Synopsis
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
Key facts
Cast
Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn, Ron Rifkin
Original language
English
First release
September 19, 1997 (United States)
Production companies
Regency Enterprises, Warner Bros. Entertainment
Home video distributors
Warner Home Video (United States)
Based on
L.A. Confidential
Awards
Silver nugget for the best foreign film, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films, National Board of Review Award for Best Film, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
Setting
Los Angeles
Filming locations
Long Beach
Crew
Screenplay
Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
Producer
Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, Michael G. Nathanson
Cinematography
Dante Spinotti
Editing
Peter Honess
Music
Jerry Goldsmith
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
Festival History
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Edgar Allan Poe Awards 1998 generic - Best Motion Picture Screenplay ★ Winner; writer(s): Curtis Hanson, Brian Helgeland
- Directors Guild of America 1997 generic
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Warner Home Video (cat. no. 16247) | 1998, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | L.A. Confidential (Original Motion Picture Score) - Jerry Goldsmith, Ken Hall (1997) | 1 release, 2019: Varèse Sarabande |
| CD | L.A. Confidential (Original Motion Picture Score) - Jerry Goldsmith, Ken Hall (1997) | 6 releases, 1997-2022: Cimmerian Records, Rambling Records, Varèse Sarabande, Volcano |
| CD | L.A. Confidential: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1997) | 8 releases, 1997: Regency, Restless Records |
| Cassette | L.A. Confidential: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1997) | 3 releases, 1997: Restless Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | September 19, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Cameroon | September 26, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | October 8, 1997 |
| Theatrical | France | October 8, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | October 17, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | October 29, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Australia | October 30, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | October 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | October 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Finland | October 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | October 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | October 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | November 5, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | November 6, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | November 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Spain | November 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Italy | November 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Hong Kong | November 13, 1997 |
| Theatrical | New Zealand | November 13, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Slovenia | November 13, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Iceland | November 14, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | November 14, 1997 |
| Theatrical | South Africa | November 14, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | November 20, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Singapore | November 20, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Poland | November 21, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | November 21, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Greece | November 28, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Thailand | November 28, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Germany | December 4, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | December 5, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | December 12, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Bulgaria | January 2, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | January 8, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Slovakia | January 8, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | January 29, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Russia | February 17, 1998 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | March 7, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Japan | July 18, 1998 |
| Television | Netherlands | December 19, 2001 |
| Streaming | France | November 18, 2010 |
| Television | United Arab Emirates | December 26, 2012 |
| Streaming | Egypt | December 31, 2017 |
| Streaming | Indonesia | December 31, 2017 |
| Streaming | Taiwan | December 31, 2017 |
| Streaming | France | January 23, 2018 |
| Streaming | France | November 1, 2021 |
| Streaming | France | July 29, 2022 |
| Television | France | December 20, 2025 |
| Streaming | Indonesia | August 1, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1998 16247 |
| Home video | France | September 16, 1998 |
| Home video | France | November 25, 1998 |
| Home video | Russia | May 24, 2005 |
| Home video | Netherlands | June 16, 2006 |
| Home video | Mexico | September 23, 2008 |
| Home video | France | October 29, 2008 |
| Home video | Netherlands | January 12, 2011 |
| Home video | India | January 1, 2013 |
| Home video | United Arab Emirates | October 2, 2017 |
Full credits
| Director | Curtis Hanson |
| Cast | Kevin Spacey (Jack Vincennes), Russell Crowe (Wendell 'Bud' White), Guy Pearce (Edmund 'Ed' Exley), James Cromwell (Dudley Smith), Kim Basinger (Lynn Bracken), Danny DeVito (Sid Hudgens), David Strathairn (Pierce Patchett), Ron Rifkin (D.A. Ellis Loew), Graham Beckel (Dick Stensland), Amber Smith (Susan Lefferts), John Mahon (Police Chief), Paul Guilfoyle (Mickey Cohen), Matt McCoy ('Badge of Honor' Star Brett Chase), Paolo Seganti (Johnny Stompanato), Simon Baker (Matt Reynolds), Elisabeth Granli (Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner), Sandra Taylor (Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner), Steve Rankin (Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen), Allan Graf (Wife Beater), Precious Chong (Wife), Symba (Jack's Dancing Partner), Bob Clendenin (Reporter at Hollywood Station), Lennie Loftin (Photographer at Hollywood Station), Will Zahrn (Liquor Store Owner), Darrell Sandeen (Buzz Meeks), Michael Warwick (Sid's Assistant), Shawnee Free Jones (Tammy Jordan), Matthew Allen Bretz (Officer Escorting Mexicans), Thomas Rosales Jr. (First Mexican), Shane Dixon (Officer / Detective at Hollywood Station), Norman Howell (Officer / Detective at Hollywood Station), Brian Lally (Officer / Detective at Hollywood Station), Don Pulford (Officer / Detective at Hollywood Station), Chris Short (Officer / Detective at Hollywood Station), Tomas Arana (Breuning - Dudley's Guy), Michael McCleery (Carlisle - Dudley's Guy), George Yager (Gangster at Victory Motel), Jack Conley (Vice Captain), Ginger Slaughter (Secretary in Vice), Jack Knight (Detective at Detective Bureau), John H. Evans (Patrolman at Nite Owl Cafe), Gene Wolande (Forensic Chief), Brian Bossetta (Forensic Officer), Michael Chieffo (Coroner), Gwenda Deacon (Mrs. Lefferts), T.J. Kennedy (Bud's Rejected Partner), Ingo Neuhaus (Jack's Rejected Partner), Robert Harrison (Pierce Patchett’s Bodyguard), Jim Metzler (City Councilman), Robert Barry Fleming (Boxer), Jeremiah Birkett (Ray Collins - Nite Owl Suspect), Salim Grant (Louis Fontaine - Nite Owl Suspect), Karr Washington (Ty Jones - Nite Owl Suspect), Noel Evangelisti (Stenographer), Marisol Padilla Sánchez (Inez Soto - Rape Victim), Jeff Sanders (Sylvester Fitch), Steven Lambert (Roland Navarette), Jordan Marder (Officer at Detective Bureau), Gregory White (Mayor), April Breneman (Look-Alike Dancer), Lisa Worthy (Look-Alike Dancer), Beverly Sharpe (Witness on Badge of Honor), Colin Mitchell (Reporter at Hospital), John Slade (Photographer at Hospital), Brenda Bakke (Lana Turner), Kevin Maloney (Frolic Room Bartender), Patrice Walters (Police File Clerk), Rebecca Klingler (Police File Clerk), Irene Roseen (D.A. Ellis Loew's Secretary), Scott Eberlein (West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputy), David St. James (Detective at Hush-Hush Office), Bodie Newcomb (Officer at Hush-Hush Office), Jeff Austin (Detective), Robert Foster (Detective), Kevin Patrick Kelly (Detective), Henry Marder (Detective), Monty McKee (Detective), Henry Meyers (Detective), Michael Ossmann (Detective), Dick Stilwell (Detective), Jess Thomas (Detective), Robert Thompson (Detective), Jody Wood (Detective), Jimmy Ortega (Second Mexican (uncredited)), Nectar Rose (Marilyn Monroe (uncredited)), Rocco Salata (Uniformed Patrol Officer (uncredited)), Dell Yount (Court Bailiff (uncredited)), Scott McKinley (Cop (uncredited)), Gilbert Rosales (Third Mexican (uncredited)), J.P. Romano (Deuce Perkins (uncredited)), Chris Palermo (Anthony Trombino (uncredited)), April Audia (Mayor's Wife (uncredited)), Priscilla Cory (Brunette Police Woman (uncredited)), Fred Lerner (Dudley's Guy with Shotgun (uncredited)), Anne Zogby (Movie Star (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson |
| Producer | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, Michael G. Nathanson |
| Executive producer | Dan Kolsrud, David L. Wolper |
| Cinematography | Dante Spinotti |
| Editing | Peter Honess |
| Music | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Production design | Jeannine Oppewall |
| Visual effects | Peter Donen |
| Sound | Terry Rodman |
| Costumes | Ruth Myers |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
