Chinatown (1974) – Filming Locations
Crime / Mystery / Thriller · Directed by Roman Polanski · Starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Where was Chinatown filmed?
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Opening scenes establishing the noir detective world and early investigation sequences. The gritty downtown streets provide the authentic 1970s Los Angeles backdrop essential to the film's noir atmosphere
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Detective Gittes navigates city bureaucracy and obtains records during his investigation. The iconic Art Deco building serves as a key location where Gittes seeks official information about the water department
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Street-level scenes reflecting the working-class Los Angeles setting. The historic downtown market area provides authentic 1970s Los Angeles streetscapes for the film's investigative sequences
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Climactic scenes overlooking Los Angeles, where tensions and revelations come to a head. The famous canyon overlook provides the elevated vantage point for the film's noir-inflected denouement, showcasing the city lights below
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Scenes involving the Water Department and related LA locations connected to the conspiracy. The stadium area and surrounding infrastructure represent the massive water and development interests central to the film's plot