Chinatown (1974) - A look at paranoia in the movie

Chinatown is a 1974 movie directed by Roman Polanski. It circles around main character Jake J. Grittes (played by Jack Nicholson) who is a private detective that finds himself caught up in events involving depict, murder, and corruption after being hired to expose an adulterer. One of this film’s most noticeable paranoia creating devices, is in fact it’s lack of (or more accurately very well hidden) paranoia devices. It uses simplicity and subliminal details to pull together the essence of this film.

One example of this, is the costume choices made by costume designer Anthea Sylbert as she dressed the character Evelyn Mulwray (played by Faye Dunaway) in dark clothing in the movie to represent the morning of her husband as the group in the audio commentary did an excellent job of discussing along with their notice and idea in regards to the black net fascinator hat veil she wears as if to hide her expressions as she lies to the detective in the begging of the movie. In the audio commentary, it was also discussed as to how Jake’s bandage is in a way used to do the exact same thing as Evelyn’s fascinator hat whilst also giving him an edge of stern and toughness. What I would like to add to that however, is it is only once Jake’s bandage is finally removed that Evelyn finally begins to venture into the lighter and lighter colored garments as her and Jake grow closer together.

Another way that director creates paranoia by sticking to the subliminal and subtle, is by his use of creating a repetition of themes of everything coming in either opposites or doubles. Some examples of this movie’s use of doubles is the naming of Echo Park, the way Evelyn is both Jake’s client and lover, how Cross is both her father and her mate, and Jake having two watches under Mulwray’s car. Now whilst the audio commentary did not talk much about this, they did however take some notice into the movie’s theme of opposites such as how no one in the movie wants to cause trouble but always ends up finding it anyways. Another example of this is how disrespectful Jake is towards women, however throughout the entire movie he is constantly searching for or seeking the help or information from these women. He has no respect for them and yet he needs them.

To conclude, even though this movie does make use of lighting and sound to aid it along, it always makes excellent use of the simple and subliminal things such as costumes and the repetition of themes to help aid it in terms of paranoia. None of these things immediately jump out or appear of major importance nor do they resort to special effects or outrageous stunts as we have seen in prior movies, but have instead have been neatly stitched together to create this critically acclaimed and noteworthy movie.

Watch the trailer here: