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

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

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

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 | Murder | Revenge | Shot In The Stomach | Jump From Height

Awards:

3 wins

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

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:

444 S. Flower Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

SLM Production Group

Trivia:

After seeing the film, Michael Mann sued William Friedkin for plagiarism. He accused Friedkin of stealing the entire concept of "Miami Vice" (1984) and lost the lawsuit.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the final scene between Masters and Vukovich in the warehouse, after all the rounds have been fired, Vukovich keeps pulling the trigger. You also hear the sound of the pistol's hammer striking, but the cylinder of the revolver is not rotating.

Quotes:

Bianca Torres: I love the rain.
Max Waxman: Yeah, it's groovy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Angel: To Shanshu in L.A. (#1.22)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Independent Intavensman

A Great, Little Known Gem!

There are 'Cop films'. 'Buddy' films and 'Partner' films. This one is definitely in the 'Partner' category. With the same kind of magic that Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider shared in Freidken's 'The French Connection'... I just picked up and watched 'To Live And Die In L.A.' on DVD and had my socks knocked off for the umpteenth time!... Those expecting a standard, cookie cutter 'Cops & Robbers' film should go elsewhere. Friedken pulled out all the stops on this one! Taking a small budget and a clutch of then No-Name actors. Planting them in the sections of L.A. no one ever sees. And allowed them free rein to improvise, romp and play. And then, create some of their best work!.. William Petersen plays Secret Service Agent Rick Chance. Who hunts Artists/Conterfeiter/Con, Eric Masters. Played with clever, evil glee by Willem Dafoe, with a passion just short of Psychosis... The segments showing Dafoe making 'Funny Money' are as detailed and astounding as the scenes of him violently tidying up loose ends!... Toss in great location shots. A few startling chases. And a 'conscience' for Petersen, played by John Pankow as John Vukovich. A three-piece, by-the-book agent. Who follows his partner through the Counterfiet World of assorted crime, mayhem, and dirty deals. Into Dante's Inferno. Only to fully evolve in the last fifteen minutes of the film. That must be seen to believe!...