In the 30 years that have passed since Chinatown was made, its reputation has only increased. And this Academy screening will present a stunning new 35mm print made from the original elements, allowing the audience to experience this classic on the big screen just as it was seen at the time of its release.

The film, a noir-inspired tale of nefarious doings and criminal conspiracies in 1930s Los Angeles (including sexual transgressions and a scam surrounding water rights), follows private eye Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) into the seamy underbelly of the city and makes it an integral character; in fact, this story could take place nowhere else. With an impressive 11 Oscar® nominations, including Best Picture (Producer Robert Evans), Director (Roman Polanski), Actor (Nicholson) and Actress (Faye Dunaway), the film took home the statuette for Robert Towne’s screenplay. Several of this film’s key cast and crew members will gather for an on-stage reunion preceding this screening.

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, John Hillerman, Darrell Zwerling, Diane Ladd, Roy Jenson, Roman Polanski. Directed by Roman Polanksi. Produced by Robert Evans. Screenplay by Robert Towne, Roman Polanski (uncredited). Director of Photography John A. Alonzo, A.S.C. Associate Producer C.O. Erickson. Music by Jerry Goldsmith. Production designer Richard Sylbert. Film Editor Sam O’Steen. Costume designer Anthea Sylbert. Assistant director Howard W. Koch Jr. Art Director W. Stewart Campbell. Set designers Gabe Resh, Robert Resh. Set Decorator Ruby R. Levitt. Sound Editors Robert Cornett, Howard Beals (uncredited), Roger Sword (uncredited). Make-up Hank Edds, Lee Harman. Hairstylists Susan Germaine, Vivienne Walker. Casting by Mike Fenton, Jane Feinberg. Paramount Pictures, 1974. Print Courtesy of the Academy Film Archive and Paramount Pictures. Running Time: 131 mins.

Academy Awards®: Writing (Original Screenplay) (Towne).
Nominations: Actor (Nicholson), Actress (Dunaway), Art Direction (Richard Sylbert), Cinematography (Alonzo), Costume Design (Anthea Sylbert), Directing (Polanski), Film Editing (O’Steen), Music (Dramatic Score) (Goldsmith), Best Picture (Evans), Sound (Charles Grenzbach, Larry Jost).