IMDb >
The French Connection (1971)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe French Connection (1971) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 16) |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
9 October 1971 (USA)
more
Tagline:
The time is just right for an out and out thriller like this. more
Plot:
A pair of NYC cops in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a French connection. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars.
Another 15 wins
&
8 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(38 articles)
Review: ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’
(From The Flickcast. 19 November 2009, 12:00 PM, PST)
If Nolan Doesn't Direct 'Batman 3' Who Would You Like to See Take Over?
(From Rope Of Silicon. 17 November 2009, 4:14 PM, PST)
(From The Flickcast. 19 November 2009, 12:00 PM, PST)
If Nolan Doesn't Direct 'Batman 3' Who Would You Like to See Take Over?
(From Rope Of Silicon. 17 November 2009, 4:14 PM, PST)
User Comments:
An enjoyable cop thriller with plenty of good touches and an unmistakably 1970's feel
more (216 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Gene Hackman | ... | Jimmy Doyle |
 | Fernando Rey | ... | Alain Charnier |
 | Roy Scheider | ... | Det. Buddy Russo |
 | Tony Lo Bianco | ... | Sal Boca |
| Marcel Bozzuffi | ... | Pierre Nicoli |
| Frédéric de Pasquale | ... | Devereaux (as Frederic De Pasquale) |
| Bill Hickman | ... | Mulderig |
| Ann Rebbot | ... | Marie Charnier |
| Harold Gary | ... | Weinstock |
| Arlene Farber | ... | Angie Boca |
| Eddie Egan | ... | Simonson |
| André Ernotte | ... | La Valle (as Andre Ernotte) |
| Sonny Grosso | ... | Klein |
| Benny Marino | ... | Lou Boca |
| Patrick McDermott | ... | Chemist (as Pat McDermott) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System) |
4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
Brazil:14 |
South Korea:18 |
Canada:18A (video rating) |
Philippines:R-18 |
Argentina:13 (re-rating) |
Peru:18 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Argentina:18 |
Australia:M |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (special edition) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) (special edition) |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:-12 |
Ireland:18 |
Norway:16 (1972) |
Norway:18 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 (video rating) |
UK:X (original rating) |
USA:R |
West Germany:16 (bw) |
Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
According to William Friedkin, Gene Hackman had a hard time saying Doyle's racist language without cringing.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Doyle and Russo arrive at the scene of an accident with their Supervisor and Federal Agent, they attempt to persuade their supervisor to keep them on the case. A shot of a deceased woman is shown when she is taken out of the wreckage prior to Doyle's and Russo's arrival and the exact same shot is re-played after they arrive on scene.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Merry Christmas. What's your name, little boy?
Little Boy: Eric.
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Uh-huh, Eric. What do you want for Christmas Eric? Hmmm?
more
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Merry Christmas. What's your name, little boy?
Little Boy: Eric.
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle: Uh-huh, Eric. What do you want for Christmas Eric? Hmmm?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "House Calls: The Kensington Connection (#3.2)" (1981)
more
Soundtrack:
Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (216 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The French Connection (1971) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| King of New York | Live Free or Die Hard | L.A. Confidential | The Stunt Man | The Fugitive |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
Following a mix of hunches and leads, two tough NYPD narcotic cops set up surveillance on a candy store in the belief that the owners of the store are somehow involved in drug dealing on the side. Putting the squeeze on the store leads them to a couple of new people, specifically a smooth French criminal called Alain Charnier who is trying to orchestrate a massive drug sale in New York. The pressure looks like bringing success to Detectives Doyle and Russo, but Charnier's organisation has tight time targets and decides to take action to remove the heat from the job.
Sometimes with "classic" films it is easy to get sucked into the hype and reputation and just love it before you have even seen it; for that reason, although I have seen it several times, I decided to give it a fresh viewing before I dared try to write my thoughts on it – it finished ten minutes ago, so my memory is still fresh. Although I feel that it has remained well known thanks to "that" car chase, I think that recalling only that scene is to do a disservice to a film that is an enjoyable thriller in a tough, typically 1970's mould. The plot sees a minor hunch turn into a bigger police job and it would be easy to pick holes in some of the logic within it, it still grips and provides a nicely gritty cop thriller. It isn't as clever or as original as those coming to it on the back of its reputation might expect it to be, as it does pretty much what the rest of the genre does. Now I'll be fair and acknowledge that I don't know whether this film was the first to create this type of film or if it was just part of the development of them, but certainly watching it now it does blend in with others in the same genre.
The direction makes it better than the material as Friedkin injects real tension and grit into the story keeping it exciting while also being rather sombre and low-key. The acting also makes it and, rightly, Hackman carries much of the film with a great performance as Doyle. Grizzled, bigoted and apparently heartless, it is interesting to contrast his character with Rey's Charnier, who is much cooler and effective. Scheider is, as always, reliable in support and he gives a good performance throughout while the rest of the cast play their roles well enough. There is no doubt though, that Hackman is the heart of the film and his performance reflects this and makes the audience emotionally involved with his story from the very start.
Overall this is a great 1970's cop thriller with all that comes with that genre. It is enjoyably gritty and fast paced with "heroes" of questionable morality and smooth criminals. People will always hark on about that car chase and, yes, it is good, but there is more to this film and it stands out as one of the best of the genre.