The French Connection (1971)
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- R
- 1h 44min
- Action, Crime
- 09 Oct 1971 (USA)
- Movie
A pair of NYC cops in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a French connection.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 5 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 12 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gene Hackman | ... |
Jimmy Doyle
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| Fernando Rey | ... |
Alain Charnier
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| Roy Scheider | ... |
Buddy Russo
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| Tony Lo Bianco | ... |
Sal Boca
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| Marcel Bozzuffi | ... |
Pierre Nicoli
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Frédéric de Pasquale | ... |
Devereaux
(as Frederic De Pasquale)
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| Bill Hickman | ... |
Mulderig
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Ann Rebbot | ... |
Marie Charnier
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Harold Gary | ... |
Weinstock
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Arlene Farber | ... |
Angie Boca
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| Eddie Egan | ... |
Simonson
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André Ernotte | ... |
La Valle
(as Andre Ernotte)
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Sonny Grosso | ... |
Klein
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Benny Marino | ... |
Lou Boca
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| Patrick McDermott | ... |
Chemist
(as Pat McDermott)
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| Alan Weeks | ... |
Pusher
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| Al Fann | ... |
Informant
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Irving Abrahams | ... |
Police Mechanic
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| Randy Jurgensen | ... |
Police Sergeant
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William Coke | ... |
Motorman
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The Three Degrees | ... |
The Three Degrees
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Frank Adonis | ... |
Bidder at New York Car Auction (uncredited)
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Gilda Albertoni | ... |
Uncredited (uncredited)
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Robert Dahdah | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Frank Durk | ... |
News Cameraman (uncredited)
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| Rhina Ferrari | ... |
Woman at Airport (uncredited)
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Sarina C. Grant | ... |
Hooker on the Street (uncredited)
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Joe Lo Grippo | ... |
Tollbooth Collector (uncredited)
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Melonie Haller | ... |
Schoolgirl (uncredited)
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Eric Jones | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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Gladys Lane | ... |
Mobster's Redhead Wife (uncredited)
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| Doris McCarthy | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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Charles McGregor | ... |
Baldy - Bar Patron in Drug Raid (uncredited)
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Lora Mitchell | ... |
Woman with Baby Carriage (uncredited)
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| Maureen Mooney | ... |
Bicycle Girl (uncredited)
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Santos Morales | ... |
Street Thief Leader (uncredited)
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Silvano Nolemi | ... |
Dock Worker (uncredited)
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Burt Richards | ... |
Auction Bidder (uncredited)
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Willy Switkes | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Fat Thomas | ... |
Mutchie (uncredited)
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| Robert Weil | ... |
Auctioneer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| William Friedkin | ||
Written by
| Ernest Tidyman | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Robin Moore | ... | (based on the book by) |
Produced by
| Philip D'Antoni | ... | producer |
| G. David Schine | ... | executive producer |
| Kenneth Utt | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Don Ellis | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Owen Roizman | ... | director of photography |
Film Editing by
| Gerald B. Greenberg | ... | film editor (as Jerry Greenberg) |
Editorial Department
| Norman Gay | ... | associate editor |
| Maurice Schell | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Robert Weiner | ... | (casting) |
Art Direction by
| Ben Kasazkow | ... | (as Ben Kazaskow) |
Set Decoration by
| Edward Garzero | ... | (as Ed Garzero) |
Costume Design by
| Joseph Fretwell III | ... | (costumes) |
Makeup Department
| Irving Buchman | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Paul Ganapoler | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Terence A. Donnelly | ... | assistant director (as Terry Donnelly) |
| William C. Gerrity | ... | assistant director |
| Mishka Cheyko | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Michael Rauch | ... | d.g.a. trainee (uncredited) |
| Ron Walsh | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Dwight Williams | ... | dga trainee (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Thomas Wright | ... | property master (as Tom Wright) |
Sound Department
| Christopher Newman | ... | sound (as Chris Newman) |
| Theodore Soderberg | ... | sound |
| Don Hall | ... | supervising sound editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Sass Bedig | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Bill Hickman | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Tony Amato Sr. | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Cliff Cudney | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Harry Daley | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Joe Finnegan | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| George Fisher | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Gene Hackman | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bill Hickman | ... | stunt double: Gene Hackman (uncredited) / stunt driver (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Fred J. Lincoln | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Carey Loftin | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Hal Needham | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Joe Pronto | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Alex Stevens | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jerry Summers | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Enrique Bravo | ... | camera operator |
| Robert Ward | ... | key grip |
| William Ward | ... | chief electrician (as Billy Ward) |
| Sandy Brooke | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Gary Muller | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Tom Priestley Jr. | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Tom Volpe | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joseph W. Dehn | ... | wardrobe |
| Florence Foy | ... | wardrobe |
Location Management
| Fat Thomas | ... | location consultant |
Music Department
| Don Ellis | ... | music conducted by |
| John Bilezikjian | ... | musician: oud (uncredited) |
| Gene Cipriano | ... | musician (uncredited) |
| Kenneth Hall | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Nicholas Sgarro | ... | script supervisor (as Nick Sgarro) |
Additional Crew
| Eddie Egan | ... | technical consultant |
| Sonny Grosso | ... | technical consultant |
| Sue Dwiggins | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Monroe Friedman | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| James O'Neill | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Ralph S. Singleton | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1971) (United States) (theatrical)
- Fox-Rank (1971) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Fox-Lira (1972) (France) (theatrical)
- Fox Film (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Fox Films (1972) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Fox Italia (1972) (Italy) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox (1972) (Japan) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Argentina (1972) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Avala-Genex (1972) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
- RomaniaFilm R.A. (1972) (Romania) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1974) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Capricci Films (2015) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- CBS/Fox Video (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- 20th Television (1993) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Abril Vídeo (1984) (Brazil) (VHS)
- CBS Electronics (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- CBS (1975) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- CBS/Fox (1984) (Argentina) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- FS Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (cable television)
- Fox Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Fox Video (1993) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Imperial Entertainment Home Video (1994) (Poland) (VHS)
- KVH Media Group (2016) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Ken Films (1974) (Canada) (super 8 digest)
- MTV3 (1994) (Finland) (tv) (network television)
- Magnetic Video (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- RCA SelectaVision VideoDiscs (1981) (United States) (video) (CED VideoDisc)
- Showtime Video (1981) (Finland) (VHS)
- SubTV (2002) (Finland) (tv) (cable television)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- TV3 (1986) (Finland) (tv) (network television)
- TV3 (1988) (Finland) (tv) (network television)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (tv) (cable television)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Pacific Title (titles)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
William Friedkin's gritty police drama portrays two tough New York City cops trying to intercept a huge heroin shipment coming from France. An interesting contrast is established between 'Popeye' Doyle, a short-tempered alcoholic bigot who is nevertheless a hard-working and dedicated police officer, and his nemesis Alain Charnier, a suave and urbane gentleman who is nevertheless a criminal and one of the largest drug suppliers of pure heroin to North America. During the surveillance and eventual bust, Friedkin provides one of the most gripping and memorable car chase sequences ever filmed.
Written by Tad Dibbern |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The time is just right for an out and out thriller like this. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,800,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The early scene where Doyle and Russo chase down a drug dealer with Doyle dressed in a Santa Claus suit is based on a real-life tactic used by Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso. While on stakeouts in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Egan and Grosso discovered drug dealers could easily spot undercover cops, and would often flee the scene before the cops could arrest them. One Christmas, Egan came up with the idea of dressing in a Santa Claus suit, figuring the dealers would never suspect Santa Claus of being a cop. As depicted in the film, Egan walked the neighborhood streets as Santa Claus, singing Christmas carols with local kids. When he saw a deal going down, Egan sang "Jingle Bells" as a signal to his partners to move in and make the arrest. The tactic worked beautifully, and Egan and his partners made dozens of Christmas arrests over several years. See more » |
| Goofs | As Henri and his associate are waiting for the Lincoln at the garage, the police are literally tearing the car apart before finding the drugs. Shortly after finding the drugs, Henri is told his car is ready. It would have taken days to put the Lincoln back together and it would not be plausible for the police to find an exact duplicate of the car and replace the drugs in such short time. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode dated 23 January 1972 (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The 20th-Century Fox logo fades in in black and white and then dissolves to color. See more » |
| Quotes |
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle:
All right! You put a shiv in my partner. You know what that means? Goddammit! All winter long I got to listen to him gripe about his bowling scores. Now I'm gonna bust your ass for those three bags and I'm gonna nail you for picking your feet in Poughkeepsie. [a few scenes later:] Walt Simonson: Popeye. You still picking your feet in Poughkeepsie? See more » |