Robert Towne, the renowned screenwriter whose legendary Oscar-winning script for the 1974 masterpiece "Chinatown" stands as the epitome of cinematic excellence, has passed away. At 89 years old, his death was announced by publicist Carri McClure, occurring peacefully at his Los Angeles home.
Surrounding his iconic achievement, Towne garnered further Academy Award nominations for his scripts of "The Last Detail" (1973) and "Shampoo" (1975). His unique perspective on Los Angeles was a tapestry of melancholy, painting the city as a blend of alluring beauty and profound sadness. In "Chinatown" and "Shampoo," the solitary fates of gumshoe J.J. Gittes (portrayed by Jack Nicholson) and Beverly Hills hairdresser George Roundy (played by Warren Beatty) were testament to this, with Towne frequently collaborating with these actors.
This poignant view of Southern California, as a seductress that shatters dreams, was also reflected in his script for "Tequila Sunrise" (1988). Here, Mel Gibson starred as a retired drug dealer, Kurt Russell portrayed a cop, and Michelle Pfeiffer embodied the femme fatale.
Moreover, Towne was held in high esteem for his role as a script doctor, contributing the iconic Marlon Brando garden scene to "The Godfather" (1972) and providing crucial elements to other films, including Arthur Penn's "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967). His legacy in the film industry will forever be cherished and remembered.
When Francis Ford Coppola, the illustrious director of The Godfather, graciously accepted the Oscar for Best Screenplay, jointly crafted with Mario Puzo, he graciously acknowledged Towne from the podium. The esteemed writer had been hailed as a "special consultant" on the groundbreaking film Bonnie and Clyde, after Beatty, the star and producer, sought his guidance. Their collaboration continued with Love Affair (1994), a captivating remake of the classic 1932 Irene Dunne-Charles Boyer movie.
Towne's legacy is testament to his prowess in crafting intricate yet concise screenplays, imbued with pungent dialogue that encapsulates profound, sometimes intricate, and contradictory meanings. As film critic Michael Sragow aptly noted in 1998, "He masters the art of sly indirection, clever repetition, unexpected counterpoints, and a unique poetic vulgarity, stretching scenes and entire scripts to their utmost emotional depths. He's also a visual maestro, with a keen eye for images that resonate deeply with both hemispheres of the brain."
Chinatown stands as his magnum opus, a noir detective story that has secured its place on numerous critics' "best" lists. The Raymond Chandler-inspired tale revolves around the Mulholland family and their struggles over L.A.'s water rights, starring Faye Dunaway and John Huston, under the astute direction of Roman Polanski. The film garnered 11 Oscar nominations, with Towne emerging as the sole victor. (In Sam Wasson's book The Big Goodbye, Towne reminisced about writing a leading role for Nicholson, which THR excerpted in 2020. The book also acknowledges the significant contributions of Edward Taylor, Towne's college friend and frequent collaborator, to the screenplay without due credit.)
Following the success of Chinatown, The Two Jakes (1990), directed by Nicholson, continued Gittes' investigations. However, critics deemed the screenplay lackluster, and the highly anticipated sequel fell short of expectations. (In a revealing development in November 2019, it was announced that Towne and David Fincher were collaborating on a prequel series for Netflix.)
Towne's illustrious career encompassed scripting the Tom Cruise blockbusters 'The Firm' (1993) and 'Days of Thunder' (1990), as well as being instrumental in the creation of the first two 'Mission: Impossible' films released in 1996 and 2000. However, an interesting twist occurred when he opted to remove his name from the credits of 'Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' (1984) and adopted the pseudonym P.H. Vazak. This fictitious author was later jointly nominated for an Oscar, marking Towne's fourth career nomination, alongside Michael Austin. Surprisingly, 'Vazak' was in fact the moniker of Towne's beloved sheepdog.
As his productivity waned, Towne struggled with enigmatic health issues that drained his energy and creativity, limiting him to rewriting scripts rather than crafting originals. Reflecting on this period, he aptly compared himself to a pitcher whose arm could only sustain a few innings, "I was like a guy whose arm is only good enough to pitch a few innings. I could not sustain," he said in 1992. Ironically, some of his most brilliant work emerged from refining others' screenplays, such as 'The Yakuza' (1974) by Paul Schrader and '8 Million Ways to Die' (1986) by Oliver Stone, or resuscitating abandoned projects.
Towne enriched Nicholson's "Drive, He Said" (1971) with additional scenes and contributed unsung revisions to "The New Centurions" and "Cisco Pike," both released in 1972. He further lent his hand to the making of "Marathon Man" and the Nicholson-led "The Missouri Breaks," both films of the 1976 era. "Tequila Sunrise" marked Towne's second foray as a writer-director, following "Personal Best" (1982), a captivating tale starring Mariel Hemingway as a lesbian track athlete. He even doubled down with the Steve Prefontaine biopic "Without Limits" (1998) and "Ask the Dust" (2006), another Los Angeles-based narrative set in the glamorous 1930s. In 2017, Vulture hailed him as the third-best screenwriter of all time, with only Billy Wilder and Joel & Ethan Coen ranking higher.
Robert Bertram Schwartz entered the world on November 23, 1934, in San Pedro, the heart of the Port of Los Angeles. His father, initially a proprietor of the Towne Smart Shop, a ladies' clothing store in the vicinity, later ventured into real estate development, leading the family to relocate to the prestigious Rancho Palos Verdes. Towne pursued his education at Chadwick Prep School, Redondo Union High, and Pomona College, where he delved into English literature and philosophy, graduating in 1956. Alongside his college companion Richard Chamberlain, he studied acting under the guidance of the blacklisted actor Jeff Corey, where he fatefully encountered Nicholson, forming an immediate bond. As with many aspiring filmmakers, Towne's journey in the entertainment industry began at the "school" of Roger Corman, his first screenplay being the post-apocalyptic epic "Last Woman on Earth" (1960) for the renowned director-producer.
Towne not only starred in the film under the alias of Edward Wain, but also portrayed a covert operative in another Corman classic, "Creature From the Haunted Sea" (1961). Following that, he penned the script for Corman's "The Tomb of Ligeia" (1964), which starred Vincent Price in a captivating Edgar Allan Poe adaptation.
When Beatty was seeking assistance on the screenplay for "Bonnie and Clyde," he naturally turned to Towne. The esteemed writer, however, declined the opportunity to adapt "The Great Gatsby," choosing instead to devote his talents to "Chinatown." The genesis of this compelling tale came to light during his collaboration with Nicholson on "The Last Detail." In a 2009 interview, Towne reminisced, "I approached Jack with the idea, 'How about a detective story set in the L.A. of the 1930s?' He responded with enthusiasm, 'That's brilliant!'"
"My heart was set on reimagining the city," Towne continued. "Subsequently, I traveled to Oregon, where Jack was filming 'Drive, He Said.' Prior to that, I hadn't delved into the works of Raymond Chandler, so I embarked on a reading journey. While at the University of Oregon, I borrowed a book from the library titled 'Southern California Country: Island on the Land' by Carey McWilliams. One particular chapter, 'Water, Water, Water,' was a revelation.
"It struck me, 'Why not create a narrative centered on a crime that's as ubiquitous as a dripping faucet?' Instead of a jewel-adorned falcon, let's make it about something as commonplace as water and spin a conspiracy around it. After reading about the practices of depleting water resources and impoverishing farmers, I realized the visual and narrative potential was immense. That was the spark that ignited 'Chinatown.'"
Among the survivors are Towne's second wife, Luisa, whom he married in 1984; his daughters, the actress Kathleen and Chiara; his brother, Roger, and sister-in-law, Sylviane; niece Jocelyn; and nephew Nick.
