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To Live and Die in L.A.

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7.1/10 • 705

1985-11-01 • 1h 56m

CrimeThrillerAction

A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode.

When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters.

Directors
William Friedkin
Editors
M. Scott Smith

Top Billed Cast

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  1. William Petersen

    William Petersen

    Richard Chance

  2. Willem Dafoe

    Willem Dafoe

    Rick Masters

  3. John Pankow

    John Pankow

    John Vukovich

  4. Debra Feuer

    Debra Feuer

    Bianca Torres

  5. John Turturro

    John Turturro

    Carl Cody

  6. Dean Stockwell

    Dean Stockwell

    Bob Grimes

  7. Darlanne Fluegel

    Darlanne Fluegel

    Ruth Lanier

  8. Michael Greene

    Michael Greene

    Jim Hart

  9. Steve James

    Steve James

    Jeff Rice

Reviews1

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griggs79 Avatar

griggs79

Jun 23, 2025

8/10

To Live and Die in L.A. is a sharp, cynical thriller where style trumps sentiment. Friedkin pairs bold visuals with a pulsing Tangerine Dream score, driving a fast, morally murky plot. Corruption spreads, rules bend, and no one stays clean. The car chase is a highlight—second only to The French Connection. Boldly killing off the lead mid-film, it bridges classic noir and modern thrillers. In this world, survival means faking it better than the rest.

Media

  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster
  • To Live and Die in L.A. poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$6,000,000.00
Revenue
$17,307,019.00
Keywords
hold-up robberybungee-jumpcoprevengecounterfeitlos angeles, californiabluntsecret servicecounterfeit moneymysteriousneo-noirprovocativefactualaudaciousbold