Budget
$6M
Revenue
$30M
Cast

Jack Nicholson
as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes

Faye Dunaway
as Evelyn Cross Mulwray

John Huston
as Noah Cross

Perry Lopez
as Lieutenant Lou Escobar

Burt Young
as Curly

John Hillerman
as Russ Yelburton

Darrell Zwerling
as Hollis I. Mulwray

Roman Polanski
as Man with Knife

Diane Ladd
as Ida Sessions

Richard Bakalyan
as Detective Loach

Joe Mantell
as Lawrence Walsh

Roy Jenson
as Claude Mulvihill
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Movie Facts
Release Year
1974
Runtime
2h 10m
Language
Spanish
Rating
7.9 / 10
Budget
$6M
Box Office
$30M
Production Companies
Paramount Pictures • Long Road Productions • Robert Evans Productions
You Might Also Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Chinatown?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Chinatown (1974).
What is Chinatown about?▼
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Who directed Chinatown?▼
Chinatown was directed by Roman Polanski and released in 1974. It is a crime, mystery, thriller film.
How long is Chinatown?▼
Chinatown has a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes (130 minutes total).
Who stars in Chinatown?▼
The cast of Chinatown includes Jack Nicholson as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes, Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross Mulwray, John Huston as Noah Cross, Perry Lopez as Lieutenant Lou Escobar, Burt Young as Curly and more.
Explore More by Genre
Need a recommendation?
Tell us your mood and we'll pick the perfect movie for you.








