The 1971 film the french connection left over was a huge hit when it was released, and it has since become one of the most beloved crime thrillers in movie history. The film combines a gritty visual style with powerhouse performances from Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, and features arguably the best car chase scene ever committed to film. However, The French Connection wasn’t always so iconic—it took a lot of hard work and perseverance to get made. Here are some of the amazing stories behind the making of this classic film.
The film was inspired by the real-life story of one of America’s biggest drug busts, led by NYPD detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso. The investigation began when the detectives spotted a known heroin dealer, Pasquale Fuca, at the Copacabana nightclub. After seeing him spend a lot of money on attaché cases, the detectives tapped his phone and learned that he was involved in a major heroin-smuggling operation with connections to France.
Egan and Grosso were very close to the production of the film and remained on-set every day as technical advisors, even after they had been cast in their roles. This allowed them to give the actors they portrayed a realistic feel, and it also helped to create an in-depth understanding of the case. This understanding also carried over into the film, which is a powerful and realistic depiction of police work.
When shooting The French Connection, Friedkin opted to film on location in New York City. This decision helped to add an authentic and gritty feeling to the film, which was very popular with audiences at the time. It also helped to set the film apart from other films, and it has been credited with helping the film become such a success.
As a director, Friedkin was always interested in truth and reality. He got his start with a number of documentary films, and when he switched to narrative features he brought that same approach to his work. He created a style he called “induced documentary,” which was a way to bring realism to drama. Friedkin and cinematographer Owen Roizman used this style throughout The French Connection, creating a film that feels true and authentic.
One of the most memorable aspects of The The french connection left over is its end, which is both ambiguous and haunting. The film ends with a shot of Hackman’s character, Popeye Doyle, running into an abandoned warehouse. Then, a shot rings out and the screen fades to black. Despite the ambiguous ending, it still packs a punch and remains an effective final sequence in the film.
The French Connection was a huge hit when it was first released, and it has stayed at the top of the box office ever since. It’s a rare film that captures a specific period and place—in this case, New York in the early ’70s—and at the same time seems completely timeless. Whether you are watching it for the first time or you have seen it countless times, The French Connection will leave you with a lasting impression.
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