Three police detectives in 1950s Los Angeles take very different approaches as part of a murder investigation. It is the L.A. underbelly: sleaze, scandal, and police corruption, all pitch-perfect. Won Oscars for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adaptation; received 7 additional nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Dramatic Score.
| Kevin Spacey | ... Jack Vincennes |
| Russell Crowe | ... Bud White |
| Guy Pearce | ... Ed Exley |
| James Cromwell | ... Dudley Smith |
| David Strathairn | ... Pierce Patchett |
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| with |
| Kim Basinger | ... Lynn Bracken |
| Danny DeVito | ... Sid Hudgens |
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| Graham Beckel | ... Dick Stensland |
| Simon Baker | ... Matt Reynolds |
| Matt McCoy | ... "Badge of Honor" Star Brett Chase |
| Jim Metzler | ... City Councilman |
| Paul Guilfoyle | ... Mickey Cohen |
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| Ron Rifkin | ... D.A. Ellis Loew |
| Paolo Seganti | ... Johnny Stompanato |
| Elisabeth Granli | ... Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner |
| Sandra Taylor | ... Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner |
| Steve Rankin | ... Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen |
| Allan Graf | ... Wife Beater |
| Precious Chong | ... Wife |
| Symba Smith | ... Jack's Dancing Partner |
| Bob Clendenin | ... Reporter at Hollywood Station |
| Lennie Loftin | ... Photographer at Hollywood Station |
| Will Zahrn | ... Liquor Store Owner |
| Amber Smith | ... Susan Lefferts |
| Darrell Sandeen | ... Buzz Meeks |
| Michael Warwick | ... Sid's Assistant |
| Shawnee Free Jones | ... Tammy Jordan |
| Matthew Allen Bretz | ... Officer Escorting Mexicans |
| Thomas Rosales, Jr. | ... First Mexican |
| Shane Dixon | ... Officer at Hollywood Station |
| Norman Howell | ... Officer at Hollywood Station |
| Brian Lally | ... Officer at Hollywood Station |
| Don Pulford | ... Officer at Hollywood Station |
| Chris Short | ... Officer at Hollywood Station |
| John Mahon | ... Police Chief |
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| Dudley's Guys |
| Tomas Arana | ... Breuning |
| Michael McCleery | ... Carlisle |
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| George Yager | ... Gangster at Victory Motel |
| Jack Conley | ... Vice Captain |
| Ginger Slaughter | ... Secretary in Vice |
| Jack Knight | ... Detective at Detective Bureau |
| John H. Evans | ... Patrolman at Nite Owl Cafe |
| Gene Wolande | ... Forensic Chief |
| Brian Bossetta | ... Forensic Officer |
| Michael Chieffo | ... Coroner |
| Gwenda Deacon | ... Mrs. Lefferts |
| Mike Kennedy | ... Bud's Rejected Partner |
| Ingo Neuhaus | ... Jack's Rejected Partner |
| Robert Harrison | ... Pierce Patchett's Bodyguard |
| Robert Barry Fleming | ... Boxer |
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| Nite Owl Suspects |
| Jeremiah Birkett | ... Ray Collins |
| Salim Grant | ... Louis Fontaine |
| Karreem Washington | ... Ty Jones |
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| Noel Evangelisti | ... Stenographer |
| Marisol Padilla Sanchez | ... Inez Soto (Rape Victim) |
| Jeff Sanders | ... Sylvester Fitch |
| Steven Lambert | ... Roland Navarette |
| Jordan Marder | ... Officer at Detective Bureau |
| Gregory White | ... Mayor |
| April Breneman | ... Look-A-Like Dancer |
| Lisa Worthy | ... Look-A-Like Dancer |
| Beverly Sharpe | ... Witness on "Badge of Honor" |
| Colin Mitchell | ... Reporter at Hospital |
| John Slade | ... Photographer at Hospital |
| Brenda Bakke | ... Lana Turner |
| Kevin Maloney | ... Frolic Room Bartender |
| Patrice Walters | ... Police File Clerk |
| Rebecca Jane Klingler | ... Police File Clerk |
| Irene Roseen | ... D.A. Ellis Loew's Secretary |
| Scott Eberlein | ... West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputy |
| David St. James | ... Detective at Hush-Hush Office |
| Bodie Newcomb | ... Officer at Hush-Hush Office |
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| Detectives |
| Jeff Austin | ... Detective |
| Robert Foster | ... Detective |
| Kevin Kelly | ... Detective |
| Henry Marder | ... Detective |
| Monty McKee | ... Detective |
| Henry Meyers | ... Detective |
| Michael Ossman | ... Detective |
| Dick Stilwell | ... Detective |
| Jess Thomas | ... Detective |
| Samuel Thompson | ... Detective |
| Jody Wood | ... Detective |
