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

DVD Features:

NTSC
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Mono - French
Stereo - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary William Friedkin - Director; Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider - Stars
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer

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."
"William Friedkin brings a new documentary-style grittiness and moral ambiguity to the crime thriller."
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..."