MovieLife

Los Angeles Plays Itself

(2004)

Documentary

.

2hrs 49m

Overview

From its distinctive neighborhoods to its architectural homes, Los Angeles has been the backdrop to countless movies. In this dazzling work, Andersen takes viewers on a whirlwind tour through the metropolis' real and cinematic history, investigating the myriad stories and legends that have come to define it, and meticulously, judiciously revealing the real city that lives beneath.

Score

76

All Trailers

Los Angeles Plays Itself / trailer

All Casts

Encke King as Narrator (voice)

Encke King

** Narrator (voice)

Ben Alexander as Officer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)

Ben Alexander

** Officer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)

Jim Backus as Frank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Jim Backus

** Frank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Brenda Bakke as Lana Turner in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Brenda Bakke

** Lana Turner in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Barbara O. Jones as Dorothy in Bush Mama (archive footage)

Barbara O. Jones

** Dorothy in Bush Mama (archive footage)

Gene Barry as Dr. Clayton Forrester in The War of The Worlds (archive footage)

Gene Barry

** Dr. Clayton Forrester in The War of The Worlds (archive footage)

Richard Basehart as Roy Morgan/Roy Martin in He Walked By Night (archive footage)

Richard Basehart

** Roy Morgan/Roy Martin in He Walked By Night (archive footage)

Hugh Beaumont as George Copeland in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

Hugh Beaumont

** George Copeland in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

William Bendix as Buzz Wanchek in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

William Bendix

** Buzz Wanchek in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

Ann Blyth as Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)

Ann Blyth

** Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)

Jim Bouton as Terry Lennox in The Long Goodbye (archive footage)

Jim Bouton

** Terry Lennox in The Long Goodbye (archive footage)

Grand L. Bush as FBI Agent Little Johnson in Die Hard (archive footage)

Grand L. Bush

** FBI Agent Little Johnson in Die Hard (archive footage)

James Cagney as Tom Powers in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

James Cagney

** Tom Powers in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

Lon Chaney Jr. as Charles Benton in The Indestructible Man (archive footage)

Lon Chaney Jr.

** Charles Benton in The Indestructible Man (archive footage)

John Considine as Matthew Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)

John Considine

** Matthew Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)

Bill Cosby as Al Hickey in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)

Bill Cosby

** Al Hickey in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)

Robert Culp as Frank Boggs in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)

Robert Culp

** Frank Boggs in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)

Howard Duff as Dave Pomeroy in Panic in the City (archive footage)

Howard Duff

** Dave Pomeroy in Panic in the City (archive footage)

Deanna Durbin as Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)

Deanna Durbin

** Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)

Mark Frechette as Mark in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)

Mark Frechette

** Mark in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)

John Garfield as Nick Blake in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)

John Garfield

** Nick Blake in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)

Ben Gazzara as Jackie Treehorn in The Big Lebowski (archive footage)

Ben Gazzara

** Jackie Treehorn in The Big Lebowski (archive footage)

Bruce Glover as Duffy in Chinatown (archive footage)

Bruce Glover

** Duffy in Chinatown (archive footage)

Marjoe Gortner as Joby in Earthquake (archive footage)

Marjoe Gortner

** Joby in Earthquake (archive footage)

James Griffith as Jesse Quinn in Dragnet (archive footage)

James Griffith

** Jesse Quinn in Dragnet (archive footage)

Daria Halprin as Daria in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)

Daria Halprin

** Daria in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)

Oliver Hardy as Ollie (archive footage)

Oliver Hardy

** Ollie (archive footage)

Jean Harlow as Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

Jean Harlow

** Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

Bob Hope as Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)

Bob Hope

** Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)

Lauren Hutton as Georgia Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)

Lauren Hutton

** Georgia Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)

Henry Jaglom as Dean in Venice/Venice (archive footage)

Henry Jaglom

** Dean in Venice/Venice (archive footage)

David Janssen as Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

David Janssen

** Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Peter Jason as Duty Sergeant in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Peter Jason

** Duty Sergeant in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Roy Jenson as Mulvihill in Chinatown (archive footage)

Roy Jenson

** Mulvihill in Chinatown (archive footage)

Jack Klugman as Sandman in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Jack Klugman

** Sandman in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Alan Ladd as Philip Raven in This Gun For Hire (archive footage)

Alan Ladd

** Philip Raven in This Gun For Hire (archive footage)

Stan Laurel as Stan (archive footage)

Stan Laurel

** Stan (archive footage)

Al Leong as Uli in Die Hard (archive footage)

Al Leong

** Uli in Die Hard (archive footage)

Jerry Lewis as Jerome Littlefield in The Disorderly Orderly (archive footage)

Jerry Lewis

** Jerome Littlefield in The Disorderly Orderly (archive footage)

Gary Lockwood as George Matthews in Model Shop (archive footage)

Gary Lockwood

** George Matthews in Model Shop (archive footage)

Perry Lopez as Escobar in Chinatown (archive footage)

Perry Lopez

** Escobar in Chinatown (archive footage)

Lyle Lovett as Detective DeLongpre in The Player (archive footage)

Lyle Lovett

** Detective DeLongpre in The Player (archive footage)

Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff in Double Indemnity (archive footage)

Fred MacMurray

** Walter Neff in Double Indemnity (archive footage)

Guy Madison as Cliff Harper in Till the End of Time (archive footage)

Guy Madison

** Cliff Harper in Till the End of Time (archive footage)

Joe Mantell as Walsh in Chinatown (archive footage)

Joe Mantell

** Walsh in Chinatown (archive footage)

Matt McCoy as Brett Chase in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Matt McCoy

** Brett Chase in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly (archive footage)

Ralph Meeker

** Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly (archive footage)

Sal Mineo as John 'Plato' Crawford in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Sal Mineo

** John 'Plato' Crawford in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon in Dragnet (archive footage)

Harry Morgan

** Officer Bill Gannon in Dragnet (archive footage)

Robert Morley as Sir Ambrose Abercrombie in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Robert Morley

** Sir Ambrose Abercrombie in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Robert Morse as Dennis Barlow in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Robert Morse

** Dennis Barlow in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Tom Neal as Al Roberts in Detour (archive footage)

Tom Neal

** Al Roberts in Detour (archive footage)

Lloyd Nolan as Dr. Vance in Earthquake (archive footage)

Lloyd Nolan

** Dr. Vance in Earthquake (archive footage)

Edmond O'Brien as Frank Bigelow in D.O.A (archive footage)

Edmond O'Brien

** Frank Bigelow in D.O.A (archive footage)

Carroll O'Connor as Lt. Christy French in Marlowe (archive footage)

Carroll O'Connor

** Lt. Christy French in Marlowe (archive footage)

Belinda Palmer as Katherine in Chinatown (archive footage)

Belinda Palmer

** Katherine in Chinatown (archive footage)

Jürgen Prochnow as Michael Kogan in The Replacement Killers (archive footage)

Jürgen Prochnow

** Michael Kogan in The Replacement Killers (archive footage)

Tony Roberts as Rob in Annie Hall (archive footage)

Tony Roberts

** Rob in Annie Hall (archive footage)

Cliff Robertson as President in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Cliff Robertson

** President in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Mitchell Ryan as The Priest in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Mitchell Ryan

** The Priest in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Ann Savage as Vera in Detour (archive footage)

Ann Savage

** Vera in Detour (archive footage)

Zachary Scott as Monte Beragon in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)

Zachary Scott

** Monte Beragon in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)

Paolo Seganti as Johnny Stompanato in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Paolo Seganti

** Johnny Stompanato in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

James Stacy as Joe Brodnek in Flareup (archive footage)

James Stacy

** Joe Brodnek in Flareup (archive footage)

Madeleine Stowe as Karen Carr in Unlawful Entry (archive footage)

Madeleine Stowe

** Karen Carr in Unlawful Entry (archive footage)

David Strathairn as Pierce Patchett in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

David Strathairn

** Pierce Patchett in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd (archive footage)

Gloria Swanson

** Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd (archive footage)

William Talman as Dave Purvis in Armoured Car Robbery  (archive footage)

William Talman

** Dave Purvis in Armoured Car Robbery (archive footage)

Larenz Tate as Frankie Lymon in Why Do Fools Fall In Love (archive footage)

Larenz Tate

** Frankie Lymon in Why Do Fools Fall In Love (archive footage)

George Tobias as Al Doyle in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)

George Tobias

** Al Doyle in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)

Lana Turner as Cora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice (archive footage)

Lana Turner

** Cora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice (archive footage)

Diane Venora as Justine in Heat (archive footage)

Diane Venora

** Justine in Heat (archive footage)

John Vernon as Mal Reese in Point Blank (archive footage)

John Vernon

** Mal Reese in Point Blank (archive footage)

Craig Wasson as Jake Scully in Body Double (archive footage)

Craig Wasson

** Jake Scully in Body Double (archive footage)

Keenen Ivory Wayans as Det. Jim Campbell in The Glimmer Man (archive footage)

Keenen Ivory Wayans

** Det. Jim Campbell in The Glimmer Man (archive footage)

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet (archive footage)

Jack Webb

** Sergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet (archive footage)

Raquel Welch as Michele in Flareup (archive footage)

Raquel Welch

** Michele in Flareup (archive footage)

James Whitmore as Lou Hopke in Shadow in The Sky (archive footage)

James Whitmore

** Lou Hopke in Shadow in The Sky (archive footage)

Cornel Wilde as Griff Marat in Shockproof (archive footage)

Cornel Wilde

** Griff Marat in Shockproof (archive footage)

Mykelti Williamson as Det. Oliver Franklin in First Power (archive footage)

Mykelti Williamson

** Det. Oliver Franklin in First Power (archive footage)

Jonathan Winters as Wilbur Glenworthy in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Jonathan Winters

** Wilbur Glenworthy in The Loved Ones (archive footage)

Natalie Wood as Judy in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Natalie Wood

** Judy in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Jenny Wright as Diz in Out of Bounds (archive footage)

Jenny Wright

** Diz in Out of Bounds (archive footage)

Burt Young as Curly in Chinatown (archive footage)

Burt Young

** Curly in Chinatown (archive footage)

Darrell Zwerling as Hollis Mulwray in Chinatown (archive footage)

Darrell Zwerling

** Hollis Mulwray in Chinatown (archive footage)

Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Kurt Russell

** Snake Plissken in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

scroll to see more casts >>>

Related Movies

RibbonMovie
Awful Emoji
20/100

East LA Interchange

(2015)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
70/100

Wattstax

(1973)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
66/100

Rize

(2005)

RibbonMovie
Awful Emoji
0/100

Senses of Cinema

(2022)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
60/100

The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down

(2007)

RibbonMovie
Great Emoji
77/100

Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992

(2017)

RibbonMovie
Great Emoji
77/100

LA 92

(2017)

RibbonMovie
Awful Emoji
0/100

The L.A. Riots: 25 Years Later

(2017)

RibbonMovie
Great Emoji
100/100

Blake and Gwen: Now and Then

(2021)

RibbonMovie
Great Emoji
81/100

One Six Right

(2005)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
72/100

Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405

(2016)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
69/100

The Blade Runner Phenomenon

(2021)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
67/100

High Noon on the Waterfront

(2022)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
69/100

An Open Secret

(2014)

RibbonMovie
Great Emoji
82/100

Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film

(2006)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
71/100

The Decline of Western Civilization

(1981)

RibbonMovie
Awful Emoji
0/100

Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson

(No Year)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
57/100

101 Rent Boys

(2000)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
66/100

Half the Picture

(2018)

RibbonMovie
Normal Emoji
69/100

Seeing Allred

(2018)