IMDb > The French Connection (1971)
The French Connection
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The French Connection (1971) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 16)
The French Connection (1971) -- A pair of NYC cops in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a French connection.
The French Connection (1971) -- Detectives Doyle and Russo shakedown a bar where they have an informant.
The French Connection (1971) -- Interview: Gene Hackman "on filming the car scene"
The French Connection (1971) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   30,683 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Ernest Tidyman (screenplay)
Robin Moore (book)
more

Contact:

View company contact information for The French Connection on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

9 October 1971 (USA) more

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller more

Tagline:

The time is just right for an out and out thriller like this. more

Plot:

A pair of NYC cops in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a French connection. full summary | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 8 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(36 articles)

Bicycle Messengering Gets Intense With David Koepp's 'Premium Rush'
 (From Cinematical. 12 November 2009, 3:03 PM, PST)

Birthday Suits: Oscar-Snubbed
 (From FilmExperience. 10 November 2009, 5:11 PM, PST)

User Comments:

The first of many to come! more (216 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gene Hackman ... Jimmy Doyle
Fernando Rey ... Alain Charnier

Roy Scheider ... Det. Buddy Russo

Tony Lo Bianco ... Sal Boca
Marcel Bozzuffi ... Pierre Nicoli
Frédéric de Pasquale ... Devereaux (as Frederic De Pasquale)
Bill Hickman ... Mulderig
Ann Rebbot ... Marie Charnier
Harold Gary ... Weinstock
Arlene Farber ... Angie Boca
Eddie Egan ... Simonson
André Ernotte ... La Valle (as Andre Ernotte)
Sonny Grosso ... Klein
Benny Marino ... Lou Boca
Patrick McDermott ... Chemist (as Pat McDermott)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:18 | Canada:18A (video rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (special edition) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (special edition) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 | Norway:16 (1972) | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16 (bw) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating)


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

According to William Friedkin in the DVD Commentary, a lot of police officers objected to the scene in which Doyle shoots Nicoli in the back to end the chase. However, the real "Popeye" Doyle, Eddie Egan, was on set and gave Friedkin his approval. more

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car\train chase the Pontiac gets beat up but when it drives through a wall or something similar the cars fixed up but just for that shot. more

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Merry Christmas. What's your name, little boy?
Little Boy: Eric.
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Uh-huh, Eric. What do you want for Christmas Eric? Hmmm?
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dallas: Caribbean Connection (#6.21)" (1983) more

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
23 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
The first of many to come!, 6 December 2005
10/10
Author: Percevalx from United States

In most movies, the good guys are portrayed as models for others, examples for a better life. The bad guys, on the other hand, are usually dirty rat scums. What a refreshing surprise to see that The French Connection has the roles loosely interchanged. Set against the backdrop of bleak New York City streets, ill-tempered narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle and his partner 'Cloudy' Russo intercept a drug shipment coming in from France led by urbane master criminal Alan Charnier. The two cops, however, have a hard time capturing the drug lord as he outwits them throughout the city. Popeye and Charnier make an interesting contrast. Popeye is portrayed as an obsessive, racist drunk while Charnier is the mellow, European sophisticate. This is, of course, an action thriller and the sequences are gritty, tense, and heart-pounding. It features one of the best car chase scenes ever filmed. What makes it so effective is the fact that it was shot in real-time, heavy traffic and we vicariously experience moment-by-moment. The acting is strong and believable. Gene Hackman's portrayal is exact and deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar. William Friedkin did a superior job in giving us a diverting and realistic look of cop life and the raw work they undergo to clear the streets of illicit activity. Great action thriller!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The French Connection (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fat Thomas... ram14182
Car chase end - murder, pure and simple spirofantasio
over rated? Killakai
Why was the music so badly played? woodhead2
CAR CHASE !!!! richsass
Why was Sal driving the Brown Lincoln? luks-11
more

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