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Features: DVD
Two narcotics detectives, "Popeye" Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo (Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider), start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers, Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story, this action-filled thriller, with its renowned chase scene, won five Academy Awards including best picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.
"A thriller in every sense of the word." Box Office Magazine
"Sheer entertainment...fast, fascinating, gripping and gritty." New York Magazine
"...spine-twisting, suspenseful and utterly absorbing..." The Motion Picture Guide
"...one of the most exciting chase scenes ever filmed." VideoHound's GoldenMovie Retriever
Editor's Note
Released in the same year as Clint Eastwood's DIRTY HARRY (1971), William Friedkin's THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked the beginning of a new era of gritty, urban police dramas. Here, the theme of tough-cop amorality serves a conservative demand for a police-state crackdown on the domestic chaos and subversive youth culture of the Vietnam War period. The film is based on the true story of two New York City police detectives and their investigation into a French heroin smuggling operation. THE FRENCH CONNECTION is perhaps best known for its infamous, masterfully filmed chase scene (influenced by Peter Yates' BULLITT) in which the lead policeman, Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), recklessly drives a stolen car through oncoming traffic in pursuit of a sniper escaping by elevated train. The thrill of this crime drama is accentuated by director William Friedkin's early European influences, perhaps best represented by the handheld documentary-style visuals and Friedkin's claims that the Oscar-winning screenplay was frequently disregarded in favor of improvisation. THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked not only a significant change of course for his career, but also a stylistic shift that all of Hollywood would soon follow.
| Features | Audio Commentary | | Audio: English & French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Audio: English & French Dolby Digital Stereo | | Audio: Spanish Mono | | BBC Documentary "Poughkeepsie Shuffle" | | Documentary With 7 Deleted Scenes Hosted By William Friedkin | | Interactive Menus | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Portuguese Trailers For Both French Connection Features | | Scene Selection | | Still Gallery | | Subtitles: English, French |
| Entertainment Reviews
 | The French Connection - DVD Review By: Blake French - filmcritic.com DVD Reviews Published on: 2/13/2009 5:25 PM | |
The French Connection puts the majority of contemporary action movies to shame. It proves how potentially smart this genre can be, and how dumb recent action films really are. Unlike many modern-day thrillers, this film is an exciting, taut, and realistic portrayal of urban police life, but it does not fill its running time with gratuitous violence, nonstop profanity, and copious amounts of sex. Character motivation and story drive the film forward--not a needless excess of violent, antisocial behavior. It’s a standout cinematic achievement that won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Film Editing, and Best Writing....read the full review |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 2/3/2009 |
| Running Time: 104 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1971 | | Catalog ID: 2232581 | | UPC: 00024543225812 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Golden Globe (1972) |  | , Winner, Best Motion Picture - Drama | |
Oscar (1972) | | | Christopher Newman, Theodore Soderberg, Nominee, Best Sound | | Ernest Tidyman, Winner, Best Writing - Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium | | Gene Hackman, Winner, Best Actor | |
Golden Globe (1972) | | Gene Hackman, Winner, Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama | |
Oscar (1972) | | Gerald B. Greenberg, Winner, Best Film Editing | | | Owen Roizman, Nominee, Best Cinematography | | Philip D'Antoni, Winner, Best Picture | | | Roy Scheider, Nominee, Best Supporting Actor | |
Golden Globe (1972) | | William Friedkin, Winner, Best Director - Motion Picture | |
Oscar (1972) | | William Friedkin, Winner, Best Director |
| Memorable Quotes| "Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?"----Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), spoken to various characters |
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| | Professional Reviews | USA Today
"...A best-picture Oscar that really holds up..." 09/28/2001 p.5EEntertainment Weekly
"...To watch it now is to appreciate more than ever Gene Hackman's uncompromising talent..." 09/28/2001 p.56 Premiere
"William Friedkin brings a new documentary-style grittiness and moral ambiguity to the crime thriller." 12/01/2003 p.11 Total Film
"[With] the Greatest Car Chase Ever Filmed." 04/01/2004 p.136 Premiere
4 stars out of 5 -- "It's one of the most influential and exciting crime movies...[with] a level of grit and realism that is almost impossible to duplicate." 02/23/2009 Chicago Sun-Times 10 of 10
The movie is all surface, movement, violence and suspense. Only one of the characters really emerges into three dimensions: Popeye Doyle Gene Hackman, a New York narc who is vicious, obsessed and a little mad. The other characters don't emerge because there's no time for them to emerge. Things are happening too fast. - Roger Ebert
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