8.3/10
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639 user 191 critic

L.A. Confidential (1997)

As corruption grows in 1950s LA, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.

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Writers:

(novel), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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1,013 ( 29)
Top Rated Movies #107 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 85 wins & 78 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
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Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
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Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen
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Storyline

1950's Los Angeles is the seedy backdrop for this intricate noir-ish tale of police corruption and Hollywood sleaze. Three very different cops are all after the truth, each in their own style: Ed Exley, the golden boy of the police force, willing to do almost anything to get ahead, except sell out; Bud White, ready to break the rules to seek justice, but barely able to keep his raging violence under control; and Jack Vincennes, always looking for celebrity and a quick buck until his conscience drives him to join Exley and White down the one-way path to find the truth behind the dark world of L.A. crime. Written by Greg Bole <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

It's a crime saga that will shock you. It's a mystery that will keep you guessing. It's a thriller that will keep you riveted. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

19 September 1997 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Los Ángeles al desnudo  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,211,198, 21 September 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$64,616,940

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$126,216,940
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The photos seen during the vice squad briefing, were copies of photos taken by fetish artist John Willie during his Los Angeles period. One of his models was murdered by a serial killer and was mentioned in James Ellroy's "My Dark Places". See more »

Goofs

The film is set in 1953, but the TV in the house where Inez Soto is being kept is a 1955 RCA Victor model 521. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Sid Hudgens: [voiceover] Come to Los Angeles! The sun shines bright, the beaches are wide and inviting, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There are jobs aplenty, and land is cheap. Every working man can have his own house, and inside every house, a happy, all-American family. You can have all this, and who knows... you could even be discovered, become a movie star... or at least see one. Life is good in Los Angeles... it's paradise on Earth." Ha ha ha ha. That's what they ...
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Crazy Credits

Characters from the movie were incorporated into period stock footage shown during the credits See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Chase Australia: Episode #2.97 (2016) See more »

Soundtracks

Hit the Road to Dreamland
(1942)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Betty Hutton
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Special Markets
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

A "Chinatown" for the 1990s
25 June 2000 | by – See all my reviews

"L.A. Confidential" is brilliant. The screenplay and direction are second-to-none. The performances by the ensemble cast are also superb. Kim Basinger stands out the most with her Oscar-winning role. Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Danny DeVito all have their moments as well. The film deals with the seamy side of Los Angeles in the post-World War II 1950s. Los Angeles is a place of shady dealings and police corruption. To add to those problems is the creation of the smutty tabloid. Multi-layered and smart, "L.A. Confidential" will be the greatest survivor of the films released in 1997. 5 out of 5 stars.


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