There are some situations throughout our lifetimes that no matter how a person tries to make things right, it just can’t be done. These are moments when delving into those twists and turns can just make matters worse. As much as anyone hates to say it out loud, leaving well enough alone is the best outcome. This is very difficult to do when instinctively the party involved is a fixer, a solver of all problems, an interrogator, and even an instigator. It’s tough when the only thing left to do is back off and walk away. I have been there before. I bet you have too.
I remember before I met my current husband, I was dating a man who carried tremendous baggage from his past. I didn’t know how deeply his vitriol was woven into his everyday life. He was a man stuck between what he wanted to achieve and how those results would never come to fruition due to his unrealistic attachment to his mother and siblings. He was the eldest son, so when his father died, he became the breadwinner. His family grew accustomed to being taken care of throughout each passing year, making those ties impossible to bend or break.
Each time our future was discussed, I knew he was lying. I wanted to believe we could have a life together, but at every step of the way, intentional complications arose from his family that would repeatedly destroy our dreams. He couldn’t say no to them. It took me six long years to finally figure this out. I was a slow learner. I realized some things are not within our abilities to fix. Their history was already in place and thriving long before I arrived. I had to let it go for the good of my mental and physical well-being. Eventually, my friends put their arms around me and led me away.
This scene always reminds me of the final line in an extraordinarily brilliant film. “Forget it, Jake. It’s CHINATOWN.” Truer words are rarely spoken. Everyone must learn when it’s time to walk away. You can’t always fight city hall. Even Kenny Rogers wrote a popular song that says much the same thing when playing poker. Happily ever after endings are not always going to happen…especially in Roman Polanski’s CHINATOWN.
CHINATOWN was producer Robert Evans ‘ (URBAN COWBOY, MARATHON MAN) brainchild. His efforts were recognized through all the awards the film won. It received eleven Oscar nominations and won the gold for Best Original Screenplay. The film won three BAFTAs and four Golden Globes, receiving the Best Picture statue from both prestigious groups. It was financially successful as well, grossing close to thirty million dollars.
The genius words for CHINATOWN were written by Robert Towne and Polanski, who was uncredited. It was created with Jack Nicholson in mind for the lead. Critics have said that Towne’s script is a work of sheer perfection. Characters were developed through the plot, which added layers of depth and complexity to their strengths and powers. The script has been studied for fifty years, since 1974, and is still used as teaching material in screen play seminars and classes. One of the best lines in the film was near the end when Nicholson’s character asks for five more minutes. This was precisely how much longer the movie was — exactly five minutes.
Nicholson as J.J. Gittes was spectacular. Who else would have the guts to wear a large nose bandage across his face for three quarters of the film? His masterful performance constantly pushed the story forward with intention, intrigue, and intensity. Polanski, the director, filmed through Gittes’s point of view. The camera was often positioned from behind him, so audiences could see what Gittes saw. This was especially helpful when he was driving through the twisting roads in Los Angeles. Incredible angles were created to keep our precise attention on Gittes.
Faye Dunaway portrayed Evelyn Mulwray. She was enigmatic on screen, and many have said she was born to be in the pictures. Her talent and beauty were incomparable, making her a stand-out among her peers. The first time the cameras shine their light on her was unforgettable (Cupid, ruby red lips and all). She and Nicholson had a fight scene together, which ended with her being slapped several times. Nicholson was feeling guilty to slap a woman. She told him to do it for real. He finally did, and that’s the cut used in the film. The two of them together gave audiences a rare gift of stellar performances.
John Houston was the villain. He was a legendary screenwriter, character actor, and director. He portrayed Dunaway’s father in CHINATOWN. His role was creepy and vile. He was a man without morals. At one point, he asks Nicholson if he was sleeping with his daughter. This was an interesting moment in the film since Nicholson was sleeping and living with Houston’s real-life daughter, Angelica. It was said to be an awkward moment.
The film takes place during the 1930s. It was based on actual events that rattled the water rights between Los Angeles and the surrounding rural areas during intense drought years. There was corruption and cover-ups in both stories. It would define the journey of LA for decades to come. Towne was able to capture this momentum, and Los Angeles became a central character in the story.
The film did not include background music for every frame. This was another part of Polanski’s genius. Each scene was played out as if the audience were listening to the monologues and dialogues in real time, without hearing the soaring lyrical notes. There were a few scenes viewers were treated to sultry, jazzy trumpet sounds scored by the illustrious Jerry Goldsmith, which he wrote in a mere ten days. Amazing.
CHINATOWN is a critically acclaimed noir classic. It brings to the cinematic world a spectacular, iconic moment when all the creative elements explode together for all to see and remember…perfect storytelling, nuanced performances, along with excellent directing, set design, and costumes. It is a film that misdirects with references to CHINATOWN’s chaotic, complicated community while only filming the final scene explicitly in that location. Nicholson has said in later interviews that he didn’t like the ending. He wished it all could have worked out better, but to Polanski, CHINATOWN represented reality. I can attest to that.
CHINATOWN is available on TCM.
