French Connection II (1975)

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Alexander Jacobs (screenplay) and
Robert Dillon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

THE FRENCH CONNECTION was only the beginning-THIS is the climax

Plot:

"Popeye" Doyle travels to Marsailles to find Alain Charnier, the drug smuggler that eluded him in New York.

Plot Keywords:

Narcotics | Detective | Jail Cell | Drug Trafficking | Spoon

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Doyle
Fernando Rey	...	Alain Charnier
Bernard Fresson	...	Barthélémy
Philippe Léotard	...	Jacques (as Philippe Leotard)
Ed Lauter	...	General Brian
Charles Millot	...	Miletto
Jean-Pierre Castaldi	...	Raoul
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	The Old Lady
Samantha Llorens	...	Denise
André Penvern	...	Bartender
Reine Prat	...	Young Girl on the Beach
Raoul Delfosse	...	Dutch Captain
Ham-Chau Luong	...	Japanese Captain (as Ham Chau Luong)
Jacques Dynam	...	Inspector Genevoix
Malek Kateb	...	Algerian Chief (as Malek Eddine)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:X (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:18 (video rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Brazil:16 | Canada:18A (video rating) | Finland:K-16 (1988) (video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Eddie Egan, the real-life New York cop who was the basis for the character of Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection (1971), really did have a try-out for the Yankees in his youth, and played alongside a then-unknown Mickey Mantle.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie, when Doyle arrives with his suitcases at the dock, a girl in a flowered dress and a boy in a yellow shirt run past him towards his right-hand side. In the next shot, when we see Doyle from the front, the same girl and boy are climbing up on a fence on his left-hand side.

Quotes:

Alain Charnier: [the two are duck hunting] We should decide the matter of the rendezvous, a place to meet after you have made the delivery.
Brigidier General William Brian, Charnier's Accomplice: How's New York?
Alain Charnier: [laughs slightly] You know better than that, William.New York is hazardous to your health, at least to MY health.But it is an amusing city.
[shouts a command in French]
Brigidier General William Brian, Charnier's Accomplice: How did you do it,if it's not a secret?
Alain Charnier: Oh, it was very simple and very droll.83 policemen wanted to talk to me,and 52 of them chose to talk to my money instead.I love a city where you always know where you stand.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Pale Blue Balloons (2008)

The most underrated film of the 70's. Frankenheimer nearly exceeds the original

If your a fan of the original French Connection like me, and you read the tagline for this one you may scoff a bit. Its states the the first film was the beginning, this is the climax. I had my doubts but after viewing the film I admit for once the marketing department at twentieth century was right. The acting is top notch. I can't recall who won the best actor Oscar in 1976, but it doesn't really matter. Hackman's performance is perfect. I defy anyone to give me a more credible effort for that year. Fernando Ray is unbelievable in his sharp realization of his character. This film doesn't have a great Friedkin car chase but its not something thats required. The characters make up for the lack of action. This film is much more centered around Doyle's character, scrapping the plot driven formula of original. I also think I prefer the score in the sequel. Its down beat, and very in sync with the overall tone. Finally, this may sound a little silly but If I ever got a chance to meet Frankenheimer during his life I would thank him for giving closure to my favorite film character of all time.