The french connection 1971 william friedkin synopsis. The screenplay, written by ernest tidyman, is based on robin moores 1969 nonfiction book the french connection. What is not always remembered is what a good movie it is apart from the chase scene. The french connection was inspired by a true story, and eddie egan and sonny grosso, popeye and buddys real life counterparts, both have small roles in the film. The french connection is a film directed by william friedkin with gene hackman, roy scheider, fernando rey, tony lo bianco, year. The movies title comes from the actual drug trade that saw heroin shipped from turkey to the southern french port of marseille and then onto the united states. List of awards and nominations received by gene hackman.
I came across a melancholy item in a recent issue of film quarterly. Realistic, fastpaced and uncommonly smart, the french connection is bolstered by stellar performances by gene. The french connection 1971 directed by william friedkin. The french connection 1971 the gene hackman crime thriller that was all about the chase. Mar 16, 2009 a nearly 40yearold movie has managed to generate a specialized sort of controversy as the french connection sees its first release in the bluray format. All the same, the french connection isn t one of those joltaminit amazers for tv victims.
The french connection is one of the iconic films of the 1970s. Director william friedkins 1971 classic police thriller, the french connection, which won the 1971 academy award for best picture and four others over a clockwork orange, fiddler on the roof, the last picture show, and nicholas and alexandra, is not a great film, but it is a very good and taut prosaic thriller, and a significantly better film than his later, overrated nonscary horror. Released in 1971, the films took its inspiration from a real life criminal investigation in which the new york police department were in pursuit of a french drug kingpin who smuggled millions in heroin into the united states. See more ideas about french connection, french and roy scheider. Its a drama, crime sort of thriller that stars gene hackman, roy scheider and fernando rey. With gene hackman, roy scheider, fernando rey, tony lo bianco. The french connection 15 movie clip bad santa 1971 hd. They provide a primer to a remarkable period in this first century of film. The celebrated film critic david thomson compares his favourite movies of 2001 and 1971 and finds that complexity has given way to crassness david thomson sat 12 jan 2002 23.
Overview of the french connection, 1971, directed by william friedkin, with gene hackman, fernando rey, roy scheider, at turner classic movies. Oct 10, 2012 taking a ride with popeye doyle in the french connection just became easier now that its on bluray. Edgar wright gushes about 10 movies that influenced baby. French connection ii is a 1975 american action thriller film starring gene hackman and directed by john frankenheimer. Not because i think its the best of them it just barely makes the top half of winners that decade for me, and im not even 100% sure i like it best of its nomination class but because its the kind of film that doesnt really win that award, and it is extremely cool that this one did and i.
It is a fictional sequel to the initially true story of the 1971 academy award winning picture the french connection. Roger ebert was the film critic of the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in 20. Some are shared by many such as the shower scene from psycho others are particular to us. Despite the film s age, the picture generally looked very positive. Made in 1971, the citys decay is front and center in nearly every frame, from abandoned, grimecovered buildings and derelict cars to crumbling warehouses and trashstrewn lots, and at times, the neglect is nothing short of tragic. The film s high point, a highspeed car chase with popeye tailing an elevated train, was one of the most viscerally.
For his role in the french connection, he won an academy award, a bafta award, and a golden globe for best actor. The french connection is a carefully condensed version of a reallife new york city heroin smuggling investigation that spanned several years during the early 60s. Paul scheer is a lifelong movie buff, but hes never seen many of the all time greats. While trying to make up my mind this week about the years 10 best movies.
Some wide shots displayed a smidgen of softness, but those instances occurred infrequently. William friedkins 1971 thriller set in new york is nihilistic, unapologetic and even racist. William friedkins 1971 crime drama is unlike any other. The french connection is a 1971 american actionthriller film directed by william friedkin. It is william friedkins the french connection, now 40 years old, based on a true story, and starring gene hackman as detective jimmy popeye doyle, a. The greatest film scenes ever shot feature film the. It tells the story of new york police department detectives jimmy popeye doyle and buddy cloudy russo, whose reallife counterparts were narcotics detectives eddie egan and sonny grosso. The french connection is a film of almost incredible suspense, and it includes, among a great many chilling delights, the most brilliantly executed chase sequence i have ever seen. The best 10 movies of 1971 roger ebert roger ebert. First sonny grosso was a police detective, one of the two depicted in the 1971 movie the french connection. The french connection is a classic oscarwinning crime film that features standout performances, realistic action and situations, and one of the best chase scenes captured on film.
Thats how director billy friedkin last week summed up his famously hairraising chase scene in the oscarwinning 1971 film the french connection. Because it builds out of some unique stakes, and its also. Why is the french connection regularly called one of the greatest chases of all time. The french connection 1971 philip dantoni productions. The following is a list of awards and nominations received by american actor gene hackman. The two lead characters, nypd detectives, are in more of an antihero vein. Then he went on to a career in film and television as a producer. Jan 23, 2020 first sonny grosso was a police detective, one of the two depicted in the 1971 movie the french connection. The french connection is the best picture oscar winner from the 1970s that makes me happiest.
Sep 29, 2016 thats how director billy friedkin last week summed up his famously hairraising chase scene in the oscarwinning 1971 film the french connection. The french connection 1971 is director william friedkins brilliant, fastpaced, brutallyrealistic policecrime film his commercial breakthrough film the time is just right for an out and out thriller like this. Jul 01, 2015 the french connection was inspired by a true story, and eddie egan and sonny grosso, popeye and buddys real life counterparts, both have small roles in the film. Sonny grosso, detective who severed french connection. The french connection, american crime thriller film, released in 1971, that became known for having one of the most exciting and iconic car chases in cinematic history. The french connection appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1. On unspooled, his teamup with film critic amy nicholson, hes remedying that by watching the afis top 100 movies of all time, to find out what makes classics like citizen kane and taxi driver so special. The movie, which features other tense action sequences, centres on violent and unlikable new york city narcotics detectives on the trail of international heroin dealers. Dec 02, 2006 the film, starring gene hackman and roy schneider as characters modeled on narcotics officers was a boxoffice smash and won five academy awards. Just released as part of a filmmakers signature series the high energy classic film, a winner. A pair of nyc cops in the narcotics bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a french connection. Listen to the unspooled episode the french connection on.
Austin collins is a film critic for vanity fair and a crossword constructor for the new yorker and. Apr 04, 2020 the french connection is the best picture oscar winner from the 1970s that makes me happiest. It reports that the average american spends more than 1,000 hours a year watching television, but only nine hours at the movies. Sonny grosso, an nypd detective who, along with partner eddie egan, inspired william friedkins 1971 crime classic the french connection, died. The best 10 movies of 1971 roger ebert december 31, 1971. Popeye doyle was a highly unusual hero, an often violent, racist, and meanspirited cop whose dedication to his job fell just short of dangerous obsession. William friedkins symphony of long, sharp shocks is memorable for any number of sequences. He won all three awards again for his role in unforgiven. It featured a great early gene hackman performance that won an academy award, and it also won oscars for best picture, direction.
Roger ebert the french connection is routinely included, along with bullitt, diva and raiders of the lost ark, on the short list of movies with the greatest chase scenes of all time. The french connection broke plenty of new ground for screen thrillers. Parents need to know that the french connection is a 1971 movie that is filled with frequent profanity including fk, violence, and questionable behavior. The french connection is routinely included, along with bullitt, diva and raiders of the lost ark, on the short list of movies with the greatest chase scenes of all time. The sopranos best moments and quotes season 6, part 1 duration.
Jan 23, 2020 sonny grosso, an nypd detective who, along with partner eddie egan, inspired william friedkins 1971 crime classic the french connection, died yesterday in manhattan following a long illness. The french connection is routinely included, along with bullitt, diva and raiders of the lost ark, on the short list of movies with the. The french connection classic film pick cole smithey. A knockout police thriller with so much jarring excitement that it almost calls for comicbook expletives. It ushered in the era of gritty 1970\s cop films, and while this new presentation on bluray might leave some fans feeling uneasy, it\s friedkin\s ultimate. Two tough new york city cops, jimmy doyle gene hackman and buddy rosso roy scheider, try to intercept a huge heroin shipment coming in from france. The filming locations of the french connection, then and. Roy scheider plays gene hackmans partner and both are constantly watching a criminal organisation led by charnier the french connection is a 1971 film directed by the. The screenplay, written by ernest tidyman, is based on robin moores 1969 nonfiction book. Jimmy popeye doyle who travels to marseille, france where he is attempting to track down french drugdealer. The film s title derives from a discussion in the tao te ching that likens people to the ancient chinese ceremonial straw dog, being of ceremonial. The french connection won five oscars, including best directing for friedkin and best actor for hackman, and marked the first time that an rrated film won best picture. Why dirty harry beats harry potter film the guardian. An enthralled, somewhat dazed, audience emptied onto wilshire boulevard only at 11.
May 27, 2014 william friedkins 1971 crime drama is unlike any other. The french connection is a 1971 film directed by the exorcists william friedkin. The screenplay, by peckinpah and david zelag goodman, is based upon gordon m. French connection bandeannonce vost version restauree 1. A pair of nyc cops in the narcotics bureau stumble onto. The french connection 1971 jerry roberts december 4, 2017 oscars 90 th birthday is just around the corner and to celebrate, every other day from now through march 4th, i will be taking a look at each and every film selected for his top award the good, the bad and the sometimes notso deserving. The french connection is a film of almost incredible suspense, and it includes, among a great many chilling delights, the most brilliantly executed chase sequence. New york film locations from the movie the french connection starring gene hackman. Straw dogs is a 1971 psychological thriller film directed by sam peckinpah and starring dustin hoffman and susan george. In honor of the film s 45th anniversary, the academy will host a celebratory screening featuring an onstage discussion with friedkin.
544 842 1492 986 1144 769 352 418 163 428 867 1356 1152 953 276 580 535 959 1421 787 913 1085 878 1116 676 99 617 1566 1188 524 1123 878 49 1195 1041 320 529