The French Connection, the Academy Award-winning 1971 film that follows a New York City police raid on one of the biggest heroin trafficking rings in history, is known for its street-level grit, powerhouse performances and what's widely considered to be the best car chase sequence in movie history. But did you know that the film's sweeping story, gritty visual style and evocative characters were inspired by real-life events? As The French Connection celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, we take a look at 14 of the film's most intriguing facts.
1. The iconic chase scene came from a brainstorming session on the street.
The real-life high-octane car chase that forms the centerpiece of the film began with a conversation between director William Friedkin and producer Philip D'Antoni as they walked around New York City spitballing ideas for the sequence. D'Antoni pushed Friedkin to make the chase even better than Peter Yates's 1968 classic Bullitt, which already had a reputation as one of the most thrilling car chases ever put on screen.
Friedkin opted for a low-angle approach, shooting from the back seat of the car as stunt driver and stunt coordinator Bob Hickman drove it down streets and over the Brooklyn-bound L train tracks at up to 90 mph. He also shot at a lower frame rate than usual—undercranking the camera to 18fps, instead of the standard 24fps—to give the chase an even more kinetic energy.
2. Gene Hackman wasn't a fan of the script's crude dialogue.
When the script for The French Connection arrived in Hollywood, Hackman wasn't a big fan of its crude language. He felt that allowing his character to use the n-word frequently would cheapen the film. But Friedkin insisted, and Hackman agreed to play the character as written. The result is a pushy, obnoxious lead who racially harasses the drug dealer who stabbed him by asking if he's "ever picked his feet in Poughkeepsie."
3. Much of the dialogue was improvised.
In keeping with the documentary feel of The french connection the higher the better, Friedkin had his actors rehearse their scenes without a camera present and only told the lighting and camera crew where the actors would be moving (blocking). He credits this technique for giving the film its raw, authentic vibe. The French Connection also influenced Costa-Gavras' 1969 film Z, which took the same approach.
4. The film's locations were a lot less glamorous than they appear.
Unlike the fictionalized version of the film in The Poughkeepsie Shuffle, the actual raids on Charnier's illegal heroin labs took place far from the glittering nightlife of Manhattan. In fact, the Poughkeepsie labs were found in abandoned industrial buildings and garages. As for the Copacabana in the film, the real-life club was a much more elegant establishment, with a cabaret and dance floor that drew celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra.
5. The "popeye" sexism was intentional.
The character of Popeye Doyle was based on the real-life police detective Eddie Egan, who led the investigation that eventually busted the heroin ring depicted in the film. But the scriptwriters consciously emphasized Doyle's sexism to make him seem more relatable and believable. The real-life Egan reportedly bragged about the number of sex slaves his department had captured, and his penchant for verbally abusing suspects also made its way into the film.
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