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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 unxpectedly 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 reowned chase scene, won five Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.
"Sheer entertainment...fast, fascinating, gripping and gritty." New York Magazine
"...one of the most exciting chase scenes ever filmed." VideoHound's GoldenMovie Retriever
"...spine-twisting, suspenseful and utterly absorbing..." The Motion Picture Guide
"A thriller in every sense of the word." Box Office Magazine
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 | Documentary With 7 Deleted Scenes Hosted By William Friedkin | | Still Gallery | | Trailers For Both French Connection Features | | Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Behind-The-Scenes Documentary "Making The Connection: The Untold Stories" | | BBC Documentary "Poughkeepsie Shuffle" | | Director's Commentary By William Friedkin | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Stereo Surround; French Mono | | Anamporphic WIdescreen Version | | THX Digitally Mastered | | Scene Specific Commentary By Gene Hackman And Roy Scheider |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 9/25/2001 |
| Running Time: 104 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1971 | | Catalog ID: 2002065 | | UPC: 00024543020653 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1972) |  | Gene Hackman, Winner, Best Actor | | William Friedkin, Winner, Best Director | | Gerald B. Greenberg, Winner, Best Film Editing | | Philip D'Antoni, Winner, Best Picture | | Ernest Tidyman, Winner, Best Writing - Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium | | | Owen Roizman, Nominee, Best Cinematography | | | Christopher Newman, Theodore Soderberg, Nominee, Best Sound | | | Roy Scheider, Nominee, Best Supporting Actor | |
Golden Globe (1972) | | William Friedkin, Winner, Best Director - Motion Picture | | Gene Hackman, Winner, Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama |
| 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 |
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