The French Connection

The French Connection(1971)

R
10/09/1971 (US)Action, Crime, Thriller1h 44m
7.5

"Doyle is bad news—but a good cop."

Overview

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.

Ernest Tidyman

Screenplay

William Friedkin

Director

William Friedkin

Screenplay

Where to Watch

Rent

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Fandango At Home

Buy

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home

Powered by JustWatch

Popularity Trend

Last 30 Days
This chart shows the popularity trend over the past 30 days.

Part of the French Connection Collection

"The French Connection" is based on Robin Moore's 1969 book of the same name. Both films tell the story of NYPD detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, in pursuit of french heroin smugglers.

Media

Trailer

Trailer

Trailer

Detective Popeye Kills Pierre

Detective Popeye Kills Pierre

Clip

Working with Gene Hackman

Working with Gene Hackman

Featurette

Casting the Film

Casting the Film

Featurette

Everything is Cinema

Everything is Cinema

Featurette

The Look and the Score

The Look and the Score

Featurette

Permits and the Car Chase

Permits and the Car Chase

Featurette

The French Connection Wins Film Editing: 1972 Oscars

The French Connection Wins Film Editing: 1972 Oscars

Featurette

The French Connection Wins Best Picture | 44th Oscars (1972)

The French Connection Wins Best Picture | 44th Oscars (1972)

Featurette

William Friedkin ‪Wins Best Directing | 44th Oscars (1972)

William Friedkin ‪Wins Best Directing | 44th Oscars (1972)

Featurette

The French Connection Wins Adapted Screenplay: 1972 Oscars

The French Connection Wins Adapted Screenplay: 1972 Oscars

Featurette

William Friedkin On The Car Chase In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

William Friedkin On The Car Chase In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Featurette

Gene Hackman Wins Best Actor: 1972 Oscars

Gene Hackman Wins Best Actor: 1972 Oscars

Featurette

William Friedkin on Casting Fernando Ray In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

William Friedkin on Casting Fernando Ray In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Featurette

William Friedkin on the Car Chase Scene In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

William Friedkin on the Car Chase Scene In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Featurette

Social

C
A review by CinemaSerf
7.0

Written on September 1, 2024

Though he's not top-billed here, I found it's Fernando Rey who delivers best in this brutal and authentic-looking story of trans-Atlantic drug smuggling. Popeye (Gene Hackman) and his pal Russo (Roy Scheider) are detectives in New York determined to bring down a network of cocaine importers who are bringing the lucrative white powder in from Marseille. They suspect that it's Charnier (Rey) who is masterminding the whole enterprise, but they can't pin anything down on him. He hides in plain sight, clad in cashmere with a distinctive hat and dining in fine establishments - but always beyond their grasp. He almost teases the increasingly frustrated policemen who stray ever closer to the line as they try to apprehend him. Will either of them ever crack? Hackman is on great form as the exasperated cop and the drip-roast effect of the plot development from director William Friedkin makes that even more potent, especially when coupled with the flagrant nonchalance of his quarry, with a powerful score from Don Ellis and one of the best city car chases you'll ever see on a big screen. Scheider does enough, and there are also quite a few effective supporting contributions from the likes of Ann Rebbot as Mme. Charnier and from the odious henchman "Nicoli" (Marcel Bozzuffi). Gradually we are exposed to the ruthlessness of both sides as the stakes become higher, life becomes cheap, and the denouement again offers us a degree of palpable realism as no simple or convenient solutions are provided. It's a quickly paced and gritty representation of life amidst a culture of addiction, dependency and quite a fair degree of innovation that's still as strong today as it was in 1971.