Chinatown (1974 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:52:46 PM Wikipedia source
Chinatown is a 1974 American neo-noir mystery film directed by Roman Polanski and written by Robert Towne. It stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, with supporting performances from John Huston, John Hillerman, Perry Lopez, Burt Young, and Diane Ladd. The film's narrative, set in 1930s Los Angeles, is loosely inspired by the California water wars—early 20th-century conflicts over water rights that enabled Los Angeles to access resources from the Owens Valley. Produced by Robert Evans and distributed by Paramount Pictures, Chinatown was Polanski's final film made in the United States and is considered a landmark of the film noir genre, blending mystery and psychological drama. Released on June 20, 1974, Chinatown received widespread critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, cinematography, and performances—particularly those of Nicholson and Dunaway. Chinatown led the 47th Academy Awards with 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Polanski), Best Actor (Nicholson), and Best Actress (Dunaway), with Towne winning for Best Original Screenplay. At the 32nd Golden Globe Awards, the film received a leading 7 nominations, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (Dunaway) and Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (Huston), and won a leading 4 awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director and Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (Nicholson). It also received a leading 11 nominations at the 28th British Academy Film Awards, including BAFTA Award for Best Film, BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and won a leading 3 awards – Best Direction (Polanski) and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Nicholson). In 2008, the American Film Institute ranked it #2 on its list of the top ten mystery films. In 1991, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. A sequel, The Two Jakes, was released in 1990, with Nicholson reprising his role and directing. Towne returned as screenwriter, but the film received mixed reviews and failed to replicate the success of its predecessor.
Infobox
Directed by
Roman Polanski
Written by
Robert Towne
Produced by
Robert Evans
Starring
mw- Jack Nicholson Faye Dunaway John Hillerman Perry Lopez Burt Young John Huston
Cinematography
John A. Alonzo
Edited by
Sam O'Steen
Music by
Jerry Goldsmith
Productioncompanies
Long Road Productions Robert Evans Company
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures
Release date
June 20, 1974 (1974-06-20)
Running time
131 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$29.2 million
Tables
· Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Robert Evans
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Roman Polanski
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Faye Dunaway
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Robert Towne
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Production Design
Best Production Design
Award
Best Production Design
Category
Richard Sylbert, W. Stewart Campbell, Ruby R. Levitt
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
John A. Alonzo
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Anthea Sylbert
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Sam O'Steen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Dramatic Score
Best Original Dramatic Score
Award
Best Original Dramatic Score
Category
Jerry Goldsmith
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Charles Grenzbach and Larry Jost
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Bodil Awards
Bodil Awards
Award
Bodil Awards
Category
Best Non-European Film
Nominee(s)
Roman Polanski
Result
Won
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Won
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Category
Jack Nicholson (also for The Last Detail)
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Category
Faye Dunaway
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Category
John Huston
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Robert Towne (also for The Last Detail)
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Richard Sylbert
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
John A. Alonzo
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Anthea Sylbert
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Sam O'Steen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Music
Best Original Music
Award
Best Original Music
Category
Jerry Goldsmith
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Roman Polanski
Result
Nominated
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Award
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Robert Towne
Result
Won
Fotogramas de Plata
Fotogramas de Plata
Award
Fotogramas de Plata
Category
Best Foreign Movie Performer
Nominee(s)
Jack Nicholson (also for Five Easy Pieces)
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Faye Dunaway
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Category
John Huston
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
Roman Polanski
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Category
Robert Towne
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Award
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Category
Jerry Goldsmith
Nominee(s)
Nominated
International Film Music Critics Awards
International Film Music Critics Awards
Award
International Film Music Critics Awards
Category
Best Re-Release/Re-Recording of an Existing Score
Nominee(s)
Jerry Goldsmith, Douglass Fake, Roger Feigelson, Jeff Bond, and Joe Sikoryak
Result
Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Jack Nicholson
Result
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
John Huston
Nominee(s)
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
3rd Place
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Nominee(s)
Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Jack Nicholson (also for The Last Detail)
Result
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Robert Towne
Nominee(s)
Runner-up
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Inducted
Producers Guild of America Awards
Producers Guild of America Awards
Award
Producers Guild of America Awards
Category
PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Robert Evans
Result
Won
Sant Jordi Awards
Sant Jordi Awards
Award
Sant Jordi Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Roman Polanski
Result
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Drama – Written Directly for the Screen
Nominee(s)
Robert Towne
Result
Won
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Robert Evans | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Roman Polanski | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Jack Nicholson | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Faye Dunaway | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Robert Towne | Won | ||
| Best Production Design | Richard Sylbert, W. Stewart Campbell, Ruby R. Levitt | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | John A. Alonzo | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Anthea Sylbert | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | Sam O'Steen | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Dramatic Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Charles Grenzbach and Larry Jost | Nominated | ||
| Bodil Awards | Best Non-European Film | Roman Polanski | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction | Won | |||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Jack Nicholson (also for The Last Detail) | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Faye Dunaway | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | John Huston | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Robert Towne (also for The Last Detail) | Won | ||
| Best Art Direction | Richard Sylbert | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | John A. Alonzo | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Anthea Sylbert | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | Sam O'Steen | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Music | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominated | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Roman Polanski | Nominated | |
| Edgar Allan Poe Awards | Best Motion Picture | Robert Towne | Won | |
| Fotogramas de Plata | Best Foreign Movie Performer | Jack Nicholson (also for Five Easy Pieces) | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Jack Nicholson | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Faye Dunaway | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | John Huston | Nominated | ||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Roman Polanski | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Robert Towne | Won | ||
| Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominated | ||
| International Film Music Critics Awards | Best Re-Release/Re-Recording of an Existing Score | Jerry Goldsmith, Douglass Fake, Roger Feigelson, Jeff Bond, and Joe Sikoryak | Nominated | |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor | Jack Nicholson | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | John Huston | Won | ||
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 3rd Place | ||
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | Inducted | ||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Jack Nicholson (also for The Last Detail) | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Robert Towne | Runner-up | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Inducted | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures | Robert Evans | Won | |
| Sant Jordi Awards | Best Foreign Film | Roman Polanski | Won | |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Drama – Written Directly for the Screen | Robert Towne | Won | |
References
- The film title and the oft-quoted line "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown," almost certainly refer to "Old Chinatown", or
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