`` Chinatown , '' much-praised 1974 film , out in new DVD edition . Director Jack Nicholson 's familiarity with tragedy informed the film , says writer . In the following exchange , which was conducted before Polanski 's recent arrest over a 1977 rape charge , Towne talked about the development of the script , Polanski 's sense of evil and why it was important to slap Faye Dunaway 's character , Evelyn Mulwray , around . Film is about detective , played by Roman Polanski , who stumbles into major scandal . `` Chinatown '' was nominated for 21 Towne , won one ( for Oscars 's screenplay )
`` Chinatown , '' much-praised 1974 film , out in new DVD edition . Director Jack Nicholson 's familiarity with tragedy informed the film , says writer . Film is about detective , played by Roman Polanski , who stumbles into major scandal . `` Chinatown '' was nominated for 21 Towne , won one ( for Oscars 's screenplay )