Film Notes
     "A milestone film from 1971, The French Connection transformed the crime thriller with its gritty, authentic story about New York City police detectives on the trail of a large shipment of heroin. Based on an actual police case and the illustrious career of New York cop Eddie Egan, the film stars Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, whose unorthodox methods of crime fighting are anything but diplomatic. With his partner (Roy Scheider), Popeye investigates the international shipment of heroin masterminded by the suave Frenchman (Fernando Rey) who eludes Popeye throughout an escalating series of pursuits. The obsessive tension of Doyle's investigation reaches peak intensity during the film's breathtaking car chase, in which Doyle races under New York's elevated train tracks in a borrowed sedan, a sequence that earned an Oscar for editing and was instantly hailed as one of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed. Produced on location, The French Connection had an immediate influence on dozens of movies and TV shows to follow, virtually redefining the crime thriller with its combination of brutal realism and high-octane craftsmanship. Boosted by the film's phenomenal success, director William Friedkin gained even more attention with his follow-up film, The Exorcist." (Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com)
     Produced by D'Antoni-Schine-Moore. Color by DeLuxe. Shot almost entirely on location in New York, briefly in Marseilles, France. Additional cast: Bill Hickman (Mulderig); Ann Rebbot (Marie Charnier); Harold Gary (Weinstock); Arlene Farber (Angie Boca); Eddie Egan (Simonson); AndrT Ernotte (La Valle); Pat McDermott (Chemist); and The Three Degrees as Themselves. Additional credits: Ben Kazaskow (art director) and Ed Garzero (set decorator).