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To Live and Die in L.A.
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To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   8,832 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Gerald Petievich (novel)
William Friedkin (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for To Live and Die in L.A. on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 November 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again! more
Plot:
A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
3 wins more
User Reviews:
Shamefully misunderstood by the critics more (174 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Jacqueline Giroux ... Claudia Leith (as Jackely Giroux)
Michael Zand ... Terrorist
Bobby Bass ... FBI Agent
Dar Robinson ... FBI Agent (as Dar Allen Robinson)

Anne Betancourt ... Nurse
Katherine M. Louie ... Ticket Agent
Edward Harrell ... Airport Guard
Gilbert Espinoza ... Bartender
John Petievich ... Agent
Zarko Petievich ... Agent
Rick Dalton ... Agent
Richard L. Lane ... Agent
Jack Cota ... Agent
Shirley J. White ... Airline Passenger
Gerald H. Brownlee ... Visiting Room Guard
David M. DuFriend ... Tower Guard
Rubén García ... Inmate Ruben
Joe Duran ... Prison Guard
Bufort McClerkins ... Prison Inmate (as Buford McClerkins)
Gregg Dandridge ... Prison Inmate
Donnie Williams ... Rick's Friend
Earnest Hart Jr. ... Rick's Friend

Thomas F. Duffy ... Credit Card Counterfeiter
Gerald Petievich ... Special Agent (as Gerry Petievich)
Mark Gash ... Mark Gash
Pat McGroarty ... Criminal
Brian Bradley ... Tourist

Jane Leeves ... Serena (as Jane Leaves)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Alan Baltes ... Driver (uncredited)

Gary Cole ... Man chased by Richard Chance (uncredited)

Stevie Mack ... Basketball Player (uncredited)
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Directed by
William Friedkin 
 
Writing credits
Gerald Petievich (novel)

William Friedkin (screenplay) &
Gerald Petievich (screenplay)

Produced by
Irving H. Levin .... producer
Samuel Schulman .... executive producer
Bud S. Smith .... co-producer (as Bud Smith)
 
Original Music by
Darren Costin  (as Wang Chung)
Nick Feldman  (as Wang Chung)
Jack Hues  (as Wang Chung)
 
Cinematography by
Robby Müller (director of photography) (as Robby Muller)
 
Film Editing by
M. Scott Smith  (as Scott Smith)
 
Casting by
Robert Weiner  (as Bob Weiner)
 
Production Design by
Lilly Kilvert 
 
Art Direction by
Buddy Cone 
 
Set Decoration by
Cricket Rowland 
 
Costume Design by
Linda M. Bass  (as Linda Bass)
 
Makeup Department
Jeff Dawn .... head makeup artist (as Jefferson Dawn)
Peter Tothpal .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
John J. Smith .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Myers .... first assistant director
Bob Roe .... second assistant director
Bud S. Smith .... second unit director (as Bud Smith)
 
Art Department
Raymond Camaioni .... carpenter
Dins W.W. Danielsen .... assistant art director (as Dins Danielson)
Rainer Fetting .... painter: Masters' paintings
Amanda J. Flick .... painter (as Amanda Flick)
Dennis Hoerter .... carpenter
Richard K. Hummel .... assistant set decorator (as Richard Hummel)
Jon Hutman .... set dresser
Portia Iversen .... assistant set decorator (as Portia Iverson)
William C. Jones .... carpenter (as William Jones)
Gavin McCune .... carpenter
John Stadelman .... set dresser
Frank Viviano .... construction coordinator
David E. Harshbarger .... props (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Gary Alexander .... sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Bushelman .... sound effects editor
Mike Dobie .... sound effects editor (as Michael Dobie)
Jean-Louis Ducarme .... sound recordist (as Jean-Louis DuCarme)
Louis L. Edemann .... sound effects editor
Jim Fitzpatrick .... stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Robert Glass .... sound re-recording mixer
J. Paul Huntsman .... dialogue editor
Chris Jenkins .... sound re-recording mixer (as Christopher Jenkins)
Rodger Pardee .... sound recordist
Craig Clark .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Samuel C. Crutcher .... sound editor/design (uncredited)
Larry Kemp .... sound editor (uncredited)
Jerry Trent .... foley artist (uncredited)
Jay Wilkinson .... sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Phil Cory .... special effects (as Phil Corey)
 
Stunts
Jeb Stuart Adams .... stunts (as Jeb Adams)
Carl L. Anderson .... stunts
Bobby Bass .... stunts
Billy Bates .... stunts
Kenny Bates .... stunts (as Ken Bates)
Jophery C. Brown .... stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Bobby Burns .... stunts (as Bobby Andrew Burns)
William H. Burton .... stunts (as Bill Burton)
David Carlton .... stunts
John Casino .... stunts
Phil Chong .... stunts
Carl Ciarfalio .... stunts
Ray Colbert .... stunts
Clarke Coleman .... stunts
Jim Connors .... stunts
Wally Crowder .... stunts
Tim Culbertson .... stunts
Jay C. Currin .... stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw .... stunts
Steve M. Davison .... stunts
Tim A. Davison .... stunts
Justin De Rosa .... stunts (as Justin DeRosa)
Eddy Donno .... stunts
Doc Duhame .... stunts
David R. Ellis .... stunts
Richard M. Ellis .... stunts
Kenny Endoso .... stunts
Tony Epper .... stunts
Erik Felix .... stunts
Glory Fioramonti .... stunts (as Gloria Fioramanti)
Pat Green .... stunts
James M. Halty .... stunts
Orwin C. Harvey .... stunts
Steve Holladay .... stunts
Larry Holt .... stunts (as Larry E. Holt)
Billy Hank Hooker .... stunts (as Bill [Hank] Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker .... stunt coordinator: driving and chase sequences
Buddy Joe Hooker .... stunts
Hugh Hooker .... stunts (as Hugh M. Hooker)
Richard Hooker .... stunts
Tommy J. Huff .... stunts (as Thomas J. Huff)
Gary Hymes .... stunts
Kevin L. Jackson .... stunts (as Lamont Jackson)
Loren Janes .... stunts
Pat E. Johnson .... stunt coordinator: fight sequences
Matt Johnston .... stunts (as Matt Johnson)
Donna Keegan .... stunts (as Donna M. Keegan)
Henry Kingi .... stunts
Billy D. Lucas .... stunts
Pat McGroarty .... stunts
Gary McLarty .... stunts
Pat J. McNamara .... stunts
John Meier .... stunts (as John C. Meier)
Charly Morgan .... stunts (as Charly Marie Morgan)
Jimmy Nickerson .... stunts
Manny Perry .... stunts (as Manuel Perry)
Jon Conrad Pochron .... stunts (as Jon Pochran)
Chad Randall .... stunts
Cyndi Lee Rice .... stunts (as Cynthia Lee Rice)
Jean Riddel .... stunts
Vernon Rieta .... stunts
Dar Robinson .... stunts (as Dar Allen Robinson)
Danny Rogers .... stunts
Pat Romano .... stunts (as Patrick Romano)
Ronnie Rondell Jr. .... stunts (as Ronald Rondell)
R.A. Rondell .... stunts
Debby Lynn Ross .... stunts
Michael Runyard .... stunts (as Mike Runyard)
George A. Sack Jr. .... stunts
Ray Saniger .... stunts
Dennis Scott .... stunts (as Dennis R. Scott)
Keith Tellez .... stunts
David Welch .... stunts (as David H. Welch)
Scott Wilder .... stunts
Dick Ziker .... stunts
Alan Baltes .... stunt driver (uncredited)
Dan Koko .... stunt safety (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert K. Feldmann .... key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Bob Field .... electrician (as Robert Field)
Kevin Galbraith .... electrician
Greg Gardiner .... chief lighting technician
Bill Guerre .... grip
Scott Guthrie .... best boy electric
Tim Moore .... grip (as Timothy Moore)
Jane O'Neal .... still photographer
Les Percy .... best boy grip (as Lesley Percy)
Robert D. Yeoman .... director of photography: second unit (as Robert Yeoman)
Henry Minski .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Randy Nolen .... Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Vance Piper .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Jonathan Sharpe .... first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Newton TerMeer .... gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Gary M. Zuckerbrod .... casting associate
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susie DeSanto .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Sonny Baskin .... assistant film editor
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Aubrey Head .... color timer
Jere Huggins .... additional editor
Joe Mosca .... assistant film editor (as Joseph Mosca)
Richard Ritchie .... color timer (as Dick Ritchie)
Bud S. Smith .... supervising editor
Jill Smith .... assistant film editor
 
Transportation Department
Richard M. Brasic .... transportation captain (as Richard Brasic)
Jeff F. Renfro .... transportation coordinator (as Jeffrey Renfro)
Olivia Varnado .... transportation captain
Jack Carpenter .... driver: camera car (uncredited)
Ralph D. Carpenter .... driver: camera car (uncredited)
Hugh Kelly .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Cherise Bates .... dancer (as Cherise Bate)
Barry Bedig .... consultant
Cynthia Chvatal .... assistant: William Friedkin (as Cindy Chvatal)
Shaun Earl .... dancer
Pablo Ferro .... consultant
Lesli Linka Glatter .... choreographer
Diana Gold .... post-production auditor
Michael Healy .... location manager
Michael Helfand .... assistant location manager
Michael Higgins .... dancer (as Michael W. Higgins)
Robert Jellen .... insurance provider: Albert G. Ruben & Company, Inc. (as Bob Jellen)
Adele Joseph .... assistant: William Friedkin
Chris Latanzi .... dancer (as Chris Lattanzi)
Jane Leeves .... dancer (as Jane Leaves)
Betsy Oliver Luhrsen .... production secretary
Dianne Mapp-Cheek .... production coordinator (as Dianne Lisa Cheek)
Gil Miller .... institutional coordinator: prison
Larry Rovetti .... lab consultant
Jackie Saunders .... script supervisor
Michelle Troxell .... assistant to producer (as Michele Troxell)
Woody Wilcoxan .... technical advisor: prison
Bill Bennett .... terra-flite operator (uncredited)
Terry Edinger .... post-production accountant (uncredited)
Gerald Petievich .... police technical advisor (uncredited)
Theresa Shepherd .... caterer (uncredited)
Mike Sudrow .... weapons specialist (uncredited)
 

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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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)

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At conclusion of chase a dark brown van with a multicolor horizontal stripe is part of the gridlock but as agents drive away the van is seen approaching on opposite lanes. more
Quotes:
Richard Chance: Who are they?
Bianca Torres: Who are you?
Eric 'Rick' Masters: This is Mr. Jessup, whose name isn't really Jessup, wo says he's from Palm Springs but doesn't have a tan. You're not wired, are you?
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Lookin' Good more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
73 out of 84 people found the following review useful.
Shamefully misunderstood by the critics, 29 April 1999
10/10
Author: Stefan Kahrs from Canterbury, England

One of the very best films of the 1980s this was shamefully neglected and misunderstood by the critics. The problem is: on the surface it's just like an ordinary action crime thriller (and thus won't appeal to the arthouse crowd), except that it makes it difficult to identify yourself with any of the characters. In other words: it violates its genre rules. But this very fact makes it so unpredictable and thrilling, and a proper movie as opposed to a mere genre clone.

The good guys are flawed. This isn't really new, since the mid 1960s there were plenty of flawed heroes in Westerns or police thrillers. The difference is that not only their characters are flawed, they are vulnerable, destructible, they make mistakes. And they pay for their mistakes. Similarly the villains: yes, they are formidable and glamorous, but they are not in the league of the Blofelds or Sentenzas of moviedom. They make mistakes too. And they pay too.

A surprising asset is the film music by Wang Chung, a one-hit-wonder pop obscurity of the era. Their sound perfectly melts with the cinematography, especially in the stylish opening sequence.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Blue Truck in last scene kmclaurin
What's the deal with that girl Chance kept banging? FeistyIntruder
Vukovich's reaction during chase sequence shiftydave77
Where did they get the $ from? *spoilers* ezkaban
This movie gets better every time I see it... markspiegel
10 Star Film if not for the Plot Holes eternal_buzz
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