`` Chinatown , '' much-praised 1974 film , out in new DVD edition . Director Roman Polanski 's familiarity with tragedy informed the film , says writer . Film is about detective , played by Jack Nicholson , who stumbles into major scandal . He has to solve a murder case involving his own wife and daughter ( Catherine Deneuve ) ; he also must deal with an old friend of his from childhood ( Robert Downey Jr ) whose life was
`` Chinatown , '' much-praised 1974 film , out in new DVD edition . Director Roman Polanski 's familiarity with tragedy informed the film , says writer . Film is about detective , played by Jack Nicholson , who stumbles into major scandal . `` Chinatown '' was nominated for 11 Oscars , won one ( for Towne 's screenplay )