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IMDbPro

The French Connection

  • 19711971
  • 18+18+
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
125K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,053
147
Gene Hackman and Marcel Bozzuffi in The French Connection (1971)
Trailer for The French Connection
Play trailer2:48
4 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
125K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,053
147
    • William Friedkin
    • Ernest Tidyman(screenplay by)
    • Robin Moore(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • Roy Scheider
    • Fernando Rey
    • William Friedkin
    • Ernest Tidyman(screenplay by)
    • Robin Moore(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • Roy Scheider
    • Fernando Rey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 389User reviews
    • 177Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Oscars

    Videos4

    The French Connection
    Trailer 2:48
    Watch The French Connection
    'The French Connection' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:00
    Watch 'The French Connection' | Anniversary Mashup
    The French Connection
    Interview 1:36
    Watch The French Connection
    Christopher Meloni Knows How to Spot a Good Cop
    Video 2:34
    Watch Christopher Meloni Knows How to Spot a Good Cop

    Photos178

    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman and William Friedkin in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman, William Friedkin, Roy Scheider, Eddie Egan, and Bill Hickman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman, William Friedkin, Roy Scheider, Eddie Egan, and Randy Jurgensen in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman, William Friedkin, Roy Scheider, Eddie Egan, and Randy Jurgensen in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
    Marcel Bozzuffi in The French Connection (1971)
    Gene Hackman and William Friedkin in The French Connection (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Jimmy Doyle
    Roy Scheider
    Roy Scheider
    • Buddy Russo
    Fernando Rey
    Fernando Rey
    • Alain Charnier
    Tony Lo Bianco
    Tony Lo Bianco
    • Sal Boca
    Marcel Bozzuffi
    Marcel Bozzuffi
    • Pierre Nicoli
    Frédéric de Pasquale
    • Henri Devereaux
    • (as Frederic De Pasquale)
    Bill Hickman
    Bill Hickman
    • Agent Bill Mulderig
    Ann Rebbot
    • Marie Charnier
    Harold Gary
    • Joel Weinstock
    Arlene Farber
    • Angie Boca
    Eddie Egan
    Eddie Egan
    • Capt. Walt Simonson
    André Ernotte
    • La Valle
    • (as Andre Ernotte)
    Sonny Grosso
    • Agent Clyde Klein
    Benny Marino
    • Lou Boca
    Patrick McDermott
    Patrick McDermott
    • Harvey - Chemist
    • (as Pat McDermott)
    Alan Weeks
    Alan Weeks
    • Pusher
    Al Fann
    Al Fann
    • Informant
    Irving Abrahams
    • Irv - Police Mechanic
      • William Friedkin
      • Ernest Tidyman(screenplay by)
      • Robin Moore(based on the book by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to William Friedkin, the significance of the straw hat being tossed onto the shelf of the rear window in Doyle and Russo's car was that at that time it was a universal signal in New York City that the undercover cops in the car were on duty.
    • Goofs
      Early on in the movie, a Frenchman is shot. The "blood" is coming from a clearly visible hose at the bottom of the screen, which squirts red paint at the actor's face.
    • Quotes

      Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: You dumb guinea.

      Buddy "Cloudy" Russo: How the hell did I know he had a knife.

      Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Never trust a nigger.

      Buddy "Cloudy" Russo: He could have been white.

      Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Never trust anyone!

    • Crazy credits
      The 20th-Century Fox logo appears in black and white and then slowly dissolving to color.
    • Alternate versions
      The version released on first Blu-ray release features a radically-different color scheme from all earlier versions - it was recolored with the assistance of 'William Friedkin (I)'. The second Blu-ray release features a color scheme more like all the previous versions.
    • Connections
      Featured in Monsieur Cinéma: Episode dated 23 January 1972 (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon
      (1969) (uncredited)

      Written by Jimmy Webb

      Performed by The Three Degrees in the club

    User reviews389

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    An enjoyable cop thriller with plenty of good touches and an unmistakably 1970's feel
    Following a mix of hunches and leads, two tough NYPD narcotic cops set up surveillance on a candy store in the belief that the owners of the store are somehow involved in drug dealing on the side. Putting the squeeze on the store leads them to a couple of new people, specifically a smooth French criminal called Alain Charnier who is trying to orchestrate a massive drug sale in New York. The pressure looks like bringing success to Detectives Doyle and Russo, but Charnier's organisation has tight time targets and decides to take action to remove the heat from the job.

    Sometimes with "classic" films it is easy to get sucked into the hype and reputation and just love it before you have even seen it; for that reason, although I have seen it several times, I decided to give it a fresh viewing before I dared try to write my thoughts on it – it finished ten minutes ago, so my memory is still fresh. Although I feel that it has remained well known thanks to "that" car chase, I think that recalling only that scene is to do a disservice to a film that is an enjoyable thriller in a tough, typically 1970's mould. The plot sees a minor hunch turn into a bigger police job and it would be easy to pick holes in some of the logic within it, it still grips and provides a nicely gritty cop thriller. It isn't as clever or as original as those coming to it on the back of its reputation might expect it to be, as it does pretty much what the rest of the genre does. Now I'll be fair and acknowledge that I don't know whether this film was the first to create this type of film or if it was just part of the development of them, but certainly watching it now it does blend in with others in the same genre.

    The direction makes it better than the material as Friedkin injects real tension and grit into the story keeping it exciting while also being rather sombre and low-key. The acting also makes it and, rightly, Hackman carries much of the film with a great performance as Doyle. Grizzled, bigoted and apparently heartless, it is interesting to contrast his character with Rey's Charnier, who is much cooler and effective. Scheider is, as always, reliable in support and he gives a good performance throughout while the rest of the cast play their roles well enough. There is no doubt though, that Hackman is the heart of the film and his performance reflects this and makes the audience emotionally involved with his story from the very start.

    Overall this is a great 1970's cop thriller with all that comes with that genre. It is enjoyably gritty and fast paced with "heroes" of questionable morality and smooth criminals. People will always hark on about that car chase and, yes, it is good, but there is more to this film and it stands out as one of the best of the genre.
    helpful•36
    19
    • bob the moo
    • Jan 31, 2005

    FAQ6

    • Why exactly is the lead cop named "Popeye" if it's not a reference to the cartoon character?
    • What does Popeye mean when he calls Charnier "Frog One"?
    • Why does Popeye keep hammering Willy with the "pick your feet Poughkeepsie" line?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 1971 (United States)
      • United States
      • 20th Century Studios (United States)
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Château d'If, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Philip D'Antoni Productions
      • Schine-Moore Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 44 minutes
      • Color
      • 4-Track Stereo

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