Chinatown (X), April 1979

CHINATOWN (X)  (USA, 1974; director Roman Polanski)

JACK NICHOLSON, FAYE DUNAWAY.  Excellent crime drama, set in Los Angeles of the thirties, which evokes those magic Bogart films while remaining true to its own spirit and energy.  JACK NICHOLSON is superb as a small-time private eye who stumbles on a big case which involves graft over valuable land and water rights, murder, incest and other attention-getting devices.  They’re all put in their proper place by writer ROBERT TOWNE in an intricate, entertaining screenplay.  Director ROMAN POLANSKI (he’s seen in a bit part as a sadistic, knife-wielding hood) has kept a keen and knowing eye on his cast, including FAYE DUNAWAY as a highly dramatic femme fatale  and JOHN HUSTON as a despicable villain.

PLUS: CARTOON (U)