VIEWING CUE: Chinatown

Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974) is a tribute to the way the filmic language of 1940s film noir conveyed urban menace and corruption. A twisted chain of events is set off when Mrs. Mulwray (Diane Ladd) enters the office of detective Jake Gittes (Jack Nicolson).

Discussion Questions

After watching this clip from Chinatown, consider the questions below. Then submit your response.

Question

1. Do a shot-by-shot breakdown of this scene by counting the number of shots and noting the subject, camera distance, and camera movement in each. How is the spatial relationship between shots established by editing?

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Question

2. What is the motivation behind each cut? If you notice a change in the pattern of cutting, what do you think it signifies?

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