In Los Angeles, the secret agent Richard Chance loses his partner and friend Jim Hart in an investigation of counterfeit, two days before the retirement of Jim. The agent John Vukovich is assigned to work with Chance, who is obsessed to capture Eric ‘Rick’ Masters, the criminal responsible for the death of Jim. Chance risks both his partners and his own career, trying to arrest Rick.

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
  • Rating: (11,912 votes)
  • Taglines:The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again! » A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode. »
  • Runtime:116 minutes
  • Director: William Friedkin
  • Country:USA
  • Actors:
    Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen)
    William Petersen
    Eric Masters
    Willem Dafoe
    John Vukovich
    John Pankow
    Bianca Torres
    Debra Feuer
    Carl Cody
    John Turturro
    Ruth Lanier
    Darlanne Fluegel
    Bob Grimes
    Dean Stockwell
    Jeff Rice
    Steve James
    Thomas Bateman (as Robert Downey)
    Robert Downey Sr.
    Jim Hart
    Michael Greene
  • Genres:Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
  • Producers:
    Irving H. Levin
    producer  
    Samuel Schulman
    executive producer  
    Bud S. Smith
    co-producer (as Bud Smith) 
  • Plots: Two cops in Los Angeles try to track down the vicious criminal Eric Masters. Then, one of them is killed by Masters and the other one swears revenge no matter what the cost. After that, the hunt becomes an ob- session and the law he once swore to uphold becomes meaningless to him. Written by Harald Mayr <marvin@bike.augusta.de>
To Live and Die in L.A.
  • User's comment:Strong film by mm-39

    This story is very 80's, and is heavily influenced by the TV show Miami Vice. The style, clothes, music, and characters reflect that time period exactly. The direction of this film gives a slick feel; where its action, style, and seedy underside all blend in well. The story could be very predictable, but with its plots twists, and the theme that follows the saying be careful when you go hunting for monster not to become one yourself gives it originality. It has some mind blowing stunts that create tension, and if you watch the film Ronin you see where they got the car chase idea from. In all this film gives a feeling of being involved in events that go too fast, too dangerous, and too twisted. Its shows what happens to the heart when the individual becomes obsessed with what he seeks. Watch this one and love it.


  • Quotes: Ruth Lanier: How much do I get for the information I gave you on Waxman? Richard Chance: No arrest, no money. Ruth Lanier: It's my fault he's dead? It took me six months to get next to him. I got expenses, you know.
  • Also known as: Vivir y morir en Los Ángeles (Peru - imdb display title), Vivir y morir en Los Ángeles (Spain), Vivir y morir en Los Ángeles (Uruguay), Police fédérale, Los Angeles (Canada - French title), Police fédérale, Los Angeles (France), Viver E Morrer em Los Angeles (Brazil), Viver E Morrer em Los Angeles (Portugal), Änglarnas stad (Sweden - video title), Änglarnas stad - Los Angeles (Sweden), Élni és meghalni Los Angelesben (Hungary), Brottsplats Los Angeles (Sweden - TV title), Elää ja kuolla L.A.:ssa (Finland), L.A. daisosasen -- Ôkami-tachi no machi (Japan), Leben und sterben in L.A. (West Germany), Lihyot ve'lamut be'Los Angeles (Israel - imdb display title, Hebrew title), O anthropos apo to Los Angeles (Greece - transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title), Vivere e morire a Los Angeles (Italy),

  1. GARY MAKIN Says:
    February 7th, 2011 at 2:19 am

    Underrated classic.

What do you think of this movie? Leave a comment.