The French Connection (1971)
90%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Won 5 Oscars
22 wins & 12 nominations total
Realistic, fast-paced and uncommonly smart, The French Connection is bolstered by stellar performances by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, not to mention William Friedkin’s thrilling production.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel like you’re on a high-speed chase through the streets of New York City, then The French Connection is the film for you. With its intense action and gripping story, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Director William Friedkin knows how to keep the audience engaged with his expertly crafted comedic moments and moments of violence. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride with The French Connection!
Production Company(ies)
New Regency Productions, The Wolper Organization Warner Bros.,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Château d’If, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1971
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:4-Track Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 44m
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Language(s):English, French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 1971 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2005
Genre(s)
Crime/Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi, Frédéric de Pasquale, directed by William Friedkin, written by Ernest Tidyman, crime, mystery, thriller, drama, R rating, box office success, Philip D’Antoni produced, reviewed by Alexander Walker, Martha DuBose, Derek Malcolm, John Russell Taylor, Myles Standish, David Wilkening, Michael Billington, James Wegg, Danielle Solzman, J Oliver Prescott, Noel Taylor, David Hale, Gene Hackman as Det Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, Roy Scheider as Det Buddy “Cloudy”‘Russo, Fernando Rey as Alain Charnier, Tony Lo Bianco as Salvatore “Sal” Boca, Marcel Bozzuffi as Pierre Nicoli, Hit Man, Frédéric de Pasquale as Henri Devereaux
Worldwide gross: $51,700,666
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $424,239,640
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 363
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 46,263,865
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,770,242
Production budget ranking: 1,521
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,953,775
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $401,515,622
ROI to date (est.): 1,767%
ROI ranking: 57
– Fernando Rey as Alain Charnier
– Roy Scheider as Det. Buddy “Cloudy”‘Russo
– Tony Lo Bianco as Salvatore “Sal” Boca
– Marcel Bozzuffi as Pierre Nicoli, Hit Man
– Frédéric de Pasquale as Henri Devereaux
– Director: William Friedkin
– Producer: Philip D’Antoni
– Writer: Ernest Tidyman
Director(s)
William Friedkin
Writer(s)
Ernest Tidyman
Producer(s)
Philip D’Antoni
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 5 Oscars
22 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (87) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (3)
If you want a dog-eared guide book, stuffed with authentic detail, to the work of the New York narcotics squad, this is your film. It certainly is mine. Every element coalesces into a hard bunch of excitement you can’t imagine belter done.
February 10, 2022
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
No matter how hard I try to control my enthusiasm, I cannot help thinking that The French Connection is the most exciting, most stylish — in fact, the best piece of cops-and-robbers cinema since the silents.
April 15, 2021
Martha DuBose
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Apart from telling a pretty exciting story with great mechanical skill, Friedkin examines the cop and his prey with a sceptic’s eye.
April 15, 2021
Derek Malcolm
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Quite efficient but pretty unremarkable.
April 15, 2021
John Russell Taylor
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
One of the most exciting and breathtaking chase films ever made.
April 15, 2021
Myles Standish
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Connection tells a straight story, has some respect for its viewer’s intelligence, and maintains dramatic situations that build with increasing tension from one scene to another.
April 15, 2021
David Wilkening
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Written by Ernest Tidyman and directed by William Friedkin, It has exactly the kind of ruthless professionalism and headlong pace one ands in the American cinema at its best.
February 10, 2022
Michael Billington
Birmingham Post
Too much ado about drugs.
January 17, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
James Wegg
JWR
The French Connection helps bring about a new era in filmmaking–much thanks to Friedkin and company–and cinema would never be the same.
October 8, 2021
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Director William Friedkin has carefully contrived the intense action of this film to jolt you, to assault your nervous system. He is undeniably successful.
April 15, 2021
J. Oliver Prescott
Tampa Bay Times
Friedkin has a gripping story to tell and wastes little time with diversionary devices.
April 15, 2021
Noel Taylor
Ottawa Citizen
Director William Friedkin, whose previous efforts were The The Night Raided Minsky’s and The Boys in the Band proves expert at keeping the customers on the edge of their seats by automating comedic moments with moments of violence.
April 15, 2021
David Hale
Fresno Bee…
Plot
William Friedkin’s gritty police drama portrays two tough New York City cops trying to intercept a huge heroin shipment coming from France. An interesting contrast is established between ‘Popeye’ Doyle, a short-tempered alcoholic bigot who is nevertheless a hard-working and dedicated police officer, and his nemesis Alain Charnier, a suave and urbane gentleman who is nevertheless a criminal and one of the largest drug suppliers of pure heroin to North America. During the surveillance and eventual bust, Friedkin provides one of the most gripping and memorable car chase sequences ever filmed.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Gene Hackman delivers a commanding and humanized performance as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.
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