Chance dying is what sets up the perfect ending... 'you're working for me now'. That part always gives me goosebumps! The guy that followed the rules and had a moral code now breaks them to bag criminals and get justice at any cost. the cycle repeats itself. This ending makes the audience ask questions.

There’s a reason it wasn’t called to “live and make crappy sequels in L.A.”

This ending blows. To Live and Die in LA wouldn't have been the same movie without its shocking ending.

Sequel: To live and die in Alaska.

I saw this film over and over again when it came out in theatres! Friedkin's best film after The Exorcist IMO. Chance dying is a brilliant ending, unexpected, and totally in character with his fearless, reckless view of himself. Best car chase ever put on film and soundtrack by Wang Chung was very fresh and original.

"Buddy, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time." - Rick Masters

I mean it was sad to see William Petersen’s character die, but that’s what makes it better. It catches you off guard and shows how nothing was off limits. Glad William Friedkin went with the original ending.

"The Departed" of its time.

Chance is laughing at the absurdity & hilarity of this stupid ending!

This is an okay ending, but I feel the original ending flows with the climax and the film as a whole better, which makes for an unconventional story. I mean, this was not a film of sympathetic characters, and that's what I really like about it, so that alternate ending rings false to me.

Saw this movie in L.A. when it came out and it captured the Neo-noir atmosphere of Los Angeles of the 80’s. The bright lights of the city that hide the darker, seedier parts of the city. The last movies I can remember capturing that dark side of Los Angeles was a movie called Vice Squad and Angel.

One of the greatest films of it's time

I love this movie it's so cool, dark and stylish.

Why doesn't anyone credit Tuturrro? he was excellent too. Ioved the way he played that slimeball Cody. Every time I saw pepto bismol it reminded me of him and the movie.

The original ending is classic. It catches you off guard and leaves a lasting impression. Friedkin is a genius

This is one of the few times in my life where a lead character getting killed actually caught me by complete surprise. I was totally shocked, and for at least a little bit, you don't know how to feel about it. But when the partner clearly becomes him in the final scene, it all makes complete sense.

Heard about this one. Easily one of the best thrillers ever to come out of the slick 1980s and possibly the last classic flick that Billy Friedkin made.

Good they kept the original ending. You're Working For Me Now !

🤔 Considering the dark moral aspects of Chance's character, for him to "survive" a cynical film called "To Live & Die in L.A." really makes no sense. He is not Martin Riggs who despite his suicidal tendencies has redeeming qualities and wouldn't have done some of the questionable things that Chance does, ie: using an informant as a personal call girl and getting a federal agent killed. Chance was a vain egomaniac who tempted fate too much because he thought he was invincible. I don't see how executives saw this film with franchise potential.

It’s also like the ending of Manhunter reversed where Petersen would have barely survived getting stabbed in the face and disfigured but instead the movie just has him grazed on the face

Discovering this ending makes me feel there is another universe where Chance is still alive.

I like the alternate ending I like most of us saw this on the 2003 DVD release for the first time and I'm glad that they Incorporated it into the special features of the Blu-ray this is an underrated classic

William Peterson is the fucking GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They should have at least had that alternate ending end with Kurt Russell barging I’m fully bearded with his flamethrower to tell them that Masters has been assimilated

The studio wanted a happier ending, they called this the "what if it was an Eddie Murphy movie" ending. This ending works perfectly, if you understand that it's purpose was to show the studio that they should leave the movie alone.

WOW. I am so glad they did keep the original because even though I was probably way too young to see a film like this (thanks POP), I remembered this film SOLELY due to THAT scene when Peterson's character gets smoked. And even though this ending was....understandable, the title wouldn't have had the same meaning and impact if he would have lived.

Chance ruled. So did Will Graham. Ha!

I like the one they kept better... I'd rather see Chance dead and Vuchovich taking over to the ending credits with the freeway leading up to the Thomas Bridge, than Chance alive with Vuchovich, both freezing their butts off and the slow backaway aerial scene of this cold no-man's land they were assigned to...

Sensational movie from the 80s. So glad they left it as it is

I saw the film when it came out, in a NYC theater. The ending was a complete shock, it happened so fast, as well. I bought it, gritty, more like real life. I loved Petersen’s character, in fact the whole cast was superb. Was this a breakout role for Dafoe? I must’ve watched the DVD 20 times-just an amazing film. I almost miss the 80’s.

If they had gone with the alternate ending we wouldn't have known of the actual version and many would have said, Eh. But when you see the hero die in the end, that's something different and actually it's realistic. It's not always a happy ending. It's a raw and gritty as it gets movie and having the hero die at the end is part of that and to have Vukovich step into Chance's shoes is brilliant because now he buys in.

To Live and Die In LA, 52 Pick-Up, and 8 Million Ways To Die are some of the best crime thrillers that came out of the 80s. Have a good night!

Freeze it up pal!!

Thank you so much for uploading this! A new bit of my all-time favorite movie.

As a former offset press operator, I couldn't help but root Masters through the whole movie.

Pankows reactions during the car chase exhibits a convincing state of terror

To Live and Die in LA was so before its time. This ending would have been so disappointing. Chance was such a tragic character. There's a hidden back story to him. His urge to get to close to death as possible. And he tempted fate one too many times. And I don't think Chance would just go sit at some station way up in Alaska. He'd quit and go do something else that gives him that adrenaline rush he was negatively addicted to. Chance had to die, to send a message in this movie.

I like a film that is brave enough by killing of the main star. The audience should be taken by surprise.

I'll be the odd man out. I actually like this ending, especially the final shot of Petersen's tortured (more on that in a moment) face. L.A. seemed to be "his territory" - he did get a form of justice for his lost partner, but in this ending he still pays a dear price, and as expected, sucked his second partner in with him, with the supervisor who never acquiesced to his plan getting both the glory and the career advancement because of it. I hate cold weather, and if I genuinely liked southern California a.k.a. "the land of the eternal spring" I couldn't conceive of being stuck in however close to remote Alaska this is, especially under those circumstances. Had a kid I graduated high school with go into the Army and be stationed at a radar installation much like this. Still, this ostensibly temporary assignment would be infinitely better than Hell, which was to me where it seemed implied that agent Chance went to. (Remember the scene right after he was killed, or rather, the transition to that scene? As a background sound effect (but nothing agent Vukovich could hear) William "The exorcist" Friedkin used a TERRIBLE set of screams like that of men in unending torture, with the camera as I recall aimed at the blazing SoCal sun.) It was Friedkin's film, though. Director's choice.

I loved this movie with the exception of the ending. Rich dying was the right ending, because he tempted fate so many times with his recklessness. But no way would his feckless partner Vukovich take over the operation. Quite simply, he didn’t have enough balls for the job.

Oh my God... Thanks for the right decision, I love this film. I guess this alternative was prepared for guys to take a vacation in Canada. BTW, PLEASE RELEASE THE SOUND TRACK OF THIS FILM. It's one of the best sound track released!

The audience likes him?! Then the audience would be insane! He's horrible to his informant, terrible to his partner, gets a law officer fucking killed, and endangers a huge amount of the civilian population. Man I really hope the studio was wrong about that.

In reality, this is a worse fate, especially for chance. But the original ending is so much more appropriate

My 14 yr old daughter just watched this movie with me and said; He died??? What? No way, I don’t believe he’s dead!! I said that’s because you’re used to the hero always living. Chance wasn’t a hero in the traditional way, and he died in a non-traditional way which made the movie so much better. This ending is funny but that’s all it is. 😂😂😂

That death and “The Departed” had the two most shocking hero deaths on film.

This ending starts off feeling like a news segment from the original Robocop.

Bateman the pencil neck gets revenge lol that’s hilarious!!

To Live and Almost Very Nearly Die (No Really it was Quite Close) in LA

I would never change the original ending because along with 'the 400 blows' , this is truly a great ending. However, I liked this one too. It was funnier and left me smiling when William's character smirks and it furthers the theme of anti hero cop

Good to see ... Brian Bastion .

People want a happy ending. See marvel movies. Ambiguous endings are hated. I love em.

I love Billy and hated to see his character die, but I do like the original ending better. This alternate ending was just kind of generic. Thanks for posting it, though. I'm glad I got to see it.

''The audience likes him'' I started to hate him after like an hour into the movie. Which was clearly intended that way. Happy this ending was scrapped.

I like this ending anyway. Chance becomes a Terminator with a plate on his head.

hehehehe! they got reassigned to Alaska! what a change from L.A. !

This movie should have been called "Shot in the Face"

Perfect ending.

Seen this movie when it was release to theatres. One dead agent , one dead criminal and one agent taking over. Perfect ending.

The only way that ending would work would be if the next scene was for Chanse and Vukovich to knock off the talking head claiming credit for the case.

Better than Peterson dying, is Pankows character, who in my view is the more unsure and less aggressive of the two, having something like a psychotic break and taking on his dead partners life.

God, what a horrible ending. Ha ha. I was blown away when Petersen was killed when I saw this in the theater. It had the exact WTF feeling they were going for and I loved how Pankow just sleazes into the CI blackmail relationship. Very neo noir.

Having Petersen's character die left a lasting impression on me. David Lynch did the same thing when he had Bob possess Kyle MacLachlan's Dale Cooper at the end of Season 2 of Twin Peaks.

Always thought the words to that song were "Like an army wife".

the good thing about this version is that girl escapes these bozos tho

I remember catching it on tv when I was a kid. I was so shocked and traumatized by Petersen's character sudden death, it was so unexpected. Although, it was a rough choice to choose the bloodied face version of the film, I think it added to the film's cult status. I mean it was William Friedkin (RIP) after all.

The original ending was a shock, but it served better as a whole...

It was a great scene when Billy got blown away!! You couldn't believe it but it HAPPENED!! Love it!!

Interesting, did not know another ending was filmed. Glad they left it alone, unless they were going to make a sequel.

Glad you didn't use this ending. The ending that was used in the final cut is much more dramatic and surprising.

"We will make alot more money if we don't kill this guy, the audience likes him" Nah Im pretty sure Chance is one of the most dislikable protagonists in movie history, and by far the least likable of the decade.

the doc on the alt ending is funny "get that shit out of here" lol I love these old movie guys

There is a soundtrack but just getting Wang Chung Greatest Hits would be just easier because they are the band that wrote the whole soundtrack anyways.

I am truly shocked to learn this. I am also glad that Petersen is shocked at the concept as well.

Thank you Mr. Friedkin, for not bowing to the execs who wanted a Hollywood ending so the movie would make more money. We have enough "Eddie Murphy" endings in cinema.

The resolution is so low, I cannot identify the actors.

I've seen this movie so many times, the alternate ending sucks. Petersen's character dying was so good as it caught you off guard

Call it the "Dexter" ending.

I saw TLaDILA in the theater and it blew me away. It is still one of my favorite films, it is among the few I find to be absolutely perfect. I saw the alternate ending when I bought the fancy DVD version. I laughed my ass off, Robert Downey nailed the Bateman character. Still, the real ending was the REAL ending, perfect for the story. One of a very few movies I enjoyed more than the book. ("Angel Heart" is one of the other examples. That was a great era for directors pushing the boundaries, going beyond the source material.)

I'm really glad this ending never made it, it didn't gel with Chance the character and would have been a let down

So yeah pre CGI that layover with the shotgun blast where it showed the bookcase in the back and use the book is displaying the head with shotgun shot f****** awesome good job. But you never got to comment like that. It's all in the background bro

you never ever ever ever kill the main character lol

This "alternate ending" is absolutely hilarious.

Should’ve had one with Masters burying both feds and walking

You did the right thing.

Why isnt this streaming? Cant find it!!!! I wanna watch it.

i wonder if billy Petersen really knows asl. it would explain his constant hand gestures.

Chance was like the Jay-Z 4 this movie and Chance dying is like Jay-Z retiring and Vucovich is like Kanye West taking over it's just so gangsta this movie.

I think they made the right choice with the ending in the movie

It is pretty cool.

my god this the end of blade runner

I know a federal agent of the USFWS that turned in a corrupt federal agent and it backfired. He got sent to desk duty without a phone. Meanwhile the corrupt federal agent got assigned a case, a national sting, that i proposed. And the corrupt federal agent proceeded to frame me. I stung two federal agents framing me and i proved it in two court cases, state criminal court and federal civil rights sect. 1983 law suit. If anyone can help me get a movie deal i know it can be an amazing true story.

I prefer this ending, much better.Don't get me wrong I like how Pankow became Chance in a way but that they both lived would have made it prefect. Still epic film for it's time. At least Will Graham lived. :D

I prefer the 'happy' ending 😎😎😎

I kinda like it because I didnt like anything that happened after he died. Also feel like tonally the song playing here fits more than the original. Loses points for being a too happy ending though

Huh.. don't remember him Dieing.. saw it 40 years ago.

To Live and Retire in Alaska

Actually would have been interesting if Psycho ended that way

One of my dislikes of this film is the casting choice of Chances partner(vukovich) he is a terrible actor nor does he look the part.

wow...

Someone can explains me why Masters continue to deal with them even if he knows that they're fed. Can't get a fucking answer to that.