To Live and Die in L.A. (film)
| To Live and Die in L.A. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | William Friedkin |
| Written by | Gerald Petievich (novel and screenplay) William Friedkin |
| Produced by | Irving H. Levin |
| Starring | William L. Petersen Willem Dafoe John Pankow Debra Feuer John Turturro |
| Cinematography | Robby Müller |
| Music by | Wang Chung (band) |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release dates | November 1, 1985 (U.S. release) |
Running time | 116 min. |
| Language | English |
To Live and Die in L.A. is an action/thriller movie released in 1985. It was directed by William Friedkin and starred William L. Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Turturro and John Pankow. It is based on a novel by former Secret Service Agent Gerald Petievich.
After the film was released, Michael Mann would sue William Friedkin for plagiarism. He accused Friedkin for taking the concept of his television series Miami Vice. Mann would lose the lawsuit. Template:Spoiler Richard Chance, a hot-shot Federal Secret Service Agent (played by Petersen), begins a personal vendetta against Rick Masters, a master counterfeiter (played by Dafoe), who killed Chance's partner. Chance vows to his new partner (played by Pankow), that he'll do anything to avenge his old partner. His reckless vendetta leads him to commit blackmail, strong-arm convicts and even major robberies. His obsession becomes more important to him than the law that he is supposed to uphold.
The film is a fine example of modern film noir. The memorable soundtrack was done by the band Wang Chung.
Trivia
- The filmmakers themselves would be in trouble with the law during the course of the filming. Because William Friedkin insisted everything be portrayed with extreme accuracy, actual counterfeit bills were printed during film production.
- The shot of William L. Petersen running along the metal railings of a moving sidewalk in LAX got the filmmakers into trouble with the airport security. The airport had prohibited this action, mainly for Petersen's safety, as they felt that their insurance wouldn't have covered him had he hurt himself.
- The infamous backwards car chase on a freeway was William Friedkin's attempt to outdo the car chase from his previous film, The French Connection.
- The same car chase was actually filmed by reversing the flow of traffic, so in reality, both sides are actually driving in the wrong direction, while the stunt car is driving on the correct side of the freeway.
- Gary Sinise was considered for the role of Richard Chance. When he didn't get the part, he recommended William Petersen to William Friedkin.
- The climatic scene in which Chance is killed was not very well-received by MGM executives, according to William Friedkin on the Special Edition DVD. To satisfy the studio, he shot a second ending, in which Chance is shot in the stomach and lives, and then a different scene in which Chance and Vukovich, for reasons unexplained, are transferred to Alaska, and watch their boss Patrick Bateman being interviewed on TV. Friedkin was disgusted by the new ending, and kept the original.
Quotes
- Richard Chance: Let me tell you something, amigo. I'm gonna bag Masters, and I don't give a shit how I do it.
- Ruth Lanier: It's my fault he's dead? It took me six months to get next to him. I got expenses, you know.
- Richard Chance: Guess what? Uncle Sam don't give a shit about your expenses. You want bread, fuck a baker.
- Eric 'Rick' Masters: You have my word you won't have to do the whole nickel.
- Carl Cody: What does that mean?
- Eric 'Rick' Masters: Grimes is the best lawyer in the state. It'll either be an appeal bond or a sentence reduction.
- Carl Cody: And the check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth . . .