Mulholland Falls

1996
R
1h 47m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

20K

YOUR RATING

Melanie Griffith, Michael Madsen, Nick Nolte, Chazz Palminteri, and Chris Penn in Mulholland Falls (1996)

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99+ Photos

Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

In 1950's Los Angeles, a special crime squad of the LAPD investigates the murder of a young woman.In 1950's Los Angeles, a special crime squad of the LAPD investigates the murder of a young woman.In 1950's Los Angeles, a special crime squad of the LAPD investigates the murder of a young woman.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

20K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Trivia
The story based the film's four detectives on the real life LAPD foursome known as the Hat Squad. As portrayed in the film, the LAPD leadership empowered them and the larger "Gangster Squad", subsequently renamed the "Intelligence Division", to specifically interdict the movement of East Coast organized crime into Los Angeles. The actual LAPD units allegedly used tactics commensurate with the level necessary to counter and repulse organized crime groups.

Goofs
When Hoover and his men are caught trespassing by Colonel Fitzgerald and the MP's, there is an offstage ADR line heard as one of the men speak on the radio, "Sierra, Tango, Zero, One." "Sierra, Tango" is the phonetic alphabet representing the letters "S" and "T". However, this is the current phonetic alphabet which became effective in 1957. The ADR line should have read, "Sugar, Tare, Zero, One" to be authentic to the period.

Quotes
Lieutenant Max Hoover: See, that's federal property. This isn't. This is L.A. This is my town. Out here you're a trespasser. Out here I can pick you up, burn your house, fuck your wife, and kill your dog. And the only thing that'll protect you is if I can't find you. And I already found you.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Celtic Pride/Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie/Mrs. Winterbourne/The Substitute/Fear/Sweet Nothing (1996)

Soundtracks
Harbour Lights
Written by Jimmy Kennedy and Will Grosz (as Hugh Williams)
Arranged by Jimmie Haskell
Performed by Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville appears courtesy of A&M Records

User reviews143

Review

Featured review

6/10

The Rule Book Is Out

Nick Nolte heads the cast of Mulholland Falls which came out a year earlier than L.A. Confidential and covered the same time period with similar themes. L.A. Confidential is a much better film, but Mulholland Falls does have its supporters.

The title refers to no waterfall because as a bad guy in the film so aptly put it, there aren't any waterfalls in Los Angeles. What it is, is a cliff off Mulholland Drive in which Nolte and his elite squad make a habit of throwing wise guys off. If they survive they have the option of a further trip or go back where they came from.

This was in the days of Chief William F. Parker of Los Angeles who took over one of the most corrupt police forces in the country. He dealt with systemic corruption in much the same manner J. Edgar Hoover did in taking over the corrupt Federal Bureau of Investigation after the Teapot Dome Scandal. Both men were authoritarian in the methods and their temperament. And both men have their supporters and detractors to this day.

But the main body of the film concerns a homicide of party girl Jennifer Connelly who as it turns out was not only involved with Nick Nolte, but with U.S. Army General John Malkovich who was just appointed to the Atomic Energy Commission.

Malkovich has an aide in Colonel Treat Williams who is every bit as extra legal as Nolte and his squad are. In this case the rule book is out on both sides.

In addition to those mentioned some nice performances are given by Melanie Griffith as Nolte's wife, Andrew McCarthy as the photographer and friend of Connelly who taped her sexual sessions. And stealing every scene he's in is Chazz Palmenteri as Nolte's partner, undergoing psychological therapy.

Though L.A. Confidential is definitely the superior film, if you liked that film, you'll no doubt like Mulholland Falls.