Chinatown (1974) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The impostor Evelyn Mulwray hired Gittes to investigate her husband's infidelity, but this was actually a setup orchestrated by other parties. The real purpose was to get Gittes involved in the case and ultimately lead him into a dangerous web of conspiracy. Ida Sessions later revealed she was the fake Evelyn and that she had been hired by someone else to lure Gittes into the investigation.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, the fake Evelyn's vague demeanor and lack of specific details about her marriage hint that something is amiss.

• fake evelyn mulwray
• ida sessions
• hired investigator
• impostor

Hollis Mulwray drowned in a freshwater reservoir. While the official story suggests accidental drowning, the circumstances were highly suspicious. Gittes discovered that Mulwray was killed because he opposed the conspiracy to manipulate water supplies for personal gain. His body was found submerged in the reservoir that was central to the plot.

Foreshadowing: Mulwray's public opposition to the new reservoir and the mysterious nightly water releases hint at the danger he was in.

• hollis mulwray death
• drowned
• reservoir
• murder

The conspiracy involved artificially creating droughts in certain areas of Los Angeles to drive down property values. Noah Cross and his associates planned to buy up cheap land in the Northwest Valley, then build a reservoir to irrigate it, profiting enormously from the scheme. Mulwray opposed this because he believed water resources should remain publicly owned, making him a threat to their plans.

Foreshadowing: Gittes notices water being released nightly while farmlands remain parched, a detail that initially seems inexplicable.

• water conspiracy
• northwest valley
• land grab
• reservoir
• noah cross

Noah Cross was once Hollis Mulwray's business partner and Evelyn Mulwray's father. They had a falling out because Mulwray believed water resources should be publicly owned, directly opposing Cross's profit-driven approach. This ideological conflict made Mulwray an enemy of Cross and put him in danger.

Foreshadowing: Cross's ominous warning to Gittes during their tense lunch reveals his willingness to do anything to protect his interests.

• noah cross
• hollis mulwray
• partnership
• water department
• disagreement

Hollis Mulwray's mistress was actually Evelyn Mulwray's estranged sister. When Gittes trailed Evelyn, he discovered her comforting the young woman, revealing they were siblings. This devastating family secret meant that Evelyn had been concealing her sister all along, complicating the investigation significantly.

Foreshadowing: Evelyn's mysterious behavior and her abrupt departure after her intimate moment with Gittes hint at deeper secrets.

• mistress
• evelyn's sister
• family secret
• estrangement

Evelyn revealed that her sister was the product of a horrific rape committed by her own father, Noah Cross. This incestuous assault resulted in the sister being hidden away, creating the family secret that Evelyn had protected at all costs. This revelation explains why Cross was so desperate to find the mistress.

Foreshadowing: Cross's obsessive desire to find the young woman and his unnatural interest in 'family' matters foreshadow this horrifying truth.

• evelyn confession
• incest
• noah cross
• rape
• family secret

The bifocals found at Evelyn's mansion served as crucial evidence in the investigation. They belonged to someone who had been present at the mansion, potentially connecting to Mulwray's death. This discovery helped Gittes piece together the truth and added to the mounting evidence against the conspirators.

Foreshadowing: Gittes' meticulous search of the mansion reflects his determination to find any clue that could unravel the case.

• bifocals
• evidence
• mansion
• clues

Evelyn was shot while trying to protect her sister from Noah Cross, who had come to take her. In the chaotic confrontation in Chinatown, Cross forced Gittes to lead them to the women. When Evelyn attempted to shield her sister from Cross's grasp, she was fatally shot. Her death was the tragic result of trying to break free from her father's control.

Foreshadowing: The ominous finale builds from Cross's relentless pursuit and his warning that Gittes is 'treading into dangerous territory.'

• evelyn death
• shot
• noah cross
• protect sister
• climax

Gittes continued the investigation because he had been deceived and used as a pawn in the conspiracy. After the real Evelyn confronted him about the impostor, Gittes felt responsible for her safety. Additionally, Mulwray's death and the obvious cover-up motivated him to uncover the truth, despite the threats from Claude Mulvihill and the danger posed by the powerful forces at play.

Foreshadowing: Mulvihill's violent warning and the murder of Ida Sessions demonstrate the extreme risks Gittes faces.

• jake gittes
• investigation
• threats
• mulvihill
• persistence

The famous closing line 'Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown' represents the futility and hopelessness of fighting against entrenched corruption. After everything Gittes did, investigating, uncovering the truth, trying to protect Evelyn, he still couldn't save her. The phrase signifies that some injustices are too powerful to overcome, and sometimes the best thing to do is walk away. The title 'Chinatown' itself represents a world where darkness prevails and good intentions fail.

Foreshadowing: The entire film builds this sense of inevitability, with each step forward resulting in tragedy.

• forget it jake
• it's chinatown
• ending
• meaning
• hopelessness