The hard boiled detective subgenre has spawned many a film to have come out of Hollywood. Following a basic formula, the genre lives up to the expectations of the audience, while using the themes of crime and consequent justice. Unlike many hard boiled detective films of the noir persuasion, Chinatown isn't afraid to play with its constructed conventions. The story takes place in Los Angeles, California during the 1930's. The mood of the film is typical of that of a detective story, and the gradual discovery of clues completes the film's mysterious atmosphere. …
