The French Connection Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 349

Average Rating: 3.1/4

# of Ratings: 299

Theatrical Release Date: 10/09/1971

Language: English

Genre: Action, Crime

MPAA Rating: R

Director: William Friedkin

Actors: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Tony Lo Bianco, Bill Hickman, Roy Scheider, Sonny Grosso

Plot: During a drug smuggle with a French Connection, the NYC narcotics police division engulf themselves further with breaking up the smuggling process.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 05/28/2019

Thrilling and engrossing can't even begin to describe "The French Connection."

Gabe - wrote on 08/12/2016

Probably not the Best Picture of 1971, although it was a fairly week field, I would have preferred A Clockwork Orange. But, it's a fine film. I think it's a little overrated, but it's entertaining.

Indyfreak - wrote on 01/23/2016

One of the most overrated films I've ever seen. This is the pre-eminent cop thriller in all of Hollywood history? What for? And don't bring up that car chase either! That chase is the only reason I give it any stars at all. It's certainly well made and exciting and all that jazz. Strangely it felt so out of place compared to the rest of the movie which is this grainy and dirty cop flick. It's as cheap as it looks and expects audiences to forgive its slow pace and unlikeable characters if we toss in a car chase in the mid section. Now way in hell did this deserve Best Picture.

SteelCity99
Director

The French Connection

SteelCity99 - wrote on 04/22/2018

Several directors, either foreign or American (not that American can't be foreign, of course), build a classic and unforgettable filmography in their early days, where the image quality of the camera had that beautiful and magical high definition and when more original stories where still available, thus leaving some room for originality and a predominant, characteristic style. William Friedkin is no exception to this list of directors, a filmmaker who already has fallen into the horrible world of idea-lacking and Hollywood mediocrity. The French Connection does not only belongs to the group of the best American crime films of the Golden Age of cinema, but it is also Friedkin at his most stylish, explosive and ultimately kickass, fantastically edited and with a powerful and male-centered …

Yojimbo
Movie God

"The French Connection" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 02/27/2012

Tough New York street detective "Popeye" Doyle stumbles on a ring of drug runners planning to import heroin from France. William "The Exocrist" Friedkin uncompromisingly directs one of the great hard-boiled cop dramas of the 70s in what can be seen as the grandaddy of popular TV series The Wire. Hackman shines as the flawed cop with a two fisted approach to investigation who is constantly wrong footed and outsmarted by his wily opponent. The gritty, documentary approach has a visceral realism, and makes for some of the most memorable action sequences of the era, especially the A-train car chase in which Doyle virtually destroys his commandeered automobile. Incredibly tautly directed and breathlessly paced, there is no room for soapy personal relationships or love interests, just a single …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

The French Connection review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 08/21/2011

In a New York setting, detectives James "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo (Roy Scheider) try to investigate a drug shipment. So many characters involved and insufficient time for character development. You hardly know the story of Doyle and Russo, not even a history of the criminals Tony Lo Bianco as Salvatore 'Sal' Boca, Marcel Bozzuffi as Pierre Nicoli, Hit Man and Frédéric de Pasquale as Henri Devereaux. One of the conspicuous qualms I have aside from the lack of character build-up were the length of the scenes that are not interlinked with the story (long chases/walks, a few arrests, etc.) and likeability of the leads. Yes Popeye is a good cop, yet he sleeps with a chick and makes errors that would make his search unbelievable since there is no concrete …