William Friedkin’s detective masterpiece
Given the difficulties William Friedkin had to face in directing French connection In 1971, the American director, then 36 years old, probably did not imagine that his fifth feature film would become a instant classic of the New Hollywood.
French Connection – whose scenario is inspired by true eventsDrug trafficking between France and the United States in the 1960s – tells the following story:
Jimmy Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) are two cops responsible for dismantling the “French network” through which drugs are transported to the United States. The investigation conducted by Doyle leads them to suspect the bosses of a small candy store in Brooklyn. After numerous spin-offs, Doyle and Russo unmask two bosses of the sector: Nicoli (Marcel Bozzuffi) and
Documentary Style and Recognition for Gene Hackman
Inspired by the cinema of Costa-Gavras, and in particular ZWilliam Friedkin wants to bring maximum realism in his crime film. With the codes of documentary cinema, he thus promotes the shooting shoulder camerain real settings and with natural light.
In these images, Gene Hackman delivers a truly fantastic performance with the role of Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. William Friedkin initially did not want this actor. The latter, after numerous television appearances, only then begins to make himself noticed in the cinema, with an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. The director then considered the idea of playing Doyle French connection Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, James Caan and Steve McQueen. But with a very limited production budget ($1.8 million), impossible to sign for example Newman or McQueen.
Huge critical and commercial success
In the end, Gene Hackman was chosen. And the result exceeded expectations. For his interpretation, he distinguished himself considerably in 1972 from the Golden Globe and the Oscar for best actorand in 1973 by the BAFTAs. It’s not the only one for which he was crowned French connectionsince the film also won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Golden Globe and the Oscar for best directorthe Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
As for the box office, French connection It is a success in the United States and around the world. It grosses $75 million of worldwide box office receipts.
Besides its realistic staging, its brilliant adaptation of the story published in 1969 and its acting performances, French connection It is also presented as an action crime thriller with its legendary chase under the New York skytrain. Shot in real conditions, brilliantly edited to convey the feeling of violence and the brutality of the shocks, it is unanimously celebrated and immediately becomes a model of its kind.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
