To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Gerald Petievich (novel)
William Friedkin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again!

Plot:

A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.

Plot Keywords:

Secret Service | Murder | Revenge | Place Name In Title | Money

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

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)

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)

Production Companies

• SLM Production Group
• New Century Productions

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (video)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Vestron Video

Other Companies

• Geffen Records  soundtrack

Runtime:

116 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

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)

Filming Locations:

444 S. Flower Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

SLM Production Group

Trivia:

William Friedkin specifically asked Wang Chung to NOT do a song titled "To Live and Die in LA," since he thought it would be too cheesy. Wang Chung went ahead and did the title track and played it for Friedkin, who changed his mind and loved the song.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During the scene when Rick Masters demands his money back from Jeff for the botched hit on Cody in jail, Jeff says "I owe you one Cody". Although some viewers think that the line should read "I owe you one, Rick," Jeff's reference to Cody is not a script error; Jeff is merely saying that he owes Rick "one Cody" - that is, one dead Cody.

Quotes:

Eric 'Rick' Masters: You have my word you won't have to do the whole nickel.
Carl Cody: What does that mean?
Eric 'Rick' Masters: Grimes is the best lawyer in the state. It'll either be an appeal bond or a sentence reduction.
Carl Cody: And the check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Good Morning School Girl

A Great, Little Known Gem!

There are 'Cop films'. 'Buddy' films and 'Partner' films. This one is definitely in the 'Partner' category. With the same kind of magic that Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider shared in Freidken's 'The French Connection'... I just picked up and watched 'To Live And Die In L.A.' on DVD and had my socks knocked off for the umpteenth time!... Those expecting a standard, cookie cutter 'Cops & Robbers' film should go elsewhere. Friedken pulled out all the stops on this one! Taking a small budget and a clutch of then No-Name actors. Planting them in the sections of L.A. no one ever sees. And allowed them free rein to improvise, romp and play. And then, create some of their best work!.. William Petersen plays Secret Service Agent Rick Chance. Who hunts Artists/Conterfeiter/Con, Eric Masters. Played with clever, evil glee by Willem Dafoe, with a passion just short of Psychosis... The segments showing Dafoe making 'Funny Money' are as detailed and astounding as the scenes of him violently tidying up loose ends!... Toss in great location shots. A few startling chases. And a 'conscience' for Petersen, played by John Pankow as John Vukovich. A three-piece, by-the-book agent. Who follows his partner through the Counterfiet World of assorted crime, mayhem, and dirty deals. Into Dante's Inferno. Only to fully evolve in the last fifteen minutes of the film. That must be seen to believe!...