Okay, I just watched L.A. Confidential twice in 48 hours and I almost understood it.
I don’t understand the relationship between Pierce Patchett and the Nite Owl killings. Did Patchett know about the plot? He was working with Dudley Smith at some point in the past.
Did Patchett procure Susan (the unfortunate Rita Hayworth look-alike) to date Stensland? He seemed to have some role in setting up his studio members with johns. Bud was mad that Stensland pretended not to know the carload of people outside the liquor store, but maybe he first saw Susan there and got interested at that point.
Did the Nite Owl killers (two of Dudley Smith’s crooked cop pals, plus maybe Dudley himself) aim to steal the heroin from Stensland at the cafe? It would be an odd place to store or steal heroin, but otherwise I don’t know why killing him would net them any heroin.
Why was the real Lana Turner dating a strongarm for hire? Or was that guy something more than a strongarm for hire?