The French Connection (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The French Connection |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | William Friedkin |
| Produced by | Philip D'Antoni |
| Screenplay by | Ernest Tidyman |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Don Ellis |
| Cinematography | Owen Roizman |
| Editing by | Gerald B. Greenberg |
| Studio |
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| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
| Release date(s) | October 7, 1971 (United States) |
| Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language |
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| Budget | $1.8–2.2 million |
| Money made | $75 million (worldwide theatrical rental) |
The French Connection is an exciting action thriller film from 1971. It was directed by William Friedkin. The movie stars Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, and Fernando Rey.
The story is based on a real-life book by Robin Moore. It follows two NYPD detectives, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo. They are trying to catch a rich French smuggler named Alain Charnier. The film is known for its realistic style and thrilling car chase.
The French Connection won many important awards. At the 44th Academy Awards, it won five Oscars. These included Best Picture and Best Director. Gene Hackman also won Best Actor for his role.
Many people think this film is one of the greatest movies ever made. It was chosen to be kept safe in the United States National Film Registry. This means it is important for culture, history, or art. A sequel, French Connection II, was made in 1975.
Contents
Main Characters
This section lists the main actors and the characters they played in the movie.
- Gene Hackman as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle
- Fernando Rey as Alain "Frog One" Charnier
- Roy Scheider as Detective Buddy "Cloudy" Russo
- Tony Lo Bianco as Salvatore "Sal" Boca
- Marcel Bozzuffi as Pierre "Frog Two" Nicoli
- Frédéric de Pasquale as Henri Devereaux
- Bill Hickman as FBI Agent Bill Mulderig
- Ann Rebbot as Mrs. Marie Charnier
- Harold Gary as Joel Weinstock
- Arlene Farber as Angie Boca
- Eddie Egan as Captain Walt Simonson
- André Ernotte as La Valle
- Sonny Grosso as FBI Agent Clyde Klein
- Randy Jurgensen as Police Sergeant
- Alan Weeks as Pusher
Making the Movie
The film was made with a budget of about $1.8 million. This was a good amount for a movie at that time.
The director, William Friedkin, wanted the movie to feel very real. He was inspired by a film called Z. That movie looked like a documentary, even though it was a fiction story. Friedkin wanted The French Connection to feel like real events were happening on screen.
The movie also shows the World Trade Center buildings. You can see the North Tower finished and the South Tower still being built. This appears in scenes at the shipyard.
Choosing the Actors
Choosing the right actors was a bit tricky for the director. William Friedkin wasn't sure about Gene Hackman at first. He thought about other actors like Paul Newman or Steve McQueen. However, these actors were too expensive for the movie's budget.
Other actors turned down the role. Some didn't like the movie's intense story. In the end, Hackman got the part. He did a fantastic job playing Detective Popeye Doyle.
The Famous Car Chase
One of the most exciting parts of The French Connection is its car chase. Many people say it's one of the best car chases in movie history.
In this scene, Popeye takes a civilian's car. He then chases an elevated train through the city. A hitman is trying to escape on the train. The chase happens in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It goes under the elevated train tracks.
To make the chase look even faster, the camera filmed at a slower speed. This made everything on screen seem to move quicker. Sometimes, real accidents happened during filming. These were kept in the final movie to make it feel more real.
The chase ends with Popeye confronting the hitman. This intense moment is even shown on the movie's poster. Police officers who advised on the film had some concerns about this scene. But the director felt it showed what a real detective might do in that situation.
Filming Locations
The French Connection was filmed in many different places. These locations helped make the movie feel very real.
- 50th Street and First Avenue, New York City
- 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue, New York City
- 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York City (the chase scene)
- 91 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn
- 940 2nd Avenue, Manhattan
- 177 Mulberry Street, Little Italy, New York City
- Avenue De L'Amiral Ganteaume, Cassis, France
- Château d'If, Marseille, France
- Chez Fon Fon, Marseille, France
- Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York City
- Le Copain, New York City
- Doral Park Avenue Hotel, New York City
- Dover street near the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
- Forest Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City
- 42nd Street Shuttle platform at Grand Central Terminal, New York City
- Henry Hudson Parkway, New York City
- Marlboro Housing Project, Brooklyn, New York City
- Marseille, France
- Montee Des Accoules, Marseille, France
- Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City
- Plage du bestouan, Cassis, France
- Putnam Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City
- Randalls Island, New York City
- Ratner's Restaurant, New York City
- Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York City
- Rio Piedras, Brooklyn, New York City
- Rapid Park Garage, New York City
- Ronaldo Maia Flowers, New York City
- The Roosevelt Hotel, New York City
- Rue des Moulins, Old Town of Marseille, France
- La Samaritaine, Marseille, France
- South Street at Market Street, New York City
- Triborough Bridge, New York City
- Wards Island, New York City
- The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- Westbury Hotel, New York City
Awards and Recognition
The French Connection received many awards and honors. It was recognized for its directing, acting, and editing.
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Philip D'Antoni | Won | |
| Best Director | William Friedkin | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Gene Hackman | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Roy Scheider | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium | Ernest Tidyman | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Owen Roizman | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | Gerald B. Greenberg | Won | ||
| Best Sound | Christopher Newman and Theodore Soderberg | Nominated | ||
| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Feature Film | Gerald B. Greenberg | Nominated | |
| Belgrade Film Festival | Best Film | Philip D'Antoni | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Philip D'Antoni | Nominated | |
| Best Direction | William Friedkin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Gene Hackman (also for The Poseidon Adventure) | Won | ||
| Best Film Editing | Gerald B. Greenberg | Won | ||
| Best Sound | Christopher Newman and Theodore Soderberg | Nominated | ||
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Foreign Film | Philip D'Antoni | Won | |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | William Friedkin | Won | |
| Edgar Allan Poe Awards | Best Motion Picture | Ernest Tidyman | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Gene Hackman | Won | ||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | William Friedkin | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Ernest Tidyman | Nominated | ||
| Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing – Feature Film | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Instrumental Arrangement | Don Ellis – "Theme from The French Connection" | Won | |
| Kansas City Film Circle Critics Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Gene Hackman | Won | ||
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 4th Place | ||
| Best Actor | Gene Hackman | Won | ||
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | Inducted | ||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Gene Hackman | Nominated | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | Runner-up | ||
| Best Actor | Gene Hackman | Won | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Honored | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Drama – Adapted from Another Medium | Ernest Tidyman | Won | |
The American Film Institute has listed The French Connection on several of its "best films" lists:
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies - #70
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) - #93
- AFI's 100 Years…100 Thrills - #8
- AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains: Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle - #44 Hero
In 2012, the Motion Picture Editors Guild ranked it as the tenth best-edited film ever.
Home Video Versions
The French Connection has been released on different home video formats. These include VHS and DVD. In 2009, a Blu-ray version was released. The director, William Friedkin, changed the film's colors for this release. This caused some discussion among film fans.
Later, in 2012, a new Blu-ray version was released. This time, both the director and the original cinematographer worked together. They made sure the colors looked just right.
Recently, some digital versions of the film were changed. A scene was edited out. This decision also led to a lot of discussion among fans. They felt it changed the original movie.
Other Movies and Shows
- French Connection II (1975) is a fictional sequel to the movie.
- A TV movie called Popeye Doyle (1986) was also made. It starred Ed O'Neill as the main character.
See also
- Crime film
- List of American films of 1971
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, a restaurant chain named after the Popeye Doyle character.
