French Connection II (1975)

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

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

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

What happens when you're a N.Y. cop sent to France to bust a dope ring and... You can't speak French. The French cops hate you. Your own people have set you up... YOU EXPLODE!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Narcotics | Detective | Illegal Drug | Thrown From A Car | International Relations

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)
Pierre Collet	...	Old Pro
Alexandre Fabre	...	Young Inspector
Jean-Pierre Zola	...	Dumpy Policeman
Manu Pluton	...	Murdered Arab (as Pluton)
Daniel Vérité	...	1st Guard Hotel Tangers
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Marc Allègre	...	(uncredited)
Roland Blanche	...	Arrested Man (uncredited)
Patrick Bouchitey	...	(uncredited)
Philippe Brizard	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Paul Mercey	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Hal Needham	...	Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited)
Ambroise Perrin	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
John Frankenheimer

Writing credits
Alexander Jacobs		(screenplay) and
Robert Dillon		(screenplay) &
Laurie Dillon		(screenplay)
Robert Dillon		(story) &
Laurie Dillon		(story)
Pete Hamill		uncredited

Produced by
Robert L. Rosen	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Ellis

Cinematography by
Claude Renoir		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Rolf

Casting by
Margot Capelier

Production Design by
Jacques Saulnier

Set Decoration by
Charles Merangel		(as Charles Mérangel)

Makeup Department
Alex Archambault	....	hairdresser
Alex Archambault	....	makeup artist
Monique Archambault	....	hairdresser
Monique Archambault	....	makeup artist

Production Management
René Fargéas	....	unit production manager (as René Fargeas)
Robert Fugier	....	unit production manager
Pierre Saint-Blancat	....	production manager (as Pierre Saint Blancat)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thierry Chabert	....	assistant director
Gwen Field	....	assistant director (as Gwen M. Field)
Marc Monnet	....	second unit director
Bernard Stora	....	assistant director
Pierre Tati	....	assistant director (as Pierre Tatischeff)

Art Department
Daniel Braunschweig	....	propman

Sound Department
Bernard Bats	....	sound recording mixer
Don Hall	....	sound effects editor
William Hartman	....	sound effects editor
Edward Rossi	....	sound effects editor
Theodore Soderberg	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Logan Frazee	....	special effects

Stunts
Hal Needham	....	stunt coordinator
Odile Astie	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rémy Julienne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dan Vieru	....	stunts (uncredited)
Serge Wagner	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Philippe Brun	....	camera operator
Eugène Herrly	....	key grip (as Eugene Herrly)
Charles-Henri Montel	....	camera operator (as Charles-Henry Montel)
Serge Moritz	....	still photographer
Jacques Touillaud	....	chief electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pierre Nourry	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Catherine Kelber	....	assistant editor
George Trirogoff	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Don Ellis	....	conductor
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor

Other crew
Lucie Lichtig	....	script supervisor
Robert Monosmith	....	production auditor

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox-MGM Film (1975) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• MGM-Fox Films (1975) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1994) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1988) (Finland) (video)
• SubTV (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Laboratoires LTC  laboratory
• Panavision  Panaflex camera and lenses by
• Westheimer Company  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 (1975) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | 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) | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Doyle's memorable cry of "Mickey Mantle sucks!" during the cold turkey sequence was the source of much trouble for the film makers and their legal department. Producer Robert L. Rosen had to track down Mickey Mantle to obtain his permission for the reference. After a long phone call, Rosen flew out to Mantle's home in Dallas with a print of the film, which was screened for him and his lawyer. When Gene Hackman uttered the line, Mantle surprised Rosen not only by roaring with laughter but also insisting that they watched the rest of the film because both he and his lawyer were enjoying it so much. Mantle later happily signed a release waiver and the line stayed in the film.

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:

Brigidier General William Brian, Charnier's Accomplice:[in a restaurant,drinking wine] I wish this Blanc De Blanc would travel,I'd like to take twenty cases with me back to Washington.
Alain Charnier:All you Americans have that misconception.Wine will travel,it is people who have difficulty.

Movie Connections:

References Sacco & Vanzetti (1971)

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.