To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Gerald Petievich (novel)
William Friedkin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again!

Plot:

A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.

Plot Keywords:

Secret Service | Revenge | Murder | Gore | Neo Noir

Awards:

3 wins

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 7	8:00 PM	MAX
Sat. July 11	4:00 PM	MAX

Cast

William Petersen	...	Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen)
Willem Dafoe	...	Eric 'Rick' Masters
John Pankow	...	John Vukovich
Debra Feuer	...	Bianca Torres
John Turturro	...	Carl Cody
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Ruth Lanier
Dean Stockwell	...	Bob Grimes
Steve James	...	Jeff Rice
Robert Downey Sr.	...	Thomas Bateman (as Robert Downey)
Michael Greene	...	Jim Hart
Christopher Allport	...	Max Waxman
Jack Hoar	...	Jack
Valentin de Vargas	...	Judge Filo Cedillo (as Val DeVargas)
Dwier Brown	...	Doctor
Michael Chong	...	Thomas Ling
Jacqueline Giroux	...	Claudia Leith (as Jackely Giroux)
Michael Zand	...	Terrorist
Bobby Bass	...	FBI Agent
Dar Robinson	...	FBI Agent (as Dar Allen Robinson)
Anne Betancourt	...	Nurse
Katherine M. Louie	...	Ticket Agent
Edward Harrell	...	Airport Guard
Gilbert Espinoza	...	Bartender
John Petievich	...	Agent
Zarko Petievich	...	Agent
Rick Dalton	...	Agent
Richard L. Lane	...	Agent
Jack Cota	...	Agent
Shirley J. White	...	Airline Passenger
Gerald H. Brownlee	...	Visiting Room Guard
David M. DuFriend	...	Tower Guard
Rubén García	...	Inmate Ruben
Joe Duran	...	Prison Guard
Bufort McClerkins	...	Prison Inmate (as Buford McClerkins)
Gregg Dandridge	...	Prison Inmate
Donnie Williams	...	Rick's Friend
Earnest Hart Jr.	...	Rick's Friend
Thomas F. Duffy	...	Credit Card Counterfeiter
Gerald Petievich	...	Special Agent (as Gerry Petievich)
Mark Gash	...	Mark Gash
Pat McGroarty	...	Criminal
Brian Bradley	...	Tourist
Jane Leeves	...	Serena (as Jane Leaves)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Baltes	...	Driver (uncredited)
Gary Cole	...	Man chased by Richard Chance (uncredited)
Stevie Mack	...	Basketball Player (uncredited)

Directed by
William Friedkin

Writing credits
Gerald Petievich		(novel)
William Friedkin		(screenplay) &
Gerald Petievich		(screenplay)

Produced by
Irving H. Levin	....	producer
Samuel Schulman	....	executive producer
Bud S. Smith	....	co-producer (as Bud Smith)

Original Music by
Darren Costin		(as Wang Chung)
Nick Feldman		(as Wang Chung)
Jack Hues		(as Wang Chung)

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(director of photography) (as Robby Muller)

Film Editing by
M. Scott Smith		(as Scott Smith)

Casting by
Robert Weiner		(as Bob Weiner)

Production Design by
Lilly Kilvert

Art Direction by
Buddy Cone

Set Decoration by
Cricket Rowland

Costume Design by
Linda M. Bass		(as Linda Bass)

Makeup Department
Jeff Dawn	....	head makeup artist (as Jefferson Dawn)
Peter Tothpal	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John J. Smith	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director
Bob Roe	....	second assistant director
Bud S. Smith	....	second unit director (as Bud Smith)

Art Department
Raymond Camaioni	....	carpenter
Dins W.W. Danielsen	....	assistant art director (as Dins Danielson)
Rainer Fetting	....	painter: Masters' paintings
Amanda J. Flick	....	painter (as Amanda Flick)
Dennis Hoerter	....	carpenter
Richard K. Hummel	....	assistant set decorator (as Richard Hummel)
Jon Hutman	....	set dresser
Portia Iversen	....	assistant set decorator (as Portia Iverson)
William C. Jones	....	carpenter (as William Jones)
Gavin McCune	....	carpenter
John Stadelman	....	set dresser
Frank Viviano	....	construction coordinator
David E. Harshbarger	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Bushelman	....	sound effects editor
Mike Dobie	....	sound effects editor (as Michael Dobie)
Jean-Louis Ducarme	....	sound recordist (as Jean-Louis DuCarme)
Louis L. Edemann	....	sound effects editor
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
J. Paul Huntsman	....	dialogue editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christopher Jenkins)
Rodger Pardee	....	sound recordist
Craig Clark	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Larry Kemp	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects (as Phil Corey)

Stunts
Jeb Stuart Adams	....	stunts (as Jeb Adams)
Carl L. Anderson	....	stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Billy Bates	....	stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (as Ken Bates)
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Bobby Burns	....	stunts (as Bobby Andrew Burns)
William H. Burton	....	stunts (as Bill Burton)
David Carlton	....	stunts
John Casino	....	stunts
Phil Chong	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts
Ray Colbert	....	stunts
Clarke Coleman	....	stunts
Jim Connors	....	stunts
Wally Crowder	....	stunts
Tim Culbertson	....	stunts
Jay C. Currin	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts
Tim A. Davison	....	stunts
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts (as Justin DeRosa)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts
Doc Duhame	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunts
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
Erik Felix	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts (as Gloria Fioramanti)
Pat Green	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts
Orwin C. Harvey	....	stunts
Steve Holladay	....	stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts (as Larry E. Holt)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill [Hank] Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator: driving and chase sequences
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Hugh Hooker	....	stunts (as Hugh M. Hooker)
Richard Hooker	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Thomas J. Huff)
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunts (as Lamont Jackson)
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Pat E. Johnson	....	stunt coordinator: fight sequences
Matt Johnston	....	stunts (as Matt Johnson)
Donna Keegan	....	stunts (as Donna M. Keegan)
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts
Pat McGroarty	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Pat J. McNamara	....	stunts
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
Charly Morgan	....	stunts (as Charly Marie Morgan)
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunts (as Manuel Perry)
Jon Conrad Pochron	....	stunts (as Jon Pochran)
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Cyndi Lee Rice	....	stunts (as Cynthia Lee Rice)
Jean Riddel	....	stunts
Vernon Rieta	....	stunts
Dar Robinson	....	stunts (as Dar Allen Robinson)
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunts (as Patrick Romano)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronald Rondell)
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts
Michael Runyard	....	stunts (as Mike Runyard)
George A. Sack Jr.	....	stunts
Ray Saniger	....	stunts
Dennis Scott	....	stunts (as Dennis R. Scott)
Keith Tellez	....	stunts
David Welch	....	stunts (as David H. Welch)
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Alan Baltes	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Dan Koko	....	stunt safety (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Bob Field	....	electrician (as Robert Field)
Kevin Galbraith	....	electrician
Greg Gardiner	....	chief lighting technician
Bill Guerre	....	grip
Scott Guthrie	....	best boy electric
Tim Moore	....	grip (as Timothy Moore)
Jane O'Neal	....	still photographer
Les Percy	....	best boy grip (as Lesley Percy)
Robert D. Yeoman	....	director of photography: second unit (as Robert Yeoman)
Henry Minski	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Vance Piper	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jonathan Sharpe	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Newton TerMeer	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Gary M. Zuckerbrod	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susie DeSanto	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Sonny Baskin	....	assistant film editor
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Aubrey Head	....	color timer
Jere Huggins	....	additional editor
Joe Mosca	....	assistant film editor (as Joseph Mosca)
Richard Ritchie	....	color timer (as Dick Ritchie)
Bud S. Smith	....	supervising editor
Jill Smith	....	assistant film editor

Transportation Department
Richard M. Brasic	....	transportation captain (as Richard Brasic)
Jeff F. Renfro	....	transportation coordinator (as Jeffrey Renfro)
Olivia Varnado	....	transportation captain
Jack Carpenter	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Ralph D. Carpenter	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Hugh Kelly	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Cherise Bates	....	dancer (as Cherise Bate)
Barry Bedig	....	consultant
Cynthia Chvatal	....	assistant: William Friedkin (as Cindy Chvatal)
Shaun Earl	....	dancer
Pablo Ferro	....	consultant
Lesli Linka Glatter	....	choreographer
Diana Gold	....	post-production auditor
Michael Healy	....	location manager
Michael Helfand	....	assistant location manager
Michael Higgins	....	dancer (as Michael W. Higgins)
Robert Jellen	....	insurance provider: Albert G. Ruben & Company, Inc. (as Bob Jellen)
Adele Joseph	....	assistant: William Friedkin
Chris Latanzi	....	dancer (as Chris Lattanzi)
Jane Leeves	....	dancer (as Jane Leaves)
Betsy Oliver Luhrsen	....	production secretary
Dianne Mapp-Cheek	....	production coordinator (as Dianne Lisa Cheek)
Gil Miller	....	institutional coordinator: prison
Larry Rovetti	....	lab consultant
Jackie Saunders	....	script supervisor
Michelle Troxell	....	assistant to producer (as Michele Troxell)
Woody Wilcoxan	....	technical advisor: prison
Bill Bennett	....	terra-flite operator (uncredited)
Terry Edinger	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Gerald Petievich	....	police technical advisor (uncredited)
Theresa Shepherd	....	caterer (uncredited)
Mike Sudrow	....	weapons specialist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• SLM Production Group
• New Century Productions

Distributors

• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (video)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Vestron Video

Other Companies

• Geffen Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Police fédérale, Los Angeles (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Viver E Morrer em Los Angeles (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Änglarnas stad (Sweden) (video title) [sv]
Änglarnas stad - Los Angeles (Sweden) [sv]
Brottsplats Los Angeles (Sweden) (TV title) [sv]
Elää ja kuolla L.A.:ssa (Finland) [fi]
L.A. daisosasen -- Ôkami-tachi no machi (Japan) [ja]
Leben und sterben in L.A. (West Germany) [de]
O anthropos apo to Los Angeles (Greece) (festival title) [el]
Vivere e morire a Los Angeles (Italy) [it]
Vivir y morir en Los Ángeles (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

116 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Singapore:M18 | USA:R (certificate #27848) | Australia:R | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1987) | Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

6th Street Bridge, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

SLM Production Group

Trivia:

Legendary cinematographer Robby Müller declined to shoot the car chase because he didn't know how to set up such a scene. He was replaced by second unit cameraman Robert D. Yeoman.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the original 1985 theater release, there was a large shadow of the crew and equipment visible on the ground as John Vukovich approaches the warehouse with Chinese character.

Quotes:

Thomas Bateman: [to Chance and Vukovich] You're not the first agents to get next to Masters.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Rank & File

A gem of the action genre.

A flawed but compelling tale, one that derives its success despite and perhaps because of the decade it was born into. As Director Friedkin points out in the documentary that's included with the DVD, the movie acknowledges and celebrates the "counterfeit" aspects of our lives but some of the ideas floating around here are so outlandishly amateurish and cornball - like the artist/criminal Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe) who gazes into the painted reflection of his own tormented self before setting fire to it - that it rivals the local high school drama production for sheer profundity.

Wang Chung synth-pop and Peckinpah violence lace the film and it will induce Grand-Theft Auto flashbacks when the gaming crowd watches Richard Chance (yes, that's William L. Peterson, our stoic CSI man - 20 years younger and 40 lbs. lighter) stroll into a strip club. There is energy here - the same type of kinetic existentialism from Mann's _Heat_ and this _Miami-Vice_transplantation succeeds (cheese and all) because of the commitment to and abandonment of the genre's repertoire of clichés - the obligatory car chase is here (although it's a good one), and the cops-on-the-edge thing is not unfamiliar.

Yes, this is a hackneyed action flick but cinematographer Robby Muller's picturesquely captures the city's essence (forgive me Angelenos). L.A. is the main character of this story and despite the inevitable ending the viewer is left with a warm, nostalgic feeling not only for this great city but for the many times we've drifted through L.A.'s phantom-like streets in countless other movies and in our own imaginations.