Chinatown

Chinatown Movie poster Country United States Directed by Roman Polanski Release Date 1974 Language English Cantonese Spanish Studio Paramount Pictures Distributor Paramount Pictures Main Cast Character Actor J.J. Gittes Jack Nicholson Evelyn Cross Mulwray Faye Dunaway Lt. Lou Escobar Perry Lopez Noah Cross John Huston Claude Mulvihill Roy Jenson Det. Loach Richard Bakalyan Russ Yelburton John Hillerman

Chinatown is the 1974 noir classic directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson as Jake J. (often "J.J.") Gittes, a former police officer and Los Angeles private investigator in the late 1930s who uncovers a conspiracy while conducting surveillance on a man suspected of adultery. The film's cast included John Huston, Faye Dunaway, and Roman Polanski in a cameo role. The film would gain widespread acclaim, receiving eleven Academy Award nominations with one win for Robert Towne for Best Original Screenplay, and to this day is considered one of the best screenplays ever by critics. Nicholson would reprise his role as Gittes in the 1990 sequel The Two Jakes, which he also directed.

The following weapons were used in the film Chinatown:

Revolvers

Colt Detective Special

Gittes disarms Claude Mulvihill (Roy Jenson) of a Colt Detective Special when the two fight at the retirement home. LAPD Det. Loach (Richard Bakalyan) also draws one later.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen - .38 Special

Mulvihill's Detective Special falls to the ground.

Loach levels his revolver at a fleeing suspect.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

LAPD Lt. Lou Escobar (Perry Lopez) draws a Smith & Wesson Model 10 service revolver during the finale, firing two warning shots in the air.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver - .38 Special

Escobar aims his Model 10 revolver.

Pistols

Astra Firecat

Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) draws a Astra Firecat during the finale at the Chinatown section of LA, a stand-in for the rarer pocket pistols by Colt and Browning from the early 20th century. The gun is very small but a few details allow it's identification.

Astra 200 "Firecat" - 6.35mm. Note the barely noticeable humps at the top of the slide on the front and rear, angled slide serrations and the lever near the trigger.

Evelyn aims her pistol. Once again, barely noticeable hump where a front sight should be, and a detail right in front of Dunaway's thumb (i.e. the lever).

Evelyn holds her pistol.

A sideview of the pistol. Note the button between Dunaway's trigger finger and the ejector. Also, a darker groove at the rear, above the serrations.

Shotguns

12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun

When J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) goes to investigate the orange groves, he is shot at by farmers with double barreled shotguns who mistake him for a saboteur.

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 gauge

A farmer damages Gittes' car with a shot.

The oldest farmer holds his shotgun as he asks Gittes why he is in the valley.