The French Connection is a 1971 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, and Fernando Rey.
The screenplay, written by Ernest Tidyman, is based on Robin Moore's 1969 non-fiction book of the same name. The film tells the story of fictional NYPD detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, whose real-life counterparts were narcotics detectives. The plot revolves around the detectives stumbling onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles and their pursuit to stop and capture the leaders of the ring.
The film is celebrated for its realistic, fast-paced, and relentless detective thriller style, and it features stellar performances by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider. It is also known for its thrilling car chase scene, which is considered one of cinema's greatest car chases.
The film's plot revolves around the pursuit of a heroin smuggling ring, and it is known for its action-filled thriller with a renowned chase scene. The story is based on a true story, and it follows the detectives as they close in on a vast international narcotics ring, leading to a deadly pursuit that takes them beyond New York City limits.
In summary, The French Connection is a classic film known for its intense and realistic portrayal of a narcotics investigation, featuring a gripping storyline and memorable performances by its lead actors.
Plot
The plot begins in Marseille, France, where an undercover detective follows a known criminal, Pierre Nicoli, who is the henchman of a drug kingpin named Alain Charnier. Charnier and Nicoli partner with a movie star to smuggle a half-million dollar shipment of pure heroin to New York, hidden in a car. Meanwhile, detectives Doyle and Russo stumble upon this heroin smuggling operation and embark on a relentless pursuit to stop and capture the leaders of the ring.
Trailer
Cast
- Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle
- Fernando Rey as Alain Charnier
- Roy Scheider as Buddy "Cloudy" Russo
- Marcel Bozzuffi as Pierre Nicoli
- Tony Lo Bianco as Jean-Pierre Lehoux
- Francois Scipion as Gaetan D'Anjou
- Bernard Faliu as Abdul Kader
- Michael K. Todd as Ilya Kopin
- John A. Kelley as Harry Mulderig
- William C. Gerrity as Assistant Director
- Mishka Cheyko as Assistant Director (uncredited)
- Michael Rauch as D.G.A. Trainee (uncredited)
- Ron Walsh as Assistant Director (uncredited)
- Dwight Williams as D.G.A. Trainee (uncredited)
- Thomas Wright as Property Master (as Tom Wright)
- Joseph W. Dehn as Wardrobe (uncredited)
- Florence Foy as Wardrobe (uncredited)
- Norman Gay as Associate Editor (uncredited)
- Maurice Schell as Assistant Editor (uncredited)
- Fat Thomas as Location Consultant (uncredited)
- Eddie Egan as Technical Consultant (uncredited)
- Sonny Grosso as Technical Consultant (uncredited)
- Bill Hickman as Stunt Coordinator (uncredited)
- Carey Loftin as Stunt Driver (uncredited)
- Hal Needham as Stunts (uncredited)
- Joe Pronto as Stunts (uncredited)
- Alex Stevens as Stunts (uncredited)
- Jerry Summers as Stunt Driver (uncredited)
- Enrique Bravo as Camera Operator
- Robert Ward as Key Grip
- William Ward as Chief Electrician (as Billy Ward)
- Sandy Brooke as Assistant Camera (uncredited)
- Gary Muller as Second Assistant Camera (uncredited)
- Tom Priestley Jr. as Assistant Camera (uncredited)
- Tom Volpe as Dolly Grip (uncredited)
Director: William Friedkin
Writer: Ernest Tidyman
Box Office Gross: $51,701,871
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & thriller
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 1971
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Themes & reception
The film explores themes such as:
- Crime and Law Enforcement: The movie delves into the world of narcotics detectives pursuing a heroin smuggling ring, portraying the gritty and dangerous nature of their work.
- Undercover Operations: It depicts the risks and challenges of undercover police work, as well as the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by law enforcement officers.
- Pursuit of Justice: The relentless pursuit of justice and the lengths to which detectives go to apprehend criminals are central themes in the film.
Challenges Faced
The production of "The French Connection" faced several challenges, including unplanned mishaps during the legendary car chase scene, logistical problems in transporting the cast and crew to numerous filming sites, and the difficulty of filming mostly outdoors during New York's highly unpredictable winter months.
The car chase scene featured several unplanned mishaps, including the crashing of one civilian's vehicle. Additionally, the film's producer had to contend with the challenge of filming mostly outdoors during New York's highly unpredictable winter months, which presented overwhelming logistical problems.
Furthermore, the film's director, William Friedkin, received advice from legendary director Howard Hawks, who emphasized the importance of making something entertaining and highlighted the popularity of chase scenes in films.
Visual styles & Techniques
"The French Connection" is known for its unique visual style and techniques, which contributed to its groundbreaking and influential status in American cinema. Some of the key visual styles and techniques used in the film include:
Gritty, gutsy visual style: The film's photography is skillfully unobtrusive, with a distinctive visual style that establishes an authentic atmosphere, creates mood, builds pace, and enhances the force of the action.
Realism and Revisionism: The film is an example of the New Hollywood policier genre, which aimed to portray a more realistic and gritty portrayal of crime and law enforcement.
Location shooting: The film's director, William Friedkin, chose real locations in New York City to capture the true essence of the city. The approach to scouting locations was to pick places that would make the city look the way it really looks, giving the film a documentary-like atmosphere.
Handheld camera work: The film is known for its street-level grit, and the use of handheld camera work contributes to this effect. The operators were able to make hand-held shots look smooth and seamless, which added to the film's authentic feel.
Induced documentary style: William Friedkin, who directed The French Connection, had a background in documentary filmmaking. He brought this documentary sensibility to the feature film, giving it an "induced documentary style".
Action and editing: The film's editing techniques added clarity to the plot, allowing different scenes to flow seamlessly into one another and enhancing the overall narrative.
Settings
"The French Connection" features various settings that contribute to its unique visual style and atmosphere. The film's locations include real places in New York City and Washington D.C., which were carefully chosen to capture the essence of the story and characters.
In New York City, the film showcases locations such as the corridor between Broadway in Bed-Stuy and 58th Road in Maspeth, as well as the Lower East Side at the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, where scenes were shot at Ratner's Restaurant. These locations were selected to provide an authentic backdrop for the gritty and realistic portrayal of the detectives' pursuit of the heroin smuggling ring.
Additionally, the film features scenes in Washington D.C., including in front of the Capitol Building, home of the US Congress. These locations contribute to the film's sense of realism and add depth to the narrative by grounding it in recognizable and authentic settings.
Trivia
Real-life Inspiration: Irving Abrahams, who plays Irv the police mechanic in the film, was the real-life NYPD mechanic who helped crack the "French Connection" case.
Popeyes Fried Chicken: Despite using the famous Sailor Man in their marketing for years, according to founder Al Copeland, Detective "Popeye" Doyle is the true namesake behind the Popeyes Fried Chicken restaurant chain.
Filmmaking Challenges: The film exemplified the cowboy-style filmmaking techniques of '70s Hollywood filmmakers, who were eager to defy traditional methods. For instance, the car chase scene required last-minute permission to shoot on a creaky elevated line in Brooklyn, with no time to deal with police bureaucracy.
Awards: "The French Connection" won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards, making it the first R-rated film to win the Academy's top prize