A superb cop thriller based on historical events and starring Gene Hackman in one of his best performances, The French Connection also introduced the reality based, impactful filmmaking of William Friedkin.
In the history of cinema, you can pinpoint specific films that changed the landscape forever. The French Connection is one of those films. 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. The case had the makings of a great movie: tough cops, sly criminals, and a global backdrop. Needed was the right director. That was found in William Friedkin, who up to this point had a couple of features of moderate success under his belt. But he also had the hunger and the know how to make a film like The French Connection not only a reality, but come to life with an intensity and ingenuity that changed the crime movie genre.
The French Connection stars Gene Hackman as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle, a dogged, tough as nails detective wo will do anything to get his man. Much like Friedkin, Hackman was a burgeoning talent (with two supporting actor Oscar nominations under his belt) who found the perfect role in Doyle, delivering a turn ferocious and charismatic, combining old-school noir gumshoe with 70s grit movie cop, and a twist of action heroics. It is a turn both intimidating and engrossing, and never afraid to step into murky ethical waters.
When French heroic smuggler Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) conspires to brings millions of dollars of his product into New York City, Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) jump on the case, keeping a tail on the elusive Charnier and staking out his suspected accomplices. On their case is their captain Simonson, who incredibly is played by Eddie Egan, the real-life basis for the Popeye Doyle character. It is a small yet important touch that speaks to the reality-based filmmaking that Friedkin employs.
Things escalate considerably when an assassination attempt on Doyle leads to a chase scene though the boroughs of New York City. Many claim this to be one of the greatest chase scenes in the history of cinema, and this is absolutely true. Tremendously shot by cinematographer Owen Roizman (Network) and edited by Jerry Greenberg (Apocalypse Now), this no holds barred sequence of Doyle in car chasing down an elevated train at full speed, still stands as a thrilling and innovative testament of action cinema.
The 70s brought with it a plethora of great filmmakers who pushed the boundaries of their medium to new heights, but none did it with the impact that Friedkin had with The French Connection, a movie that spurned many imitators, but rarely an equal.
