Maps of Movies

Chinatown (1974)

Where Chinatown says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

The 'Oak Pass' reservoir, the 'Brown Derby' and the dry riverbed from a 1937 water-war noir were all filmed somewhere else in Los Angeles

Scenes and places

The water meeting at City Hall (1937)

Gittes trails Hollis Mulwray, the city's water chief, to a public meeting about a new reservoir. The fight over water, the film's engine, shows itself here.

Set in Los Angeles City Hall — A public meeting about a potential aqueduct, the first stop in Gittes's tail on Hollis Mulwray. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The landmark tower at Civic Center that housed city government.

Filmed at Los Angeles City Hall (Civic Center, Los Angeles, United States) — Plays itself in the aqueduct-meeting scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The dry riverbed (1937)

Gittes follows Hollis out to a dry riverbed and watches him study it. In a drought city, the water shortage starts to look odd.

Set in Dry riverbed — A parched riverbed that Gittes follows Hollis to.

A concrete flood channel bridge in the north San Fernando Valley.

The cliffside park (1937)

Hollis's tail ends at a cliffside park by the sea, where he stays the night while Gittes's side watches.

Set in Point Fermin Park (San Pedro) — The cliffside park where Hollis ends his tailed day, with a cafe nearby. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A clifftop park on the San Pedro coast with a view of the Pacific.

Filmed at Point Fermin Park, San Pedro (San Pedro, Los Angeles, United States) — Hollis stays the night here during the tail. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Outside the Pig 'n Whistle (1937)

Hollis argues with Noah Cross on the street while Gittes's associate takes photos. It shows the two men were close, and angry.

Set in Pig 'n Whistle (street outside) — Gittes's associate photographs Hollis and Noah Cross arguing here.

A restaurant on West 6th Street Downtown.

The rowboat on Echo Park Lake (1937)

Gittes poses as a photographer on the lake to snap Hollis with a young woman. The pictures reach the newspapers and expose Hollis's apparent affair.

Set in Echo Park Lake — Hollis and a young woman take a rowboat out on the lake. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A city lake in the Echo Park neighbourhood.

Filmed at Echo Park Lake (Echo Park, Los Angeles, United States) — Where the boating scene was shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The courtyard roof (1937)

Gittes climbs a tile roof to photograph Hollis with the young woman. The pictures he takes are the start of his trouble.

Set in El Macondo Apartments — A courtyard apartment complex, with a tile roof Gittes climbs to photograph Hollis.

A courtyard apartment complex designed by Arthur and Nina Zwebell.

Evelyn Mulwray's mansion (1937)

Gittes visits the real Evelyn at her estate, after she has threatened to sue. He returns later to hide with her, and they sleep together.

Set in Evelyn Mulwray's mansion — The posh estate where the real Evelyn Mulwray lives.

A Spanish-style estate in Pasadena.

The Oak Pass reservoir (1937)

Hollis's body is found in a reservoir. Gittes learns that huge amounts of water are being let out at night, in the middle of a drought.

Set in Oak Pass Reservoir — The reservoir where Hollis is found dead.

A reservoir in the hills above Bel Air.

Filmed at Stone Canyon Reservoir (Bel Air, Los Angeles, United States) — Plays the Oak Pass reservoir. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The Brown Derby (1937)

Gittes and Evelyn meet for drinks to trade what they know. A valet fetches their cars outside.

Set in The Brown Derby — The Hollywood restaurant where Gittes and Evelyn meet for drinks.

A famous Los Angeles restaurant, long gone; the interior used a bar in Koreatown.

Filmed at Millennium Biltmore limo ramp, 506 S Grand Ave (Downtown, Los Angeles, United States) — Plays the Brown Derby valet. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The retirement home (1937)

Gittes and Evelyn bluff their way into a retirement home where one dead man's name appears on a land deal. They find the residents are named buyers who do not know it.

Set in Mar Vista Rest Home — A retirement home whose residents are listed as land buyers. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A former care home for Eastern Star members, now a girls' school.

Filmed at Eastern Star Home (now Archer School for Girls), 11725 Sunset Blvd (Brentwood, Los Angeles, United States) — Plays the Mar Vista Rest Home. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Katherine's house (1937)

Late that night Gittes follows Evelyn to a house where she comforts the missing girl. Evelyn says the girl is her sister, Katherine.

Set in Katherine's house — A bungalow where Evelyn comforts the missing girl.

A Craftsman bungalow near Beachwood Canyon.

Ida Sessions's apartment (1937)

A call from Lieutenant Escobar brings Gittes here, where Ida has been murdered. Hollis's lungs show he did not drown in the reservoir.

Set in Ida Sessions's apartment — A courtyard apartment in Echo Park.

A courtyard apartment in the Echo Park neighbourhood.

The boat to Catalina (1937)

Gittes takes a boat to see the rich Noah Cross, whose offer to double his fee set the whole thing going. He is about to learn the man behind it.

Set in Catalina Island (Noah Cross) — Gittes boats over to Catalina to visit Noah Cross. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A circular casino building on Avalon Bay.

Filmed at Catalina Casino, Avalon (Avalon, Los Angeles, United States) — Where Gittes arrives by boat. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Chinatown (1937)

Gittes arranges for the women to flee to Mexico and tells Evelyn to meet him at her butler's address in Chinatown.

Set in Chinatown — The butler's address in Chinatown, where Gittes tells Evelyn to meet him. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Los Angeles neighbourhood that gives the film its name.

Characters

• J. J. 'Jake' Gittes — A private investigator who takes a routine case and finds a conspiracy over water.
• Evelyn Mulwray — The widow of the city's water chief, who becomes Gittes's client.
• Noah Cross — Evelyn's wealthy father and a former partner of Hollis Mulwray.

Questions answered on the map

• Where is the dry riverbed in Chinatown really?
• Where was the Brown Derby scene in Chinatown filmed?
• Which reservoir played Oak Pass in Chinatown?