The year 1990 saw the release of James Ellroy’s sweeping crime novel L.A. Confidential, which Ellroy wanted to be the most epic book about L.A. ever written. In his own eyes, the author accomplished that goal, calling his own work a “masterpiece” and one he did not envision making the transition to the big screen. Not that he really cared; Ellroy was always vocal about his disinterest in seeing his books adapted into movies, as he wasn’t particularly interested in the medium.

But there was a kindred spirit who similarly loved the City of Angels, and who wanted to tell a very big story about the place where he grew up. Curtis Hanson had been a director of adequate thrillers like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and The River Wild, but he was searching for a project that would allow him to tell a grandscale story about Los Angeles. Already a fan of Ellroy’s material, Hanson connected with L.A. Confidential, the third book in what’s now known as Ellroy’s L.A. Quartet. Filled with murder, drugs, police corruption, prostitutes, and Hollywood stars, the epic story had all the elements of the edgy 1940s and 50s film noirs and detective stories that Hanson admired. But it wasn’t exactly commercial. Could such a gritty, plotheavy tale translate to the big screen? Furthermore, would anyone want to see it?

Grab a bottle of your favorite hooch while we tell you “What Happened to this movie!”

For more MOVIE NEWS, visit: http://www.joblo.com

SUBSCRIBE for more of all the LATEST JoBlo Videos here: https://goo.gl/R9U81J

#LAConfidential #RussellCrowe #WTFHappenedToThisMovie