Los Angeles Plays Itself background

Los Angeles Plays Itself

A tour of iconic Los Angeles landmarks and cultural attractions that have been featured in popular movies.

Few cities have been mythologized as much in film and television as Los Angeles. This documentary delves into how the city has been portrayed, both as an anonymous backdrop and as the main focus.

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Main Cast

Encke KingEncke KingNarrator (voice)
Ben AlexanderBen AlexanderOfficer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)
Jim BackusJim BackusFrank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)
Brenda BakkeBrenda BakkeLana Turner in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)
Barbara O. JonesBarbara O. JonesDorothy in Bush Mama (archive footage)
Gene BarryGene BarryDr. Clayton Forrester in The War of The Worlds (archive footage)
Richard BasehartRichard BasehartRoy Morgan/Roy Martin in He Walked By Night (archive footage)
Hugh BeaumontHugh BeaumontGeorge Copeland in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)
William BendixWilliam BendixBuzz Wanchek in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)
Ann BlythAnn BlythVeda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)
Jim BoutonJim BoutonTerry Lennox in The Long Goodbye (archive footage)
Grand L. BushGrand L. BushFBI Agent Little Johnson in Die Hard (archive footage)
James CagneyJames CagneyTom Powers in The Public Enemy (archive footage)
Lon Chaney Jr.Lon Chaney Jr.Charles Benton in The Indestructible Man (archive footage)
John ConsidineJohn ConsidineMatthew Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)
Bill CosbyBill CosbyAl Hickey in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)
Robert CulpRobert CulpFrank Boggs in Hickey & Boggs (archive footage)
Howard DuffHoward DuffDave Pomeroy in Panic in the City (archive footage)
Deanna DurbinDeanna DurbinPenny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)
Mark FrechetteMark FrechetteMark in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)
John GarfieldJohn GarfieldNick Blake in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)
Ben GazzaraBen GazzaraJackie Treehorn in The Big Lebowski (archive footage)
Bruce GloverBruce GloverDuffy in Chinatown (archive footage)
Marjoe GortnerMarjoe GortnerJoby in Earthquake (archive footage)
James GriffithJames GriffithJesse Quinn in Dragnet (archive footage)
Daria HalprinDaria HalprinDaria in Zabriskie Point (archive footage)
Oliver HardyOliver HardyOllie (archive footage)
Jean HarlowJean HarlowGwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)
Bob HopeBob HopeAdam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)
Lauren HuttonLauren HuttonGeorgia Crawford in Timestalkers (archive footage)
Henry JaglomHenry JaglomDean in Venice/Venice (archive footage)
David JanssenDavid JanssenSteve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
Peter JasonPeter JasonDuty Sergeant in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)
Roy JensonRoy JensonMulvihill in Chinatown (archive footage)
Jack KlugmanJack KlugmanSandman in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
Alan LaddAlan LaddPhilip Raven in This Gun For Hire (archive footage)
Stan LaurelStan LaurelStan (archive footage)
Al LeongAl LeongUli in Die Hard (archive footage)
Jerry LewisJerry LewisJerome Littlefield in The Disorderly Orderly (archive footage)
Gary LockwoodGary LockwoodGeorge Matthews in Model Shop (archive footage)
Perry LopezPerry LopezEscobar in Chinatown (archive footage)
Lyle LovettLyle LovettDetective DeLongpre in The Player (archive footage)
Fred MacMurrayFred MacMurrayWalter Neff in Double Indemnity (archive footage)
Guy MadisonGuy MadisonCliff Harper in Till the End of Time (archive footage)
Joe MantellJoe MantellWalsh in Chinatown (archive footage)
Matt McCoyMatt McCoyBrett Chase in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)
Ralph MeekerRalph MeekerMike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly (archive footage)
Sal MineoSal MineoJohn 'Plato' Crawford in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)
Harry MorganHarry MorganOfficer Bill Gannon in Dragnet (archive footage)
Robert MorleyRobert MorleySir Ambrose Abercrombie in The Loved Ones (archive footage)
Robert MorseRobert MorseDennis Barlow in The Loved Ones (archive footage)
Tom NealTom NealAl Roberts in Detour (archive footage)
Lloyd NolanLloyd NolanDr. Vance in Earthquake (archive footage)
Edmond O'BrienEdmond O'BrienFrank Bigelow in D.O.A (archive footage)
Carroll O'ConnorCarroll O'ConnorLt. Christy French in Marlowe (archive footage)
Belinda PalmerBelinda PalmerKatherine in Chinatown (archive footage)
Jürgen ProchnowJürgen ProchnowMichael Kogan in The Replacement Killers (archive footage)
Tony RobertsTony RobertsRob in Annie Hall (archive footage)
Cliff RobertsonCliff RobertsonPresident in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)
Mitchell RyanMitchell RyanThe Priest in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
Ann SavageAnn SavageVera in Detour (archive footage)
Zachary ScottZachary ScottMonte Beragon in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)
Paolo SegantiPaolo SegantiJohnny Stompanato in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)
James StacyJames StacyJoe Brodnek in Flareup (archive footage)
Madeleine StoweMadeleine StoweKaren Carr in Unlawful Entry (archive footage)
David StrathairnDavid StrathairnPierce Patchett in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)
Gloria SwansonGloria SwansonNorma Desmond in Sunset Blvd (archive footage)
William TalmanWilliam TalmanDave Purvis in Armoured Car Robbery (archive footage)
Larenz TateLarenz TateFrankie Lymon in Why Do Fools Fall In Love (archive footage)
George TobiasGeorge TobiasAl Doyle in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage)
Lana TurnerLana TurnerCora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice (archive footage)
Diane VenoraDiane VenoraJustine in Heat (archive footage)
John VernonJohn VernonMal Reese in Point Blank (archive footage)
Craig WassonCraig WassonJake Scully in Body Double (archive footage)
Keenen Ivory WayansKeenen Ivory WayansDet. Jim Campbell in The Glimmer Man (archive footage)
Jack WebbJack WebbSergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet (archive footage)
Raquel WelchRaquel WelchMichele in Flareup (archive footage)
James WhitmoreJames WhitmoreLou Hopke in Shadow in The Sky (archive footage)
Cornel WildeCornel WildeGriff Marat in Shockproof (archive footage)
Mykelti WilliamsonMykelti WilliamsonDet. Oliver Franklin in First Power (archive footage)
Jonathan WintersJonathan WintersWilbur Glenworthy in The Loved Ones (archive footage)
Natalie WoodNatalie WoodJudy in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)
Jenny WrightJenny WrightDiz in Out of Bounds (archive footage)
Burt YoungBurt YoungCurly in Chinatown (archive footage)
Darrell ZwerlingDarrell ZwerlingHollis Mulwray in Chinatown (archive footage)
Kurt RussellKurt RussellSnake Plissken in Escape From L.A. (archive footage)

Creators

Thom AndersenThom AndersenDirector, Writer

Los Angeles Plays Itself Videos

Los Angeles Plays Itself / trailer

Los Angeles Plays Itself / trailer

Info about Los Angeles Plays Itself

Studio(s): Thom Andersen Productions

Originally Released: United States, Jul 28, 2004

Production Country: United States

Genres:Documentary, History

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