R.I.P Robert Towne

Better than a year of film school.

You know usually Fincher is the most collected guy in the room, so it's fun to listen to him geeking out.

"The futility of good intentions." Towne capsulizes the films intent perfectly.

Towne is just one of the great film writers.

My absolute favourite movie. Perfection. Every element works beautifully.

Fincher could do a commentary to any movie and I'd listen

What a treasure, insights that make perfect sense once pointed out to me

1:45 Lovely words about the Goldsmith score. Agreed this is his finest work. I saw this film twice in a first run theater and the score is so haunting, such an exquisite part of the film that I couldn't quite hum it after leaving. "The solo trumpet has such a mournful, lonely quality..." perfectly stated!

Thank you for posting this. I saw Chinatown in 1974 on its first night in theaters, before the public knew anything about it, and maybe before reviews had come out. I'll never forget seeing this for the first time, misreading clues along with Gittes, and completely shocked by Evelyn's secret and the ending. It took several minutes to work out that Katherine was from a father/daughter rape, so unusual was incest as a theme in a mainstream film at that time. One week before, I watched the trailer and felt little anticipation. I thought, oh Jack Nicholson is doing his Bogart imitation in a period piece movie. But, that homage set up the audience to be beguiled right up to the denoument. In Philip Marlowe's universe, the good guy got the girl, wrongs were righted, the bad guys got punished, and the world remained right side up. Or so we thought. I was hoping that Towne would mention the film location for Gittes' drive through the avocado or orange grove, being ambushed, and then being rescued by Evelyn. It's set in the western San Fernando Valley, but the only intact ranch from 90 years ago, that I know of, is the Orcutt Ranch on Roscoe Blvd. in what is now West Hills or Chatsworth. Does anyone know where that sequence was actually filmed? Thanks.

Well, now I have to see it again-for the fourteenth time. No movie has ever come close to moving me the way Chinatown has. Nothing even begins to compare.

I love how much of a fan Fincher is of this movie. Chinatown is my favorite movie.

Fincher is so great at commentaries, funny, erudite and passionate. No slouch as a director either!

It's wonderful to listen to Towne's reminiscences of his own Los Angeles history and upbringing as well as his experiences writing Chinatown as well as during the production of the film. The serendipitous and felicitous combination of a superb script by a supremely talented and skilled writer, A-list director, actors and production designer, plus the at-once seedy, glamorous and depraved setting of early Los Angeles, (not much changed, may I add) superbly rendered, has not been equaled since. Indeed, Chinatown is the first time this particular synastry has been achieved on film since Casablanca, with the possible exception of The Godfather.

best filmschool you can learn from; covering all aspects of movie making!

This is great, Polanski's framing was always kind of weird to me and Fincher really goes out of his way trying to explain the genius of Polanski.

Such a valuable resource, my sincere thanks.

Noah Cross/John Huston was the most evil characterization that I ever saw on screen....a brilliant movie!!!

What a brilliant commentary. Thank you for uploading this.

One of my favorite movies ever. BEAUTIFULLY done and the score is fantastic. Acting is spot-on and screenplay is superb. It captures a time and place and events. Wishing Roman Polanski was able to still make movies in this country. He has exceptional talent.

I had to cue up another streaming site with this one but it was worth it. Like a masterclass private screening. Now lets head over to The Ivy for a late supper fellas. I hear they've got stone crabs as a special!

Many thanks for posting, this is gold.

I've noticed several online references to Nicholson's character, J.J."Jake" Gittes as a "seedy" PI. Jake dresses pretty natty for a seedy PI. Although people dressed more formally in the '30's, Gittes is obvious a cut above with cream colored suits that have split panels in the back, cigarette holder, and his monogram on his pajamas and shirts. Also, his office is pretty well appointed (newly installed wooden blinds) and he is making enough (in the Depression) to have a secretary and two other investigators...I'd say he is of a higher class of investigator...also coming out of the police and doing special investigative work for the D.A.(a point his friend back in the police force, Lt. Escobar makes note of: "You've done well by yourself.") And notice the comparison to the detectives grey suit (especially Escobar's wing man Loach) outfits and Jakes threads. All-in-all, hardly a cheap dick gumshoe flatfoot with tabacco stains on his teeth, tomato stains on his shirt and tie, thin shoe leather, and a shiny backside on his britches.

This is just priceless. ...

Thank you! Amazing upload.

Glad everyone knows Fincher enough to know that this is slightly out of character for him, to be such a dork in front of Robert Towne. Count the amount of times he says something is great or perfect. Can we all also agree that this is one of the top tier film commentaries of all time?

This is fascinating and wonderful. Thanks so much for posting.

Just synced this to Netflix (turning the sound off), and it's perfect! thank you!

Thank you so much for uploading this! 🧡🔥

Fantastic commentaries, i just realised how Jack Nicholson voice and Johnny Depp voice in the ninth gate sound similar, now i can't help but imagining John Huston in the mumbo jumbo scene...🤣The nine gates of the kingdom of Chinatown... Being french the name Gittes makes me think of "get this" maybe it was intended like that.What a great movie...and script

Jerry Goldsmith was modeling his solo trumpet theme after Copeland's "Quiet City" solo trumpet, to show contrast in depicting a not quiet LA in the story. Some of Fincher's comments are insightful, but I'd rather have heard Towne speak a lot. My favorite movie of all time. I can recite the script verbatim from Curly's moaning to "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown." Thanks so much for posting.

I didn't know this commentary existed. Thank you for posting it. The great thing (among others) about the script is that it all seems so complicated for so long and then the revelation allows all the elements of the plot to fall into place. You wouldn't have to see 'Chinatown' again to understand the plot, but you could equally watch it again to see how it was all achieved. I also really like that as smart and street-wise Gittes is, he still keeps putting the pieces together and coming to the wrong conclusions (understandably), or miscalculating the final confrontation.

In the US, if you only have the original Paramount Home Entertainment version, or only the Paramount Collector's edition of this film on DVD than you don't have this commentary track. It's only on the Paramount 2-disc CENTENNIAL edition. And if you don't have any other edition from another country you don't have this soundtrack. So if all you have is a version on DVD without the commentary, you can rip the DVD to your computer and then download this commentary track as an audio file. Then you can play BOTH in VLC Media Player simultaneously and switch between the commentary or just regular film audio. Film> Advanced Open File> Choose the Chinatown video file as the movie then check the "Play another media synchronously" box to select this audio track!

I'm 74 and in the '50s-'65 my folks and I would go the pt fermin park . I got a coke from walkers many times . Later in my 20s-40s also . The fact that it is in my fav movie just makes it sweeter 👍 p.s. We would scramble down to the rocky shore and sometimes divers were bringing up abalone and my dad would buy 3 or 4 . Love them ❤

I just bought the Blu-Ray here in Norway and it doesn't have this track for some reason. So thanks for this!

Thanks for the upload!

Brilliant!!!

It's great to hear fincher go on about the technical stuff. Towne hardly recalls anything. (Reasonably so)

I'm definetely gonna watch the movie on my Ipad while listening to the commentary on my phone 🧡🔥

If you appreciate this film, this commentary is very insightful. One of THE great films of 20th Century American film. 2:04:25: “…Chinatown is not a place you can actually go to, 'cause it's a state of mind.”

Freaky to think Ali MacGraw almost played Evelyn. Her husband was the producer. They dodged a bullet, there.

Oh my god, this is so cool. A director whom I like a lot discusses in depth a movie I like a lot 🧡🔥

Have been binge-watching analyses of 'Chinatown' but this takes the biscuit. It's fantastic! Everyone else bangs on about Gittes's vanity and his wanting to be a hero, the latter which for some reason I found unconvincing. And then here I get the real reason. He pursues the matter because he's pissed off at getting his nose slashed, and wants revenge (43:25). Of course, as obvious as the nose on one's face (pun intended), except I hadn't thought of it.

The film is truly superb and this would have been nicer if we had heard more from Robert Towne, although he does talk quite a bit about Chinatown in his long interview with the Writers Guild, which you can find on KZfaq. This is mostly Fincher gushing on and on about how much he loves everything, but it does serve to illustrate the craftsmanship of filmmaking and the finer points of creating movie magic. The tragedy of filmmaking today is that none of the talentless corporate entity bureaucrats that produce films would ever make a movie like this. The only ideas they can come up with are that the world needs more cartoon movies. Yawn.

Ida Sessions crib-848 E. Kenigston Road-Echo Park El Mocando 1400-1414 Haverhurst Dr-West Hollywood

I haven't even seen the film but I loved listening to this.

just want to say thanks to the uploaded for disabling ads on this!

Great. I do not need the images, they are there in my mind!-Misha Allport-Fortaleza, Brasil

#2 on my list of fav films #1 being Dr. Zhivago . #3 The Two JAKES , #4 Once Upon A Time In The West .

Phillip Lambro was the original composer, and some of the score is available on CD

I'm listening and am at the eating scene commentary. I find it interesting what Fincher (who I don't find in the least bit pretentious) says about eating in Hollywood movies. I was of the same opinion myself. It's so different than what you see in asian movies or tv dramas, To be honest, I'm not always quiet sure who is talking. To me, their voices are quiet similar. But I'm guessing from the comments, it's mostly Fincher. Before this, I listened to the point blank commentary, between Boorman and Soderbergh which is more two sided.

The opening notes of this. Over the title work but man oh man.

1:01:30 Tarantino does that in his movies, and the food always looks very delicious. That whole strudel scene in Inglorious Basterds, for example.

2 very similar sounding voices

"I cant remember his [the original composers] name." Hahahahahaha.

Surprising to hear Fincher say he's never been able to find Ida's bungalow court and he assumed it was long gone, because the address is on IMDB, and I've googled it and used the maps function, toggling up and down the street. It's there, and looks the same pretty much although the surrounding blocks are quite changed. I wish I knew how to contact him to let him know how easily he could find it.

What studio head today would "suggest a trumpet as a leitmotif"

Fincher remarks that Jake is always reading the newspaper but isn’t it always a racing form?

TACK ROOM for Gods sake. Not a "tackle room." Fishermen have tackle. Not horsemen.

Have you read the spec script?

I saw this movie when I was 12 years old. Didn't understand any of it; glad I wasn't the only one. LOL

FYI, Fincher, it is not unusual for the TACK room on a wealthy man's ranch to have seating, such as chairs or a loveseat. Riders like to sit and relax with friends when they may be in dusty clothes or muddy boots after riding. Fincher thinks with such a pedestrian, in-the-box mind. How he ever got in the film business is astounding.

Did Robert name his daughter China?

Mr. Fincher please please remake your remake of The Illustrated Man.

What does the line "as little as possible"?

Remember when you'd go to Blockbuster & rent or buy a movie that had tons of special features including commentaries from the filmmakers? Who are the morons who decided they would rather stream a movie on their phone? I want names!!

Please give credit to the great Uan Racey on trumpet,. heard you Uan in movies such as American in Paris and Rocky

When Jack and Faye were filming the “slap” scene Faye felt that to make it more authentic Jack should actually slap her. So that’s the way they filmed it.

Fincher is a man who clearly has only a passing interest or even acquaintance with history of any kind - particully the history of Los Angeles. A zanjero was the man who managed the "zanjas," the acequias (ditches) that carried water to the fields and farmlands. The zanjero was an important figure in city government - more important than a mayor actually Towne is not quite technically correct - the zanjero was not a "water carrier." The zanjero managed the distribution of water, so farmers' livelihoods depended on the decisions of the zanjero. Mulwray, in the story.

Tack Room, tackle room is fishing equipment, not uncommon to have seating for putting on English riding boots.

sticks with me. almost wish it didn't.

They sound very similar..

Where do they talk about the ending

Great commentary but why on Earth at 54:00 do they say “painting out Morgan Freeman’s name”? Check it out for yourself - it’s bizarre and I’d really like to know why Morgan Freeman is mentioned here.

When does the commentary supposed to start? Want to listen as I watch the movie.

bummer they dint have inset showin the movie as they speak. too radio.

Lol I cant tell who is David and who is Robert

It would be nice if we actually saw the scenes being commented on.

So technically does Jake get his $10k from Cross?

Not gonna lie, this is better than the movie

Yeah, Fischer, really. Why did you invite Robert Towne. It's not about you!

It's strange that Robert would write a film about a water company

1:37:26 Fincher must be pretty stupid... He says he has never been able to find the Ida Sessions bungalow but the house is at THE EXACT ADDRESS that is given to Gittes over the phone!!

Who will be the next Towne? Tarantino is equally great, but in a different genre, and he is not planning on a long continuing body of work. His dialog has set a new standard. Towne, though, made the great stories.

I was almost murdered by mob owned NOPD ...I was being stalked by them at the time I first saw this movie on TV.....I WAS STUNNED...I really identified with Jake and KNEW I had to keep going ( I was trying to get patient murders investigated and the murderers arranged to shut me up) One of the murderers was my MD husband...the other was his best friend who was married to a mob NOPD.....obviously GOD intervened on my behalf....but I was SO out of my league on how psychopaths operate.. It is no exaggeration to say to this movie helped me hang on...and helped me survive. ...and yes....the murderers got away with it... But ONE of the mob NOPD went to Federal prison on evidence I was able to get the DOJ to look at..... Because two good NOPD were too scared to go to the DOJ...they gave me the evidence ..They only took the chance because ANOTHER GOOD NOPD was thought to be working with DOJ and was executed in broad daylight in downtown New Orleans in an elaborately covered up plot that managed to get the patsy beaten to death .....by over 100 cops most of whom did not know what was really going on... SO THESE GOOD GUYS PARTICIPATED IN A MURDER.....SET UP BY CROOKED COPS....SO NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD TO THIS DAY...

Looking back , there is no way Chinatown could not be made today. The movie is about water and today's studio woud ask why not it be about drugs or gambling or prositution to which I'd reply those three things you mention does not affect everyone where water effects all of us. Above all, Rober Evens was both the producer and ran Paramount, so there was no buffer. Today, every studio clown would chop throught the script with a billion revisions. For me, Chinatown is the golden standard of the last great period of films, the ealy 1970s.

all very well to have the commentary-but only the soundtrack! no good for me!

Who invited Fincher to the party? Every other film he makes is a giant goose egg. His commentary adds precious little. He has almost no questions for the actual writer of the film!! Love hearing how he'd do a scene better than Polanski. What an utter tool.

Am I the only one annoyed by Fincher talking way too much and repeatedly interrupting Towne? Having said that, this is well worth listening to.

This commentary is better than the movie itself.

The screenplay is superb...excellent! Roman Polanski ruined the author's intentions.

CHINATOWN als Hörspiel????????????? WTF?? By the way: the "logo" is the poster and of course in color.

Hey Robert. Great job on that movie you wrote/produced/directed as an ode to your pansexual freak of a girlfriend: Patrice Donnelly (a known sexual predator).

I enjoyed this but Fincher can be so pretentious. It's nice that he loves the film so much though

Way too much Fincher. Not nearly enough Towne. Most of Fincher's commentary is boring technical stuff. Towne is a very articulate and interesting man with a lot to say (as interviews with him prove). Very disappointing to hear Fincher just run over him.

“Chinatown” is a fantastic movie, but the interviewer is painfully loquacious. I’m 20 minutes in and calling it quits.

I'm interested in what Towne has to say. I don't care what a sycophant has to say.

I don't like the line "Forget it Jake it's Chinatown." I don' think it fits. It deflects the enormity of what has gone on in the film. Chinatown represents a way to the writer but it doesn't capture the darkness that takes place here in America. So really they were just afraid to say it like it is. They blamed the Chinese.

Love the movie of course, very nearly perfect. The one bit that's never set quite right with me (long before "woke" became a thing) is the glass/grass mishearing. It's a little bit cheap and actually doesn't even make sense when you see towards the end that Gittes can speak the language a little. He's obviously been very close to the culture and the guy is obviously talking about the grass in the context of the scene. Kinda corny, kinda racist, the one imperfection. I think it would have been OK to challenge Towne a little bit on one imperfection...oh well.

i dont appreciate fincher, heard he a bitch to work for....