"Chinatown"

The signage of the King Hing Theatre, 649 N. Spring St. in Chinatown, is seen on the far right in this shot as Jack Nicholson drives south on Spring St. near the end of Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" (Paramount, 1974). That's Faye Dunaway's car that they spot on the left.

John Huston approaches for a chat with the police detective played by Perry Lopez. The King Hing vertical is seen in the distance in the center of the image.

The beginning of the final shot looking south on Spring from Ord St. John Alonzo was the cinematographer.

Up in the air with the King Hing in the distance just before the credits roll. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Jordan Lage for spotting the theatre in the film. 

See the page about the King Hing Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about the theatre. It opened around 1963, one of three theatres in Chinatown.

Darrell Kunitomi comments:

"Me and pals walked up the short hill and the scene was pretty amazing -- North Spring was turned into the past: vintage cars, signs, extras in period dress. We stood around for a while and watched the proceedings. (I wonder if Nicholson was in the bar behind us.) I asked a crew guy, hey, what are you filming? Guy replied, 'Chinatown.' I said, well of course. A year later the movie came out, then I knew. Such a great movie, such fake LA history."

On IMDb: "Chinatown"

"The Last Word"

We spend a lot of time in Highland Park with Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine in Mark Pellington's "The Last Word" (Bleeker Street Media, 2017).  The neighborhood is standing in for a California town called Bristol. Amanda's an obituary writer at the local paper, the Bristol Gazette, and Shirley hires her to write her obit -- only she realizes that she needs to change her life to get the writeup she wants.

A shot looking north on Figueroa St. On the right is the north edge of the Highland Theatre building at 5604 N. Figueroa Ave. in Highland Park.

Another shot of the Highland. 

Amanda and Thomas Sadoski across the street from the Highland on their first date. He runs the local alternative radio station where Shirley MacLaine becomes a DJ at the age of 81.

See the page about the Highland Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more data and photos.

On IMDb: "The Last Word"

"Lights Out"

The Highland Theatre in Highland Park gets a minor cameo in the background in a scene in "Lights Out" (New Line/Warner Bros., 2016). Alexander DiPersia has just spent some time with Teresa Palmer in her apartment across the street from the theatre. She shoos him out and he's feeling dejected. But she opens her window to tell him that she really likes him. "Oh, and one more thing," she says. He's expecting words of endearment but she tosses down his sock. 

It turns into a story about a supernatural being that threatens a family when (are you ready?) the lights go out. The film, directed by David F. Sandberg, also features Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, Andi Osho and Alicia Vela-Bailey. The cinematography was by Marc Spicer. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for spotting this one.

 

A later shot down the west side of the street. A reflection of the theatre's marquee is seen in the lower left.

The theatre, at 5604 N. Figueroa St., is a 1925 design by L.A. Smith for West Coast Theatres. Now a triplex on the main floor, its unused balcony still has most of the original decor. See the Highland Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a photo tour.

On IMDb: "Lights Out"

"Cyrus"

The Highland has never been much of a movie star but we see the marquee as John C. Reilly does a nighttime drive-by in "Cyrus" (Fox Searchlight, 2010).  The film, directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, also features Marissa Tomei and Jonah Hill. Thanks to Films In Films for the screenshot that appears on their website.

The theatre, at 5604 N. Figueroa St. in Highland Park, is a 1925 design by L.A. Smith for West Coast Theatres. It's now a triplex downstairs with the balcony unused. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Highland Theatre for more information.

On IMDb: "Cyrus"