The Double Life Of A Restaurateur | Keith McNally Selects: Chinatown - 35MM

Roman Polanski’s last Hollywood film before his exile, 1974’s Chinatown is a powerhouse, the rare trifecta of perfect director, perfect material and perfect casting. Working from an Academy Award winning screenplay from Robert Towne (often cited as one of the greatest screenplays of all time), Polanski crafts the quintessential neo-noir with rising megastar Jack Nicholson as the harried gumshoe and a devastating Faye Dunaway in the role of the femme fatale. Set in 1937 Los Angeles, the story uses the California Water Wars as a jumping off point, but in true Polanski fashion deviates into unexpected and harrowing territory, resulting in nothing less than a cinematic milestone. Also featuring John Huston and a celebrated Jerry Goldsmith score that will haunt you for days. Despite its most famously quoted line, Chinatown is a film you’ll never forget.