Mark Sullivan (AnonymeInc@webtv.net)
Wed, 22 Dec 1999 11:23:31 -0500 (EST)
Terrill wrote:
<<Towne's work also falls short of the high water mark
he set with CHINATOWN.>>
One thing I think is being overlooked in this Chinatown/Two
Jakes discussion is that Chinatown as shot has some very
distinct differences with Chinatown as written. There was a
highly contentious battle between Polanski and Towne, settled
by Evans in Polanski's favor, over certain elements in the
film. According to various interviews, Towne's original
script was far more specific about what happened to Jake in
Chinatown, but more importantly, the ending was completely
different. Evelyn Mulray shot her father dead and
silently/stoically stood trial while Jake whisked her
daughter away to Mexico.
It's been a while since I saw Two Jakes (in the theater when
it came out). I enjoyed it well enough, seeing old friends,
but was not blown away. This discussion will definitely get
me to check it out again. However, doesn't the daughter's
backstory in the sequel start with the written Chinatown,
that she had somehow gotten to Mexico and away from her
father/grandfather, after all?
I found it very interesting that the recent publication of
Towne's Chinatown script is the one on the screen. I was
really hoping to read the original, see the specifics of the
differences. Does anyone know if this is available
anywhere?
Mark
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