What is the significance of the nose in Chinatown?

The cutting of Gittes's nose is important not only because it marks Gittes for the rest of the film, but because the nasty little hood who cuts Gittes is played by Polanski himself, brandishing a triangular knife like those that dominated his first feature whose title seems to fit this film as well, Knife in the Water.

What happened to Jake's nose in Chinatown?

Polanski appears in a cameo as the gangster who cuts Gittes' nose. The effect was accomplished with a special knife which could have actually cut Nicholson's nose if Polanski had not held it correctly.

What does the Chinatown symbolize in Chinatown?

Chinatown Symbol Analysis. In Interior Chinatown, Chinatown symbolizes Asian characters' struggle to maintain their Asian identity as they assimilate into Western culture.

Did Jack Nicholson actually slap Faye Dunaway in Chinatown?

After several takes that never looked quite right, Faye Dunaway got annoyed and told Jack Nicholson to actually slap her. He did and felt very guilty for it, despite it being Dunaway's decision. The shot made it into the movie.

How old was Jack Nicholson when Chinatown was filmed?

In 2010, when Chinatown was 36 years old—the same age as Jack Nicholson when he starred in the movie, when he was, by broad critical consensus, at the peak of his star power—a poll of The Guardian's top critics proclaimed it “the best film of all time.” So, we might take the occasion of its 50th birthday in 2024 to ...

Roman Polanski cuts Jack Nicholson's nose

Do Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson get along?

''However, once filming began on 'Ironweed', everyone on set and those who heard about it, were talking not about the film's script, or direction, or scenic design, but about Jack and Meryl. '' Meryl - who has been married to Don Gummer for 35 years - and Jack still remain close friends to this day.

Why were they dumping water in Chinatown?

In Chinatown, the water department, under the influence of Cross, is behind a plan to secretly dump water from a vital reservoir in the San Fernando valley at night during a drought, so that the local agricultural land becomes unusable, and is devalued – allowing the department and Cross to buy it off cheaply from ...

Why does Jake say as little as possible at the end of Chinatown?

His reply was "as little as possible", probably referring to the fact that corruption and crime ran so rampant that Jake got the feeling that he did not amount to anything, and may even have inadvertently helped injustice take place.

Why does Curley's wife have a black eye in Chinatown?

When he knocks on the door, Curly's wife answers, bearing a black eye indicating that Curly hit her for cheating on him.

What does the last line of Chinatown mean?

Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown. This line from the final scene, which Walsh speaks in a sympathetic voice as he leads Jake away from Evelyn's dead body, sums up one of the film's major themes. Throughout the film, several characters suggest that Chinatown is a place to be avoided at all costs.

Was there a sequel to Chinatown?

The Two Jakes. The sequel to Chinatown (1974) finds J.J. "Jake" Gittes investigating adultery and murder, and the money that comes from oil.

How many Oscars did Chinatown win?

So it came as a surprise when Towne was the only Oscar winner of the film's 11 nominations, with it losing Best Picture and Best Director to “The Godfather Part II,” and Nicholson losing to Art Carney for “Harry and Tonto.” It was additionally recognized for its cinematography, editing, score, sound, production design, ...

Was Chinatown a true story?

Chinatown is a 1974 American movie directed by Roman Polanski, written by Robert Towne, and starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Hillerman and John Huston. The movie is based on a true story about arguments that people had over the water politics in 1937 Los Angeles. It is considered to be a film noir.

What does Jake whisper in Chinatown?

Most people can barely hear it, even though it is the last line in the movie by our fallen hero, Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes, because it's said in a whisper. Jake Gittes (under his breath): “As little as possible.”

Whose glasses were in the pond in Chinatown?

Noah Cross drowned him the salt pond at Mulwray's house. Noah's glasses were found in the salt pond later, by Jake. He killed him over Katherine and not the water bond issue. It was done in the heat of an argument over her.

What is the famous line from the movie Chinatown?

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." There are many classic lines and memorable moments in Film Noir, but few are as devastatingly powerful as the finale of Roman Polanski's 1974 classic. The line -- "Forget it, Jake.

What is the big twist in Chinatown?

The ending of Chinatown sees Jake Gittes piecing together the web of conspiracy weaved by Noah Cross (John Huston). Jake discovers it was Cross who murdered Hollis Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling) and was also responsible for the death of Ida Sessions.

How does Jake hurt his nose in Chinatown (1975)?

He learns that someone is dumping water into the ocean while there's a drought going on and thinks that because Mr. Mulwray found out, he was murdered. Jake gets shot at and a guy cuts his nose as a warning to back off.

Who killed Hollis Mulwray in Chinatown?

His implication in Mulwray's murder is confirmed when he instructs his assistant, “Take those glasses from him, will ya?” gesturing to the bifocal glasses Gittes has in his hands. They belong to Cross, making him the man responsible for Mulwray's drowning in the saltwater pound outside his house.

Why was Chinatown burned down?

In 1906, firefighters torched the Chinatown in California's Santa Ana after one man in the community was reported to have leprosy. After banning Chinese from walking on the streets after dark in Antioch, white residents burned down its Chinatown. San Jose was once home to five Chinatowns.

What did JJ discover in the Backyard Pond?

Gittes discovered that there was salt water in the pond, and pieced together that Mr. Mulwray likely died in the pond, since he was found with fresh water in his lungs. Mr. Gittes then looked in the pond and found a pair of glasses.

Who was Jack Nicholson's love of his life?

Anjelica Huston was the love of Jack Nicholson's life—until the day he committed the ultimate betrayal. He had Huston over for dinner and shattered their world with just six words.

Did Robert Redford and Meryl Streep like each other?

When ROBERT REDFORD and MERYL STREEP starred together in Out of Africa (1985), their on-screen chemistry was unforgettable — but what most people don't know is that their off-screen bond was just as real, and just as lasting.

Is Jack Nicholson with dementia?

Jack's health

Despite reports suggesting Jack is suffering from some kind of mental illness such as dementia, it appears this isn't the case.