Chinatown 1974

A mysterious woman, self-proclaimed as Evelyn Mulwray, approaches private investigator J. J. “Jake” Gittes (Jack Nicholson) with a seemingly straightforward request: to tail her husband, Hollis Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling), chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Initially, Gittes is none the wiser, following Mulwray, capturing incriminating photos that make headlines, and eventually being confronted by the real Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) - a revelation that sets off a chain reaction of events. As Gittes delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and corruption.

The death of Mulwray at the hands of Lieutenant Lou Escobar (Perry Lopez), with his body fished from a freshwater reservoir, raises more questions than answers. Under retainer to Mrs. Mulwray, Gittes investigates further, noticing an anomaly - despite copious amounts of water being released from the reservoir each night, the surrounding farmland remains parched and dry. His inquiries are met with resistance by Water Department Security Chief Claude Mulvihill (Roy Jenson) and his henchman, who leave Gittes with a gruesome reminder: a slashed nose.

A cryptic phone call from Ida Sessions (Diane Ladd), identifying herself as the imposter Evelyn Mulwray, sets Gittes on a new path. He discovers that Hollis Mulwray was once the business partner of Noah Cross (John Huston), the patriarch of a wealthy family with ties to the city’s water supply. The revelation sparks memories of 1925, when Mulwray and Cross owned the entire city’s water supply before it was nationalized.

As Gittes digs deeper, he uncovers a complex web of relationships and motivations. He accuses the new chief of the Water department of wastefulness and murder, threatening to expose the truth to the press. The chief admits that water is being diverted daily for the orange farmers of the Northwest Valley, but refuses to disclose which part of the valley benefits from this largesse, citing a lack of legal authority.

Evelyn’s demeanor changes when Gittes shares his discovery about Mulwray’s past partnership with Noah Cross. Her admission that she married Mulwray after their business partnership ended only adds fuel to Gittes’ suspicions. The mystery deepens, and Gittes finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that threatens to engulf the city.

As Cross (character) and Gittes sit down for lunch at his exclusive club, the seasoned private investigator receives a stark warning: he’s unaware of the intricate forces at play. Cross offers to more than double Gittes’ fee if he agrees to take on the case of Mulwray’s missing mistress. The tantalizing prospect prompts Gittes to delve deeper into the mystery.

His investigation leads him to the hall of records, where he uncovers a web of deceit and corruption. A significant portion of the Northwest Valley has recently undergone a rapid change in ownership, raising suspicions about the motivations behind this sudden shift. As Gittes digs deeper, he becomes the target of angry landowners who mistakenly believe he’s an agent of the water department, sent to sabotage their water supply and force them out.

Gittes’ keen mind quickly unravels the complex plot, revealing that the proposed dam Mulwray opposed wasn’t intended for Los Angeles; instead, it was designed to irrigate the Northwest Valley. Furthermore, he discovers that the water department has been drying up select areas of the valley, allowing them to be purchased at a reduced price. The revelation sends shockwaves through Gittes’ understanding of the case.

He soon finds himself face-to-face with a former retirement home resident who’s one of the valley’s new landowners – and this individual purchased their property just a week after Mulwray’s untimely demise. Gittes and Evelyn bluff their way into the retirement home, only to uncover that several residents’ properties have been surreptitiously transferred in their names.

Their visit is abruptly interrupted by the suspicious director of the retirement home, who has summoned Mulvihill (character). Fleeing from Mulvihill’s henchmen, Gittes and Evelyn find solace in each other’s company at Evelyn’s residence, where they finally surrender to their desires. However, their romantic interlude is short-lived, as Evelyn receives an urgent phone call that requires her immediate attention.

As Gittes follows Evelyn’s car to a nearby residence, he discovers her comforting Mulwray’s mistress through the windows. His accusations are met with Evelyn’s revelation that the woman is actually her long-lost sister. The unexpected twist raises more questions than answers, leaving Gittes to ponder the true nature of Evelyn’s involvement in the case and the extent of her family’s influence.

The plot thickens as Gittes receives a cryptic summons to Ida Sessions’ apartment, only to find her lifeless body and the sinister Escobar waiting in the wings. The detective is then presented with a new puzzle piece: the coroner’s report revealing saltwater in Mulwray’s lungs, casting doubt on the official drowning scenario. Escobar’s suspicions fall squarely on Evelyn, prompting Gittes to spring into action.

As he pays a visit to Evelyn’s opulent mansion, Gittes uncovers a web of deceit and manipulation. His observation of her garden pond reveals its saltwater composition, leading him to discover a pair of bifocals submerged in the depths. The revelation sparks a confrontation with Evelyn, who initially denies any connection to the mysterious “sister.” However, after a stern rebuke from Gittes, she confesses that Katherine (Belinda Palmer) is both her sister and daughter – a product of her father’s heinous crimes when Evelyn was just 15. The eyeglasses, she admits, do not belong to Mulwray, as he never wore bifocals.

Gittes orchestrates an escape plan for the women, instructing them to flee to Mexico, while he sets his sights on settling a score with Cross at the latter’s Mulvray home. There, Cross reveals his true intentions: to annex the Northwest Valley and irrigate it, paving the way for development. Gittes seizes upon this new information, accusing Cross of murdering Mulwray in Evelyn’s saltwater pond and then deliberately leaving behind the bifocals to incriminate him.

Cross takes the bifocals at gunpoint, forcing Gittes to chauffeur them to their destination: Evelyn’s butler’s home in Chinatown. However, upon arrival, they find the police already on the scene, detaining Gittes. As Cross approaches Katherine, Evelyn shoots him in the arm and makes her escape with Katherine, driving away as the police open fire, ultimately claiming Evelyn’s life.

With Cross clutching Katherine and attempting to make his own getaway, Escobar orders Gittes’ release. His associate, Lawrence Walsh, then delivers a somber verdict: “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” The detective is left to ponder the futility of his efforts in a city where justice seems as elusive as the mythical waters that flow through its very heart.