Since discovering it in the early 2000s, I have always loved the 1974 movie,
Chinatown, and re-watched every year. The story, written by Robert Towne, bears
the distinctive flavor of Raymond Chandler and tells about a hard-boiled private
detective navigating the labyrinth of a hideous crime. After watching it so many
times and the thrills gone, however, what still pull me in are the dialogues.
These days, I often find myself reciting some of them while taking a walk.
The most impressive exchange for me is when the hero J. J. Gittes meets, for the
first time, for lunch with Noah Cross, the villian, after the death of Hollis
Mulwray, Cross's former business partner, son-in-law, and victim. Each sentence
follows up like gear works and the transitions just flow. On top of it, the actors
(Jack Nicholson and John Huston) deliver so masterfully that the conversation
invites memorizing.
CROSS
You've got a nasty reputation, Mr. Gitts. I like that.
GITTES
Thanks.
CROSS
If you were a bank president that
would be one thing, but in your
business it's admirable.
And it's good advertising.
GITTES
It doesn't hurt.
CROSS
It's why you attract a client like my daughter.
GITTES
Probably.
CROSS
But I'm surprised you're still working
for her, unless she's suddenly
come up with another husband.
GITTES
No. She happens to think the last
one was murdered.
CROSS
How did she, uh, get that idea?
GITTES
I think I gave it to her.
CROSS (looking closely at the fish served up for Gittes)
I hope you don't mind.
I believe they should be served with the head.
GITTES
Fine, as long as you don't serve
chicken that way.
CROSS (chuckling)
Tell me, what do the police say?
...
Its late producer, Robert Evans, used to say that not only Chinatown held up,
but it was getting better with time. By 2021, 47 years had passed. Searching
online the other day, I learnt that the script was ranked number three in the
Writer's Guild of America West's top 101 greatest screenplays and youtube videos
and blogs rushed to explain its success. The top five included also Casablanca,
The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and All About Eye and among these, I had watched
the first three. The Godfather was memorable, but I liked Chinatown better.
Evans seemed to be right.