


Chinatown, San Francisco, 1928. Former private detective Dashiell Hammett, a compulsive drinker with tuberculosis who writes pulp fiction for a living, receives an unexpected visit from an old friend asking for help.

Frederic Forrest
Hammett

Peter Boyle
Jimmy Ryan

Marilu Henner
Kit Conger / Sue Alabama

Roy Kinnear
English Eddie Hagedorn

Lydia Lei
Crystal Ling

Elisha Cook Jr.
Eli the Taxi Driver

David Patrick Kelly
The Punk

R.G. Armstrong
Lt. O'Mara

Richard Bradford
Detective Bradford

Jack Nance
Gary Salt

Michael Chow
Fong Wei Tau

Sylvia Sidney
Donaldina Cameron
Elmer Kline
Doc Fallon

Royal Dano
Pops

Samuel Fuller
Old Man in Pool Hall

Lloyd Kino
Barber

Fox Harris
Frank the News Vendor
Rose Wong
Chinese Laundress
Liz Roberson
Lady in the Library
Jean-François Ferreol
French Sailor
Wim Wenders
Dennis O'Flaherty, Ross Thomas
Released