Page One: ‘Chinatown’ (1974)

Written by Robert Towne

Here is the opening scene in the movie:

The screenplay for Chinatown has long been regarded as one of the best scripts in the contemporary era. Michael Clayton has been added to that list. Both are essential reading.

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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