The troubled sequel to Chinatown that nearly destroyed the careers of its legendary creators
In short: The Two Jakes was meant to be the second chapter in a grand trilogy, but a chaotic production and a box office failure turned it into a cautionary tale. From a decade of development hell to fractured friendships, the film remains a fascinating study of ambition colliding with reality.
The Two Jakes, released in 1990, was the long-awaited sequel to the 1974 classic Chinatown. Set in 1948, the story follows private investigator J.J. Gittes as he becomes entangled in a murder investigation involving a businessman named Julius Berman. The plot, which centers on mineral rights and a fatal shooting, eventually links back to the events surrounding Evelyn Mulwray from the original film. Despite the high expectations, the production was plagued by years of development hell, with various iterations involving stars like Dustin Hoffman and Harrison Ford before Jack Nicholson ultimately took the helm as both director and lead.
The behind-the-scenes drama was as complex as the film's noir plot. In 1985, a planned production collapsed after screenwriter Robert Towne clashed with producer Robert Evans over Evans's acting ability and a dispute regarding a 1940s-style haircut. The fallout left 120 crew members unpaid, with debts exceeding $2 million. When filming finally commenced in 1989, the budget ballooned to approximately $25 million, double the initial estimate from Paramount Pictures. The project’s failure to achieve box office success—earning only $10 million during its theatrical run—effectively ended the planned trilogy, which was intended to conclude with a third film titled Gittes vs. Gittes.
The film’s reception was notably mixed, with critics divided on its merits. While Roger Ebert praised its clockwork precision, others found it confusing or clunky. Beyond the screen, the experience left lasting scars; the professional relationships between Nicholson, Towne, and Evans were shattered. Towne later noted he had not spoken to Nicholson in over a decade, and Evans faced significant personal health challenges following the project's conclusion. Today, the film serves as a stark reminder of how even the most talented creative teams can struggle when the weight of a legacy becomes too heavy to bear.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Two Jakes
- Also: Wikidata — The Two Jakes · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Two Jakes · CC0
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