Robert Towne, the Oscar-winning screenwriter renowned for his work on the 1974 classic “Chinatown,” has passed away at the age of 89. Towne died on Monday at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family, according to his publicist Carri McClure. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Towne’s career in Hollywood was marked by a unique prestige that few screenwriters achieve. Known for his collaborations with stars like Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, Towne wrote or co-wrote some of the most iconic films of the 1960s and ’70s. His screenplay for “Chinatown” is often cited as a gold standard in film writing, capturing the jaded allure of Los Angeles with a highly personal and influential vision.
“It’s a city that’s so illusory,” Towne said in a 2006 interview with The Associated Press. “It’s the westernmost west of America. It’s a sort of place of last resort. It’s a place where, in a word, people go to make their dreams come true. And they’re forever disappointed.”
Towne’s career began with television work, including shows like “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and “The Lloyd Bridges Show,” and low-budget movies for producer Roger Corman. His breakthrough came through his friendship with Warren Beatty, who brought him in for uncredited revisions on the script for “Bonnie and Clyde.” Towne’s contributions to the film industry were vast, including uncredited work on “The Godfather,” “The Parallax View,” and “Heaven Can Wait.”
However, it was “Chinatown” that cemented Towne’s legacy. Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson as private detective J.J. “Jake” Gittes, the film is set during the Great Depression and delves into a labyrinthine tale of corruption and violence. The film’s famous line, “Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown,” has become one of the most iconic in movie history.
Towne’s script for “Chinatown” has been a staple in film writing classes, although it also serves as a lesson in the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Towne worked closely with Polanski to revise and tighten the story, even though they had fierce disagreements over the film’s despairing ending. Towne later acknowledged that Polanski’s choice for the ending was the right one.
The concept for “Chinatown” began with Towne, who turned down the chance to adapt “The Great Gatsby” to work on the film. He was inspired by a chapter in Carey McWilliams’ book “Southern California: An Island on the Land,” which discussed the water wars in Los Angeles. “Instead of a jewel-encrusted falcon, make it something as prevalent as water faucets, and make a conspiracy out of that,” Towne said in a 2009 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Towne’s career had its ups and downs. His directorial efforts, including “Personal Best” and “Tequila Sunrise,” received mixed reviews. “The Two Jakes,” the long-awaited sequel to “Chinatown,” was a commercial and critical disappointment. Towne’s greatest regret was how “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” turned out. He was unhappy with the final product and took the name of his dog, P.H. Vazak, for his screenwriting credit.
Despite these setbacks, Towne continued to work on high-profile projects. He collaborated with Tom Cruise on “The Firm” and the first two “Mission: Impossible” movies. His most recent film was “Ask the Dust,” a Los Angeles story he wrote and directed that came out in 2006.
Towne was born Robert Bertram Schwartz in Los Angeles and moved to San Pedro after his father’s dress shop closed during the Great Depression. He had always loved writing and was inspired to work in movies by the proximity of the Warner Bros. Theater and from reading the critic James Agee. For a time, Towne worked on a tuna boat, an experience he often spoke about.
“I’ve identified fishing with writing in my mind to the extent that each script is like a trip that you’re taking — and you are fishing,” he told the Writers Guild Association in 2013. “Sometimes they both involve an act of faith. … Sometimes it’s sheer faith alone that sustains you, because you think, ‘God damn it, nothing — not a bite today. Nothing is happening.'”
Towne’s impact on Hollywood was profound. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Writers Guild of America in 1997 and was ranked No. 3 on Vulture’s list of the 100 Best Screenwriters of All Time in 2017, only behind Billy Wilder and Joel & Ethan Coen.
Towne is survived by his second wife, Luisa, whom he married in 1984, and his two daughters, Kathleen and Chiara. His brother, Roger Towne, also wrote screenplays, including “The Natural.”
Information regarding a celebration of life will be announced.
Source: The Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter
