When a notorious, highly sophisticated counterfeiter murders his partner, Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William Petersen) launches a furious vendetta to capture the man responsible. But master counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe) is always just one step ahead of Chance in William Friedkin's thrilling, suspenseful crime drama. With violent shoot-outs and a turbulent chase scene reminiscent of Friedkin's own THE FRENCH CONNECTION, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. broke with tradition by making the ostensible hero as morally reprehensible as the villain he pursues. Clashing with bureaucratic obstacles, Chance is forced to break the rules in order to procure cash for a sting operation, but the risks he takes snowball into an avalanche of violence and moral repercussions, leading to a morally ambiguous cul-de-sac from which there may be no return.

Secret Service agent Richard Chance will do anything--whether legal or not--to nail the creep who murdered his partner. Then he gets a lead on the killer...but the wily criminal is smooth enough to keep eluding capture.

Theatrical Release: November 1, 1985

Filmed in Los Angeles and San Pedro.

Excerpt: "Why are you running?"--John Vukovich (John Pankow)
"Because you're chasing me!"--Criminal

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Stereo Surround - French
Monaural - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. William Friedkin - Director
Featurettes - 1. Deleted Scenes
2. Alternate Endings
Documentary - 1. "Counterfeit World: The Making of TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A."
Original Theatrical Trailers
Text/Image Galleries:
Photo Gallery

William L. Petersen: American Actor
Willem Dafoe: American Actor
John Pankow: TV/Film Actor
Dean Stockwell: American Actor
John Turturro: American Actor/Director, BARTON FINK (1991)
Darlanne Fluegel: American Supporting Actress
Robert Downey: Director/Actor/Screenwriter/ Producer

William Friedkin: Oscar winning American director, THE FRENCH CONNECTION

"...TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is Friedkin at his glossiest....It's the car chases and shoot-outs and eye-catching settings that are truly the heart of the matter."
"...Engrossing....Extremely well cast....Everyone here seems capable of deception and moral duplicity, and then live up to those expectations..."
"...One of the great underrated films of the Eighties....A movie with a vision..."
"...Vibrant....It's a kick to watch a lanky, fresh-faced Petersen..."
"[With] kinetic action scenes....Three new faces made significant early impressions..."
"Ridiculously entertaining car chase and all....The movie benefits from LA shimmer..."