Chinatown (1974)

dir. Roman Polanski

The dry riverbed – Big Tujunga Wash, Foothill Boulevard just south of W. Conover Street, San Fernando Valley, California.

Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) following Hollis Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling) – Point Fermin Park, S. Gaffey Street at W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, California

While trailing Mulwray, Gittes discovers that water is dumped into the sea at night – Sunken City, San Pedro, California. In 1929, the 600 block of Paseo Del Mar began slipping to the sea and the movement, measured up to 11 inches a day, continued until the mid-1930s. The houses were moved but the eastern section of Point Fermin Park was lost and the terrain is very unstable. The area is closed but can still be observed from Point Fermin Park at W. Paseo Del Mar and Gaffey Street.

Jake’s car is parked near Walker’s Cafe, 700 West Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, California.

Gittes takes pictures of Mulwray and the girl – Echo Park Lake, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California.

Gittes spying on Mulwray and the girl at ‘El Macondo Apartments’– 1400-1414 Havenhurst Drive, Los Angeles, California.

Evelyn Mulwray’s (Faye Dunaway) mansion – 1315 S. El Molino Drive, South Pasadena, California

The reservoir where Hollis Mulwray’s body is found – Stone Canyon Reservoir, north of Bel Air and west of N. Beverly Glen Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The reservoir is closed to the public, but can be viewed from Stone Canyon Overlook on Mulholland Drive.

Jake accuses Evelyn of not being open about her husband’s case - Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California. It's the side lane between Olive Street and S. Grand Avenue.

Jake comes to meet with Noah Cross (John Huston) – Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California. The white building in the background is the Casino, the island’s most recognizable landmark. Despite its name, it’s not a gambling place, and it hosts a ballroom, a movie theater and a museum.

'Albacore Club' – Tuna Club, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California.

Jake having lunch with Cross – Portuguese Bend Riding Club, 40 Narcissa Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Many thanks to Tovangar2 for the correction.

‘Mar Vista Rest Home’ – Archer School for Girls, 11725 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

The girl’s house – 1972 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, California

Ida Sessions’ (Diana Ladd) apartment – 848 1/2 E. Kensington Road, Los Angeles, California

Curly’s (Burt Young) house – 5030 Lemon Grove Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Gittes and Cross arrive in Chinatown – 675 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, California.

N. Spring Street looking toward Ord Street, Los Angeles, California.

N. Spring Street looking toward Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, California

See also...

L.A. Confidential

The Long Goodbye

Crash (2004)

dir. Paul Haggis

Vine Street looking south toward Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The Capitol Records Tower is one of the city's landmarks, often used in establishing shots to indicate where the action takes place. According to local lore, the building was designed to resemble a giant stack of records with a stylus on top. The red light atop the spire continuously flashes the word "Hollywood" in Morse code.

DA Rick Cabot (Brendan Fraser) and his wife (Sandra Bullock) are carjacked by Anthony (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) and Peter (Larenz Tate) – 1036C-D Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Detectives Graham Waters (Don Cheadle) and his partner Ria (Jennifer Esposito) arrive at a shooting scene – 1014 Wilmington Avenue, Wilmington, California.

DA Cabot’s house – 342 10th Street, Santa Monica, California. This was writer/director Paul Haggis’ house at the time. The filmmaker decided to use it when the budget was running out.

LAPD officer John Ryan (Matt Dillon) makes a phone call from a diner – Carney’s, 12601 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, California.

Ryan and his partner Tom Hansen (Ryan Phillippe) pull over a car, and subject the owners, TV director Cameron Thayer (Terrence Howard) and his wife Christine (Thandie Newton), to a pat-down – Radford Avenue at Hoffman Street, Studio City, California. CBS Studio Center at 4032 Radford Avenue is seen on the right.

The Iranian store – N. Avalon Boulevard at E. C Street, Wilmington, California. The filmmakers used the vacant premises and dressed them as a shop.

Anthony and Peter run over a Korean man – E. C Street at N. Broad Avenue, Wilmington, California

Ventura Boulevard at Laurel Terrace Drive looking east, Los Angeles, California.

The DA’s office – Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, California.

Anthony and Peter visit their criminal associate - 13107 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Anthony and Peter argue about taking a bus – 12819 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

The TV studio where Cameron works – Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California.

The police station – 6850 Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, California.

Officer Ryan rescues Christine from a burning car – S. Gaffey Street at W. 36th Street, San Pedro, California.

Cameron is carjacked by Peter and Anthony – Ranchito Avenue at La Maida, Sherman Oaks, California.

The confrontation between Cameron and the police – 5177 Costello Avenue, Sherman Oaks, California.

Cameron drops off Anthony – Rhodes Avenue at Ventura Court, Los Angeles, California.

Daniel’s (Michael Peña) house – 6317 Elgin Street, Eagle Rock, California.

Tom Hansen torches his car – C Street at N. Broad Avenue, Wilmington, California

Anthony sets the Asian captives free – N. Broadway at Ord Street, Los Angeles, California