Released in theaters last summer, Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is one of the most talked-about films from 2019 - it recently won the ‘Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy’ award at the Golden Globes. The movie is iconic not just for the amazing chemistry between Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, but also for its bold and unpredictable rewriting of the murder of Sharon Tate.
From the fictional duo of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth to the real-life Sharon Tate, the main characters of the movie are each unique. The aforementioned characters are well-intentioned and charming, and others, like the hippies of the Manson Family, are just plain evil. Here, we take a look at the main characters according to Dungeons & Dragons’ moral alignments.
Bruce Lee: Lawful Neutral
Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee is perhaps the most controversial element of the movie. Some people found it disrespectful and inaccurate while others took it as a harmless joke. In the film, Bruce Lee starts giving out pointers and advice on hand-to-hand combat to the stuntmen on set - one of which is Cliff.
Cliff chuckles at Bruce’s arrogant and condescending tone, something which Bruce does not take well and which leads to a fight between the two men to decide on the most skillful. Bruce seems to value honor and dignity; refusing to admit when he has been defeated.
Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme: Neutral Evil
Squeaky is one of the strangest characters in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood. From the way she commands all of the other girls out of the room when she learns of Cliff’s arrival, it’s clear that she’s a leader. She seems scary and dominant, yet Cliff is not intimidated and swiftly ignores all of her attempts to keep him away from George Spahn.
Her piercing eyes and her tired look make her appear odd. It is not just her appearance that is unsettling, but her behavior; she speaks in a low, monotone voice and admits to having sex with George Spahn despite how conspicuously older she is. Everything about her situation is creepy and suspicious - as would be expected from a hippie of the Manson family.
James Stacy: True Neutral
James Stacy is Rick’s co-star in the TV show where Rick plays a villain, while he plays a good guy. Although he is not as compassionate as Sharon or young Trudi, he is nonetheless kind and rather humble. When Rick forgets his lines in a scene they share together, and both are forced to repeat the same part over and over; he is patient and understanding.
Out of all the people Rick is seen working with in the movie, James is the neutral one. Although he is friendly, he doesn’t inspire Rick like the young actress Trudi does or challenge him like the director Sam does or even Marvin, the movie producer.
Tex Watson: Chaotic Evil
As part of the Manson family and leader of the hippie group that attacks Rick’s home, Tex is the definition of evil. He has no respect for laws or rules, instead, he takes too many drugs and, worst of all, executes Charles Manson’s plan to murder an innocent pregnant woman and her husband.
He is so wrapped up in his life away from civilization that he believes that murder is the right way to prove a point. Thankfully, he is too high and foolish to attack the correct house. He ends up in Rick’s house instead of Sharon’s, where he, along with the other hippies, meets a violent death at the hands of Cliff.
Marvin Schwarz: Neutral Good
Played by Al Pacino, Marvin Schwarz is a movie producer introduced at the beginning of the film when he meets with Rick to make him a proposition to travel to Italy to star in Spaghetti Westerns. He argues that Rick needs to take on new, exciting roles to boost his acting career which is slowing down since the end of his infamous TV show ‘Bounty Law’.
He gives Rick genuinely good advice, and even though he is asking him to make an unconventional decision and take a risk, he believes it is the right thing to broaden the actor’s horizons.
“Pussycat”: Chaotic Neutral
When we meet her, Pussycat appears full of life, youth, and excitement. She waves and makes funny faces at Cliff when their eyes meet, even though they’ve never met. As a hippie, she’s carefree and is supposed to hold peace and love above everything in life.
Yet, Cliff quickly suspects that, in staying at Spahn Ranch with her other hippie friends, she is taking advantage of his old, retired and now blind friend George Spahn. This is where we discover that her lifestyle is chaotic and questionable: she tries to engage in sexual activities with an adult even though she is a minor and, along with her friends, she irrationally condemns Cliff for being suspicious and wanting to check up on his old friend.
Trudi Fraser: Lawful Good
Trudi Fraser has a tremendous impact on Rick in the film. At only 8 years old, she is an ambitious and hard-working actress whose moral codes and approach to acting inspire Rick to believe in himself and try harder. As she tells Rick, she believes that it is the actor’s duty to be fully committed and put everything into a role.
She has compassion for Rick, too; offering support when he breaks down in front of her, and later congratulates him on his incredible performance. In what little we see of her, it’s clear that Trudi’s dedication and morals will get her far in her career.
Sharon Tate: Lawful Good
Sharon Tate’s role in the movie is unexpected: having finished filming her latest movie, she wanders around Los Angeles buying books, going to parties, eating out with friends and, most adorably, going to watch her own movie in theaters and observe the audience’s reactions. She lives her life lawfully and passionately and is nothing short of a wonderful human being.
Indeed, when she hears about Rick’s terrible home invasion, she invites him into her home to check on him. Especially in contrast to Cliff’s reckless ways and Rick’s emotional roller coaster, Sharon is calm, collected and lives her life exactly the way she wants to.
Cliff Booth: Chaotic Good
If the internet’s reaction is anything to go by, Cliff Booth stole the show in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood. His cool, laid-back and confident behavior allows him to be Rick’s rock, but he does have violent tendencies. He’s rumored to have killed his wife - although Rick doesn’t believe it, other characters do, leaving the rumor up to interpretation.
He does have good principles; he refuses an underage girl’s advances on him, makes sure an old friend of his not being taken advantage of and will go as far as single-handedly fighting a group of armed hippies to protect his boss and friend. Clearly, he does not abide by the rules, but he’s a great person at heart.
Rick Dalton: Chaotic Neutral
From emotional breakdowns to sudden bursts of enthusiasm, Rick Dalton is a handful. Tarantino has indeed hinted that the character suffers from undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Rick is very emotional; sometimes for the best and sometimes for the worst. Sympathetic, he helps Cliff get a stunt job when a rumor leaves him unemployed, and later hires him as his personal driver.
The movie places us at a crucial point in Rick’s acting career; his transition from TV actor to Hollywood film actor. It’s a difficult transition that causes the actor to doubt his skills, drink a little too much and be afraid to take risks. He may have breakdowns in his trailer, but Rick is passionate and focused on what matters the most to him: his career.
