‘TWO JAKES’ ON THE SHELF NOW

Robert Towne has structured an extraordinary screenplay. It’s a wonderful role for Jack. And I must say, I have the second biggest part. I only hope I don’t screw up the picture.

--Robert Evans on the “Chinatown” sequel, “Two Jakes,” in a December, 1984, interview

When the phone rang in Robert Towne’s office at Laird International Studios in Culver City Monday, the half-dozen crew members gathered in the white-walled office quickly fell silent. Jack Nicholson was calling from New York and, judging from Towne’s troubled expression, the group knew “Two Jakes” was in trouble. Flashing the thumbs down sign, Towne announced, “The picture is dead.”

The news that Paramount Pictures had at least temporarily pulled the plug on the film caught industry insiders off guard.

On paper, this looked like the perfect project: a sure thing in a business where there are no sure things. Jack Nicholson had agreed to revive the role of L.A. private eye Jake Gittes and to co-produce. “Chinatown” screenwriter Robert Towne scripted the sequel and was signed to direct. Rounding out this gifted trio was 54-year-old co-producer Robert Evans, who would co-star as the other Jake--real estate tycoon Jake Berman, Gittes’ nemesis.

Not a single foot of film was shot, but they did get close: Studio executives raved about the script. Crew members--some of whom had worked on the original--raved about the sets. The first week’s shooting, set to begin April 30, had been mapped out to the last detail.

In the end, those who worked on the film say “Jakes” was a victim of ego overdose. When director Towne finally decided Evans was not right for the Berman role, Paramount got nervous. “The main concern was that Bob Evans could not act his way out of a paper bag,” said one executive who had helped shepherd the project. “Everyone was shocked it went this far.”

In recent weeks, there were clues that the production was in trouble. More than 120 crew members have filed grievances with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees charging they have not been paid for as much as two weeks work. Six Directors Guild of America members filed complaints as well. “As far as I know no one has been paid for the last two weeks,” said IATSE spokesman Mac St. Johns. “This is very rare and it’s outrageous.”

The production has racked up a bundle of debt as well. According to a high-ranking production member, a number of suppliers have yet to be paid. More than $50,000 is owed on lumber, $35,000 in paint and about $100,000 is due to prop houses, according to one high-ranking crew member. All in all, he said, the production owes about $1.5 million in pre-production costs. “People are out of pocket a fortune,” he said. “My guess is they will be paid but it’s going to take a minute.”

A Paramount spokeswoman confirmed that the production has been postponed indefinitely and added, “Paramount has no further comment at this time.” One studio executive said, “We’re still straightening it all out here so we couldn’t possibly comment.”

What is clear is that a high-pitched debate between Towne on one side and Nicholson and Evans on the other was at least partially--but not wholly--responsible for Paramount’s decision. Early on, Towne had written the Jake Berman part for Evans, a close friend for 20 years. Towne even included eccentricities exclusive to the 54-year-old producer. In a scene where the three main characters are playing golf for $1,000 a hole, Evans was portrayed humming at the tee, an Evans trademark. And even when Dustin Hoffman expressed an interest in the Berman role, Towne stuck by Evans.

But as the shoot date neared, Towne apparently got cold feet. The director shot several test scenes with Evans in makeup and it became clear to Towne that Evans was not his man. According to a crew member on the set, Towne expressed concern daily over Evans’ performance. “He told me, ‘I’m really scared this guy could cause a lot of delays,’ ” the source said.

Meanwhile, according to observers, Evans was fanatically concerned with every detail concerning his role, spending hours fixing his hair and makeup. “He was like Faye Dunaway,” said one crew member. “He made the hairdresser’s trailer look like a hurricane had hit.” Evans and Towne were unavailable for comment, spokesmen said.

According to a number of sources connected to the production, Towne finally announced his decision to Evans at a meeting on April 26, four days before shooting was to begin. Evans reportedly took the news hard and his strong reaction surprised Towne. “Bob Evans got very upset, much more upset than anyone could have imagined,” one observer said.

On the eve of the movie’s start, the debate came to a frenzy at a marathon meeting at Evans’ Beverly Hills home. Besides Evans, Towne and Nicholson, others at the meeting included lawyers, agents (ICM’s Jeff Berg for Towne) as well as Frank Mancuso Jr., executive producer of the picture, and his father Paramount Chairman Frank Mancuso Sr. According to one source, Nicholson steadfastly refused to make the movie unless Evans retained his promised role.

On April 30, the crew showed up for work at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. Evans was on hand for rehearsals, but no scenes were shot. (His first scenes would not have been filmed until the second week of production.) By April 30, with lawyers trading memos, it was quickly becoming clear that the day had been lost. The next morning, the crew gathered at the Holiday Inn in Ventura. After a meeting among Towne, Nicholson and Evans, it was announced that there would be no shooting that day. A publicist quickly put out the word that foggy weather caused the delay. By then, the studio had instructed the principals that they would not be allowed to start shooting.

Not until this week did Paramount confirm that the production was postponed indefinitely. Some still believe the studio will revive the project . . . but only when tensions have eased. There is little chance that “Two Jakes” will wind up at another studio because, while Towne owns his script, the studio controls the rights to a “Chinatown” sequel. While the production has been canceled, the structure of the “Two Jakes” deal prevents the movie from falling into “turnaround,” a contractual condition that would make it available to another studio.

In the end, says one insider, Towne was willing to use Evans if it meant the crew would be paid and there was a good chance the show might go on. But by that point, Paramount was concerned that “Two Jakes” might develop into a costly nightmare.

“Paramount will make this movie,” said one observer. “But only when the movie makers get their act together.”