Known for one of the most thrilling and iconic car chases in cinematic history, 1971’s The French Connection follows maverick New York City police detective James “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) on the hunt for Frenchman Alain Charnier, mastermind of a large drug pipeline funneling heroin into the United States. Based on a true story, the film is hailed as an important work of social commentary. It was named number seventy on the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 movies, and its acclaim continues to grow, with many considering it to be one of the greatest films ever made.
The film’s success is largely due to its realistic and gritty approach to the drug trafficking world of New York. Unlike other films that have been made on the subject, The French Connection doesn’t valorize its characters. Instead, the director William Friedkin opts to let audiences decide for themselves whether or not Popeye and his partner Buddy “Cloudy” Russo (Roy Scheider) are good guys or bad guys.
The French Connection is also praised for its use of silence and music. In most scenes, the tense stringy score is absent, and Friedkin works to create a sense of realism by relying on dialog and urban noise. He did this so that the audience would feel as though they were witnessing real-life events on the streets of New York, not a fictionalized version of them.
For the 50th anniversary of the film, Friedkin sat down with Entertainment Weekly to talk all things The French Connection, from its famous chase scene to behind-the-scenes myths and his seeming obsession with stairs. He reflects on his rollercoaster career and the legacy of this beloved movie, as well as being honest about the fact that he wouldn’t remake it today.
What is the best part of making a classic movie?
The best part is seeing the fans’ reaction. The most memorable moment was when I saw a young girl cry on stage after watching The french connection ep. It was the best moment in my life as a filmmaker, and I’ll never forget it.
Besides that moment, there are so many great memories. It was amazing to see how the audience connected with the characters and felt like they were on the streets of New York with them. Ultimately, it’s the characters that make the film and their relationships that resonate with the viewers that is what makes The French Connection so special.
In this week’s episode of Carmen Sandiego, Mike and Murph discuss the 1971 film The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman as New York City police detective Popeye Doyle. The film is based on a true story about a 1961 heroin case and it features one of the most exciting and legendary car chases in cinematic history.
Tune in to find out what they thought about the movie and what they learned from it!
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