Since discovering it in the early 2000s, I have always loved the 1974 movie,

Chinatown, and re-watched every year. The story, written by Robert Towne, bears

the distinctive flavor of Raymond Chandler and tells about a hard-boiled private

detective navigating the labyrinth of a hideous crime. After watching it so many

times and the thrills gone, however, what still pull me in are the dialogues.

These days, I often find myself reciting some of them while taking a walk.

The most impressive exchange for me is when the hero J. J. Gittes meets, for the

first time, for lunch with Noah Cross, the villian, after the death of Hollis

Mulwray, Cross's former business partner, son-in-law, and victim. Each sentence

follows up like gear works and the transitions just flow. On top of it, the actors

(Jack Nicholson and John Huston) deliver so masterfully that the conversation

invites memorizing.

                      CROSS

          You've got a nasty reputation, Mr. Gitts. I like that.

                      GITTES

          Thanks.     

                      CROSS

          If you were a bank president that

          would be one thing, but in your

          business it's admirable.

          And it's good advertising.

                      GITTES

          It doesn't hurt.

                      CROSS

          It's why you attract a client like my daughter.

                      GITTES

          Probably.   

                      CROSS

          But I'm surprised you're still working

          for her, unless she's suddenly

          come up with another husband.

                      GITTES

          No. She happens to think the last

          one was murdered.

                      CROSS

          How did she, uh, get that idea?

                      GITTES

          I think I gave it to her.

                      CROSS (looking closely at the fish served up for Gittes)

          I hope you don't mind.

          I believe they should be served with the head.

                      GITTES

          Fine, as long as you don't serve

          chicken that way.

                      CROSS (chuckling)

          Tell me, what do the police say?

          ...

Its late producer, Robert Evans, used to say that not only Chinatown held up,

but it was getting better with time. By 2021, 47 years had passed. Searching

online the other day, I learnt that the script was ranked number three in the

Writer's Guild of America West's top 101 greatest screenplays and youtube videos

and blogs rushed to explain its success. The top five included also Casablanca,

The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and All About Eye and among these, I had watched

the first three. The Godfather was memorable, but I liked Chinatown better.

Evans seemed to be right.