#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
At the time of its release in June 1974, the most famous actor in Chinatown was Jack Nicholson. While the film featured other major stars, Nicholson was at the absolute peak of his "New Hollywood" fame, having recently completed a streak of critically acclaimed and commercially successful roles that made him the definitive face of the era.
Why Jack Nicholson was the Most Famous
By 1974, Nicholson was considered the premiere leading man of his generation. Unlike older legends or fading stars, he had captured the cultural zeitgeist with several consecutive Academy Award-nominated performances.
- Momentum: In the five years leading up to Chinatown, Nicholson had received three Oscar nominations (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and The Last Detail).
- The Role: The character of J.J. "Jake" Gittes was written specifically for him by screenwriter Robert Towne, a testament to his status as the industry's most sought-after talent.
- Contemporary Fame: While his co-star Faye Dunaway was also a top-tier star, and John Huston was a living legend of cinema, Nicholson was the "box office draw" that the film was marketed around.
Notable Films (Prior to/Around 1974)
Before Chinatown solidified his status as a legendary leading man, Nicholson starred in several films that defined 1970s cinema:
- Easy Rider (1969): His breakout role as George Hanson, an alcoholic civil liberties lawyer. This performance earned him his first Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actor) and transformed him from a B-movie actor into a counterculture icon.
- Five Easy Pieces (1970): Nicholson played Robert Eroica Dupea, a former piano prodigy working in oil fields. This film established his persona as a "charismatic rebel" and earned him his first Best Actor nomination.
- Carnal Knowledge (1971): A controversial and dark comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols, where he played Jonathan Fuerst. The film was a major critical success and showcased his range in more cynical, complex roles.
- The Last Detail (1973): Released just months before Chinatown, he played "Badass" Buddusky, a cynical Navy sailor. He won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for this role and received his third Oscar nomination.
Other Notable Cast Members
While Nicholson was the primary star, the film’s "fame profile" was bolstered by two other icons:
- Faye Dunaway (Evelyn Mulwray): She was one of the most famous actresses in the world, having starred in the landmark film "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) and the stylish heist film "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968). Chinatown was seen as a major career resurgence for her.
- John Huston (Noah Cross): Although appearing as an actor in the film, Huston was most famous as one of the greatest directors in Hollywood history, known for "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) and "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948). His presence gave the film a direct link to the classic film noir era it was homaging.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Chinatown was released in the US on June 20, 1974.
[2] Jack Nicholson was widely considered the biggest male star of the 'New Hollywood' movement in 1974.
[3] Nicholson received Oscar nominations for Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970), and The Last Detail (1973) prior to Chinatown.
[4] Screenwriter Robert Towne wrote the script with his friend Jack Nicholson specifically in mind for the lead role.
[5] In Easy Rider, Nicholson played George Hanson, an alcoholic ACLU lawyer.
[6] In Five Easy Pieces, Nicholson played Robert Eroica Dupea, a former piano prodigy working as an oil rigger.
[7] Nicholson played Jonathan Fuerst in Carnal Knowledge (1971).
[8] The Last Detail was released in December 1973 (limited) and February 1974 (wide), just months before Chinatown (June 1974).
[9] Nicholson won Best Actor at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival (May 1974) for The Last Detail.
[10] Faye Dunaway starred as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967).
[11] Faye Dunaway starred in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968).
[12] After a series of box office disappointments in the early 1970s (e.g., The Arrangement, Doc), Chinatown was considered a major comeback for Dunaway.
[13] John Huston directed The Maltese Falcon (1941).
[14] John Huston directed and won Oscars for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 Did Jack Nicholson win an Oscar for Chinatown?
#02 What awards did Chinatown win?
#03 Did Faye Dunaway win an Oscar for Chinatown?
At the time of its release in June 1974, the most famous actor in *Chinatown* was **Jack Nicholson**. While the film featured other major stars, Nicholson was at the absolute peak of his "New Hollywood" fame, having recently completed a streak of critically acclaimed and commercially successful roles that made him the definitive face of the era.
### Why Jack Nicholson was the Most Famous
By 1974, Nicholson was considered the premiere leading man of his generation. Unlike older legends or fading stars, he had captured the cultural zeitgeist with several consecutive Academy Award-nominated performances.
* **Momentum:** In the five years leading up to *Chinatown*, Nicholson had received **three Oscar nominations** (*Easy Rider*, *Five Easy Pieces*, and *The Last Detail*).
* **The Role:** The character of J.J. "Jake" Gittes was written specifically for him by screenwriter Robert Towne, a testament to his status as the industry's most sought-after talent.
* **Contemporary Fame:** While his co-star Faye Dunaway was also a top-tier star, and John Huston was a living legend of cinema, Nicholson was the "box office draw" that the film was marketed around.
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### Notable Films (Prior to/Around 1974)
Before *Chinatown* solidified his status as a legendary leading man, Nicholson starred in several films that defined 1970s cinema:
1. **Easy Rider (1969):** His breakout role as George Hanson, an alcoholic civil liberties lawyer. This performance earned him his first Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actor) and transformed him from a B-movie actor into a counterculture icon.
2. **Five Easy Pieces (1970):** Nicholson played Robert Eroica Dupea, a former piano prodigy working in oil fields. This film established his persona as a "charismatic rebel" and earned him his first Best Actor nomination.
3. **Carnal Knowledge (1971):** A controversial and dark comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols, where he played Jonathan Fuerst. The film was a major critical success and showcased his range in more cynical, complex roles.
4. **The Last Detail (1973):** Released just months before *Chinatown*, he played "Badass" Buddusky, a cynical Navy sailor. He won the Best Actor award at the **Cannes Film Festival** for this role and received his third Oscar nomination.
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### Other Notable Cast Members
While Nicholson was the primary star, the film’s "fame profile" was bolstered by two other icons:
* **Faye Dunaway (Evelyn Mulwray):** She was one of the most famous actresses in the world, having starred in the landmark film **"Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)** and the stylish heist film **"The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968)**. *Chinatown* was seen as a major career resurgence for her.
* **John Huston (Noah Cross):** Although appearing as an actor in the film, Huston was most famous as one of the greatest directors in Hollywood history, known for **"The Maltese Falcon" (1941)** and **"The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)**. His presence gave the film a direct link to the classic *film noir* era it was homaging.