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| “ | I don't blame myself. You see, Mr. Gittes, most people never face the fact, that in the right place, at the right time, they're capable of anything! | „ |
| ~ Noah Cross rationalizing the fact that he sexually abused his own daughter. |
| “ | You may think you know what you're dealing with. But believe me you don't! | „ |
| ~ Noah Cross convincing Jake Gittes to not take the job in order to try and elude justice for his monstrous crimes. |
Noah Cross is the main antagonist of the 1974 neo-noir mystery film Chinatown. He is a wealthy industrialist and crime lord who is the richest and most powerful figure in Los Angeles.
He was portrayed by the late John Huston.
Biography[]
Noah Cross is a powerful crime boss and business tycoon who became the richest and most powerful man in Los Angeles. Upon being appointed the head of the city's water department, Cross secretly exploits his position to destroy water tanks and poison wells. During the start of the film, private investigator Jake Gittes (the film's main protagonist) learns that Cross's son-in-law Hollis Mulwray has been found dead in a freshwater reservoir. Gittes also learns that Mulwray had a girlfriend and was once Cross' business partner. Cross offers to double Gittes's fee in exchange for finding Mulwray's girlfriend.
Later on, Gittes learns that Mulwray was actually murdered, and discovers a conspiracy to use the new reservoir to irrigate newly purchased properties while leaving the Northwest Valley dry. At first, Gittes suspects that Cross's daughter Evelyn is responsible, especially after a woman named Ida Sessions (who was posing as Evelyn earlier in the film) is found dead with salt water inside her lungs. He also finds a pair of bifocals that were missing from the crime scene during the murder of Mulwray.
As Gittes confronts Evelyn, she admits that Cross raped her when she was 15 years old, resulting in her getting pregnant with her sister/daughter Katherine. She also reveals that she staged the rumor of Mulwray having Katherine as his girlfriend to keep her away from Cross. Evelyn also points out that the bifocals are not Mulwray's, since he didn't wear them.
Gittes then decides to help both Evelyn and Katherine escape to Mexico. While having Evelyn to meet at her butler's home in Chinatown, he summons Cross to the Mulwray residence, where he produces the evidence to prove that Cross is behind the murders. Noah then admits of his true plan: to incorporate the Northwest Valley into the city of Los Angeles, which will cover up his crimes and bring the entire city enough water to produce an extravagant fortune. Cross then has his enforcer Claude Mulvihill hold Gittes at gunpoint, forcing him to take him to the women.
When the three reach the Chinatown hiding place, the police are already there and they detain Gittes. Evelyn will not allow Cross to approach Katherine, and when he is undeterred, she shoots him in the arm and drives away with Katherine. However, the police fire on Evelyn, killing her (much to Katherine's distress). Cross then takes the opportunity to take Katherine for himself and leads her away while a demoralized Gittes leaves with his associates, with one of them saying, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.".
It is revealed in the sequel Two Jakes that Cross died shortly after making Katherine the heir to his vast fortune.
Personality[]
Cross has a personality of the typical classical villain. He is highly intelligent, cunning, devious, egomaniacal, manipulative, ruthless, avaricious and utterly disturbing to the core. During his career of the villain he was shown as posh, suave, elegant, luxurious and old-fashioned at first. Cross is also very charming and charismatic individual and can easy make people trust him.
When he first met with Jake, Cross made a look as a sympathetic, pleasant and kind man and he was shown as kind, caring, and loving father to Evelyn. Only then he revealed his true intentions. Cross is actually a utterly villainous, devious, brutal, rapacious, dangerous and ruthless psychopath. He is extremely egoistical, untrustworthy, arrogant, traitorous and manipulative and is ready to commit murder, kidnapping and incriminating to complete his goals.
Cross is also shown to be a very greedy man. Later in the film, it is revealed that he murdered Evelyn's husband Hollis to claim his water for himself although Cross seems doesn't care about it. Cross is also highly hypocritical. And is shown in the film that he doesn't blame himself for raping his own daughter, justifying himself by saying people "at the right at the right place are capables of anything". He also tells Jake that "it's just business".
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Noah Cross is the only non-western villain that John Huston played.
- At the time, Houston's portrayal of Noah Cross was controversial as it was deemed too dark.
- Noah's outfit, demeanor, and motivations would be used as inspiration for Tortoise John in Rango.
- Even though he is the main antagonist of the film, Noah only has eleven-twelve minutes of screen time.
External Links[]
- Noah Cross on the Pure Evil Wiki
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| Chinatown Villains | ||
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Noah Cross' Gang Noah Cross | Russ Yelburton | Claude Mulvihill | Ida Sessions | Man with Knife | Mayor Bagby | ||