172. 'The French Connection' (1971)

Billy Friedkin's iconic 1971 game-changing NYC police procedural/car chase classic 'The French Connection' has a fascinating backstory and making-of history, and, hey: that's what I'm here for! To bring you all the best stories behind the scenes on the streets of New York and all the context and color that helps place this movie in the pantheon of the films that came before and after it.

 

The NY Times article about this summer's censorship of the film is linked here.

Mark Kermode's very well made BBC documentary about the making of The French Connection can be seen on YouTube.

Owen Roizman, the film's brilliant and prolific cinematographer's IMDB page is here.

Do yourself a favor and watch the films of the brilliant French director Jean-Pierre Melville.

Listen to David Shire's iconic score for The Taking of Pelham 123 on YouTube.

Don Ellis' haunting end credits music from The French Connection.