Editing Chinatown (1974 film) (section)

==Legacy==
''Chinatown'' is widely regarded as one of the most influential films of the 20th century, particularly noted for its screenplay by Robert Towne, which has been frequently cited as one of the greatest ever written.<ref name="inter" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Writers Guild of America, West |title=101 Greatest Screenplays |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813151310/http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807 |archive-date=August 13, 2006 |access-date=November 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Writers Store |title=Chinatown & The Last Detail: 2 Screenplays |url=http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=134 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212185411/http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=134 |archive-date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2009}}</ref> The script is renowned for its narrative structure, character development, and integration of personal and political themes. Despite Towne's significant contribution, the film's final scene was changed by director Roman Polanski, who insisted on a more pessimistic ending. Towne had originally conceived an alternative conclusion in which Evelyn kills her father and is imprisoned, unable to reveal the truth, while Jake Gittes remains silent. Polanski, however, opted for a starker ending, in which Evelyn is killed and her daughter is taken by Noah Cross. Towne initially objected, describing Polanski's version as overly melodramatic, but later acknowledged its effectiveness, stating, "Roman was right."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sragow |first=Michael |date=January 7, 1999 |title=From Chinatown to Niketown |url=http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/from-chinatown-to-niketown/Content?oid=1471805 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118041805/http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/from-chinatown-to-niketown/Content?oid=1471805 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |newspaper=Cleveland Scene}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Crow |first=Jonathan |date=April 4, 2012 |title='Chinatown' screenwriter Robert Towne talks about movies, history and Los Angeles |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/chinatown-screenwriter-robert-towne-talks-yahoo-movies-192618161.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116204346/https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/chinatown-screenwriter-robert-towne-talks-yahoo-movies-192618161.html |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |publisher=Yahoo Inc.}}</ref>

The film's closing line—"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."—has since become one of the most iconic lines in American cinema and is frequently referenced in popular culture as a symbol of fatalism and moral ambiguity. ''Chinatown'' has been credited with revitalizing the film noir genre, blending classical noir elements with 1970s sensibilities and themes of political corruption, institutional failure, and trauma. Its visual style, characterized by subdued colors, natural lighting, and restrained cinematography, has been influential in both academic film studies and contemporary filmmaking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yes, 'Chinatown' Is That Good {{!}} No Film School |url=https://nofilmschool.com/chinatown-movie |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=nofilmschool.com |language=en}}</ref>

The film also drew public attention to historical events involving the [[California water wars]], particularly the controversial diversion of water from the Owens Valley to supply Los Angeles in the early 20th century.<ref>hoover.org, [http://www.hoover.org/publications/hoover-digest/article/7468 Chinatown Revisited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908053600/http://www.hoover.org/publications/hoover-digest/article/7468|date=September 8, 2012}}, April 30, 2005, retrieved November 24, 2010</ref> The fictional narrative was inspired in part by these real-life events, and scholars have noted the film's commentary on land speculation, environmental exploitation, and civic corruption. More recent analyses have framed ''Chinatown'' as a broader critique of patriarchal control and capital-driven urban development, with contemporary critics drawing parallels between its themes and ongoing socio-political issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaughan |first=Liam |date=2024-01-26 |title=The Tricky History Behind Making 'Chinatown' |url=https://collider.com/chinatown-movie-production-drama/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref>

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the film has continued to receive critical reappraisal. Outlets such as ''[[BBC Online|BBC Culture]]'', ''[[Screen Rant]]'', and the ''[[Los Angeles Review of Books]]'' have reaffirmed its cultural and cinematic relevance, emphasizing its enduring legacy in shaping modern noir and political thrillers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-21 |title=Chinatown: The real-life California scandal that inspired the iconic Los Angeles thriller |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240620-the-real-life-california-scandal-that-inspired-the-iconic-los-angeles-thriller |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Redding |first=Shane |date=2022-02-02 |title=Chinatown: 8 Ways It Still Holds Up Today |url=https://screenrant.com/chinatown-ways-it-still-holds-up-today/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title="Chinatown" at 50, or Seeing Oil Through Cinema |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/chinatown-at-50-or-seeing-oil-through-cinema/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Los Angeles Review of Books}}</ref>