French Connection / French Connection 2 (Wide Screen)
Action & Adventure - Director: William Friedkin, John Frankenheimer - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco more
This special set features two of the 1970s' most exciting action pictures, THE FRENCH CONNECTION and THE FRENCH CONNECTION II. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971): Released the same... more
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Director and Best Actor, The French Connection transformed the crime thriller with its gritty, authentic story about New York City police detectives on the trail ...
to break a narcotics smuggling ring and ultimately uncover The French Connection. But When one of the criminals tries to kill Doyle he begins a deadly pursuit th...
trail of a large quantity of Heroin which has entered the US from Europe. The sequel 'French Connection 2' picks up the story of the efforts to stop drug smuggling in America.n
Director, and Best Actor,The French Connectiontransformed 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 Connectionhad 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
Director, and Best Actor, 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
The French Connection 2
Gene Hackman reprises his Oscar-winning role as Popeye Doyle the hard-nosed New York
... more
detective determined to break a French narcotics ring. Kidnapped by heroin Kingpin Alain Charier (Fernando Rey) in Marseilles Doyle is mercilessly forced to become a junkie himself. Upon his release Doyle must kick his habit and join forces with his French police counterpart (Bernard Fresson) to hunt down Charnier. Gritty action riveting performances and a vividly realistic setting make French Connection II a powerful sequel to the brilliant original.
Scheider) start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story this action-filled thriller with its renowned chase scene won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.
Connection' and 'French Connection II'. French Connection: Two narcotics detectives "Popeye" Doyle (Hackman) and his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story this action-filled thriller with its renowned chase scene won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman. French Connection II: Doyle casts his net further and wider in his pursuit of the drug smuggling ring and his ruthless dedication puts him in mortal danger when he tracks down the criminal kingpin to the French port of Marseille...
Production Year: 2004 - Action/Adventure - Director: Guillermo Del Toro - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden, Jeffrey Tambor
Production Year: 1975 - Action/Adventure - Director: John Frankenheimer - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Cathleen Nesbitt
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French Connection / French Connection 2 (Wide Screen)
Main specs
Actor(s): Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco
Director(s): William Friedkin, John Frankenheimer
Genre: Action & Adventure
Classification: 18 years and over
Running Time: 3 hours 33 minutes
Franchise Name: French Connection
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United States of America
Plot: This special set features two of the 1970s' most exciting action pictures, THE FRENCH CONNECTION and THE FRENCH CONNECTION II. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971): Released the same year as Clint Eastwood's DIRTY HARRY, William Friedkin's THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked the beginning of a new era of gritty, urban police dramas in which the theme of tough-cop amorality seemed to serve an epochal conservative demand for a police-state crackdown on the domestic chaos and subversive youth culture of the Vietnam War period. Based on the true story of two New York City police detectives and their investigation into a French heroin smuggling operation, this film is perhaps best known for its infamous, masterfully filmed chase scene (directly influenced by Steve McQueen's BULLITT) in which the lead policeman, Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), recklessly drives a stolen car through oncoming traffic in pursuit of a sniper escaping by elevated train. The exciting thrill of this ostensibly conventional crime drama is accentuated by director Friedkin's early European influences, perhaps best represented by the often handheld documentary-style visual approach that brings the viewer into a more personal proximity to the characters, as well as Friedkin's claims that the Oscar-winning screenplay was frequently disregarded in favor of improvisation. THE FRENCH CONNECTION is the first film Friedkin made after announcing to Variety that he would abandon his European influences in favor of genre entertainment and not only marked a significant change of course for his career but also signified a demographic shift that all of Hollywood would soon follow. THE FRENCH CONNECTION II (1975): Gene Hackman again stars as hard-boiled New York narcotics cop Popeye Doyle in the sequel to the Oscar-winning FRENCH CONNECTION. Still on the trail of heroin kingpin Charnier (Fernando Rey), whom he's dubbed Frog One, Doyle heads for Marseilles. On arrival, his aggressive ugly-American persona alienates French inspector Barthelmy (Bernard Fresson), and his limited ability to speak French doesn't help. Frustrated by Barthelmy's lack of progress, he slips his assigned police protection and goes looking for Frog One on his own. He's soon captured by Charnier's minions, who lock him in a fleabag hotel and shoot him up repeatedly with free samples of their product until Doyle is completely addicted. Charnier uses the detective's narcotized state to interrogate him and is surprised to find that he's virtually [...]
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date: 25/02/2002
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 23106 DVD
Barcode: 5039036008181
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Audio Commentary - 1. William Friedkin - Director, 2. Gene Hackman - Star, Documentary - 1. THE POUGHKEEPSIE SHUFFLE (53 minutes), 2. MAKING THE CONNECTIONS: The Untold Stories of the French Connection (60 mi, Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical, Deleted Scenes (7), Featurette - 1. William Freidkin Discusses the Deleted Scenes, Scene Access, Interactive Animated Menus, Stills Gallery, Audio Commentary - 1. John Frankenheimer - Director, 2. Original Spanish Theatrical Trailer, Photo Gallery - 1. Behind-the-Scenes, 2. Storyboards
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
This special set features two of the 1970s' most exciting action pictures, THE FRENCH CONNECTION and THE FRENCH CONNECTION II. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971): Released the same year as Clint Eastwood's DIRTY HARRY, William Friedkin's THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked the beginning of a new era of gritty, urban police dramas in which the theme of tough-cop amorality seemed to serve an epochal conservative demand for a police-state crackdown on the domestic chaos and subversive youth culture of the Vietnam War period. Based on the true story of two New York City police detectives and their investigation into a French heroin smuggling operation, this film is perhaps best known for its infamous, masterfully filmed chase scene (directly influenced by Steve McQueen's BULLITT) in which the lead policeman, Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), recklessly drives a stolen car through oncoming traffic in pursuit of a sniper escaping by elevated train. The exciting thrill of this ostensibly conventional crime drama is accentuated by director Friedkin's early European influences, perhaps best represented by the often handheld documentary-style visual approach that brings the viewer into a more personal proximity to the characters, as well as Friedkin's claims that the Oscar-winning screenplay was frequently disregarded in favor of improvisation. THE FRENCH CONNECTION is the first film Friedkin made after announcing to Variety that he would abandon his European influences in favor of genre entertainment and not only marked a significant change of course for his career but also signified a demographic shift that all of Hollywood would soon follow. THE FRENCH CONNECTION II (1975): Gene Hackman again stars as hard-boiled New York narcotics cop Popeye Doyle in the sequel to the Oscar-winning FRENCH CONNECTION. Still on the trail of heroin kingpin Charnier (Fernando Rey), whom he's dubbed Frog One, Doyle heads for Marseilles. On arrival, his aggressive ugly-American persona alienates French inspector Barthelmy (Bernard Fresson), and his limited ability to speak French doesn't help. Frustrated by Barthelmy's lack of progress, he slips his assigned police protection and goes looking for Frog One on his own. He's soon captured by Charnier's minions, who lock him in a fleabag hotel and shoot him up repeatedly with free samples of their product until Doyle is completely addicted. Charnier uses the detective's narcotized state to interrogate him and is surprised to find that he's virtually ignorant about his operation. The disdainful Charnier has him dumped in front of police headquarters, and Barthemy arranges for him to be put in isolation. Doyle undergoes the lengthy, grueling ordeal of quitting heroin cold turkey while his desperation to capture Charnier builds inside him. Hackman's brilliant performance highlights this somewhat overlooked sequel; Claude Renoir's camera fully captures the squalor of the milieu, and Frankenheimer engineers a harrowing final chase.
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