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.

Theatrical release: October 9, 1971

Based on events that occurred in 1961.

Shot almost entirely on location in New York City, and briefly in Marseilles, France.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION is number 70 on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies.

People were allegedly injured during the filming of the famous chase scene.

Friedkin is rumored to have shot parts of the chase scene himself.

Excerpt: "Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?"--Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), spoken to various characters

Blu-ray Disc Features:

2-Disc Set
Collectors Edition
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French, Spanish
Dolby Surround - English
DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 - English
Mono - English
Subtitles - SDH, English, French, Spanish - Optional
Disc 1:
Additional Release Material:
Featurettes:
1. "Making the Connection: The Untold Stories of THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
1. "William Friedkin Introduction to THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
2. "Hackman on Doyle"
3. "Color Timing THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
4. "Scene of the Crime"
5. "Friedkin and Grosso Remember the Real French Connection"
6. "Cop Jazz: The Music of Don Ellis"
7. "Rogue Cop: The Noir Connection"
8. "Anatomy of a Chase"
Additional Audio Material: Isolated Score Track
Audio Commentary:
1. Stars Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider
2. Director William Friedkin
Interactive Features:
Additional Interactive Features - D-Box
Interactive Game - Trivia Track
Disc 2:
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Documentary: BBC Documentary: THE POUGHKEEPSIE SHUFFLE
Featurettes:
1. "Making the Connection: The Untold Stories of THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
1. "William Friedkin Introduction to THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
2. "Hackman on Doyle"
3. "Color Timing THE FRENCH CONNECTION"
4. "Scene of the Crime"
5. "Friedkin and Grosso Remember the Real French Connection"
6. "Cop Jazz: The Music of Don Ellis"
7. "Rogue Cop: The Noir Connection"
8. "Anatomy of a Chase"

Distributor Notes: 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.

Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Gene Hackman: Oscar-winning actor, THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Fernando Rey: Spanish Actor
Roy Scheider: American actor, JAWS, ALL THAT JAZZ, THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Tony Lo Bianco: American Actor
Bill Hickman: Stunt Coordinator/"7-Ups"
Marcel Bozzufi: Actor
Frederic de Pasquale: Actor
Ann Rebbot: Actress
Harold Gary: Actor
Sonny Grosso: Ex-Cop/Author/Actor, CRUISING (1980)

William Friedkin: Oscar winning American director, THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Philip D'Antoni: 

Ernest Tidyman: American Novelist

Don Ellis: American Composer - d. 1978

Jerry Greenberg: American Editor

"[With] the Greatest Car Chase Ever Filmed."
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."
"...A best-picture Oscar that really holds up..."
"...To watch it now is to appreciate more than ever Gene Hackman's uncompromising talent..."
"William Friedkin brings a new documentary-style grittiness and moral ambiguity to the crime thriller."