The French Connection

About The French Connection

'The French Connection' is a gripping 1971 crime thriller directed by William Friedkin. The story revolves around New York Police Department detectives Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle and Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo (Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider) as they pursue Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey), a suave and resourceful French heroin smuggler. The title refers to the drug trafficking scheme that Charnier is a part of, thus setting the stage for an intense game of cat-and-mouse.

Making / Production

The film is known for its gritty realism, capturing the dark underbelly of New York in the 1970s. Director Friedkin's vision, combined with Ernest Tidyman's screenplay and Owen Roizman's cinematography, results in a pulsating and gritty depiction of law enforcement. The film's chase scene is a particular highlight, widely regarded as one of the greatest in cinematic history.

Actors

• Gene Hackman as Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Hackman delivers an intense performance as the tough, determined detective with a strong instinct for sniffing out crime.
• Roy Scheider as Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo: Scheider provides a perfect counterpoint to Hackman's intensity, delivering a balanced performance as the more level-headed half of the detective duo.
• Fernando Rey as Alain Charnier: Rey impresses with his portray of the suave and cunning French criminal mastermind, making him a memorable antagonist.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on a real-life international heroin smuggling ring busted in 1962 by NYPD detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso, on whom the main characters are based.
• The iconic chase scene was not planned according to the shooting permits, and the reactions of the pedestrians are real.
• The film's title comes from the name of the real-life drug smuggling operation.

Awards

'The French Connection' was a critical and commercial success. It bagged five Academy Awards in 1972, including Best Picture, Best Director (Friedkin), Best Actor (Hackman), Best Adapted Screenplay (Tidyman), and Best Film Editing (Gerald B. Greenberg).

Quotes

• "All right, Popeye's here!" - Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle
• "Did you ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?" - Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle
• "Merry Christmas. What's your name, little boy?" - Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo

Music, Soundtrack

• Composed by Don Ellis, the film's jazzy and off-beat score adds a unique texture to the movie, aptly supporting its gritty aesthetics.
• "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon" by The Three Degrees is featured in a bar scene.