On the twenty- second episode of ATFT, film historian/ author/ lecturer Max Alvarez joins me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chinatown! This episode is spoiler- filled.
Chinatown, a neo- noir thriller directed by Roman Polanski, is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. The film is set in 1937 Los Angeles and follows J.J. “Jake” Gittes, a private investigator played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson, as he is, initially, hired by a woman to uncover the details of her husband’s, Hollis Mulwray, affair, a man who is the head of the water department. From there, the story unfolds in unanticipated ways. What started as an investigation into an affair leads to the uncovering of a deceitful plot involving Mulwray’s former partner as co- head of the water department, Noah Cross (John Huston). Chinatown deals with corruption, greed, and the advantages of having money, which by extension, comes with power. The film also stars Faye Dunaway who plays Evelyn Mulwray, Hollis Mulwray’s wife and Jake’s “partner- in crime” in solving this expansive and disturbing case. Chinatown won one Oscar, for Robert Towne’s famously masterful screenplay, and earned ten nominations.
This is Max’s second guest appearance on ATFT! He was the guest on the very first episode of the “wide- release” of ATFT. I was so honored that Max agreed to be my first interview and I am just as honored that he agreed to return to discuss this excellent film! Since our interview, we have maintained a consistent correspondence via e-mail where we keep each other updated on our projects as well as discuss certain films. This episode was recorded on June 6, 2024.
Max Alvarez is a guest lecturer at both New Plaza Cinema in NYC and the Smithsonian Institute. On the day this episode releases, Max will be giving a Zoom lecture on “The Cinema of Billy Wilder” and the next day, he will be giving another Zoom lecture on Wilder’s film, Sunset Boulevard. Stay updated on Max’s upcoming lectures for New Plaza Cinema by going to the “Lectures” tab on newplazacinema.org. Max has also written three books, two of which, The Crime Films of Anthony Mann and The Cinephile’s Guide to the Great Age of Cinema, are available for purchase on Barnes and Noble’s website.
In this episode, Max shares some history about the making of Chinatown from Robert Towne’s screenplay, which is often regarded as “the greatest screenplay of all time” to Jerry Goldsmith’s score. I compared Chinatown to two films: one that was recently Oscar- nominated and the other being an Italian film from the 60s. Max and I also analyze the film’s mysteries as well as characters Jake Gittes and Noah Cross and discuss the famous ending of the film, including the drastic last minute changes made to Chinatown’s original ending. All this and more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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