FILM IN FOCUS: Chinatown

Roman Polanski’s Chinatown (1974) is a contemporary crime film set in 1930s Los Angeles.

Discussion Questions

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

Question

1. In this early sequence from the film, private-eye Jake Gittes interviews a potential client. Examine the scene carefully and identify the signs, conventions, and formulas that are part of a specific subgenre of the crime film.
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Question

2. How does Jack Nicholson’s performance align Gittes with other protagonists in this genre? How does it distinguish him from other protagonists in this genre?
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