The French Connection
William Friedkin’s gritty drama about police shows two New York City officers trying to stop a massive heroin shipment from France. It is interesting to see the contrast between Popeye Doyle (a short-tempered, alcohol-fueled bigot, but a dedicated, hard-working police officer) and Alain Charnier (a handsome, urbane man who is nonetheless a criminal, one of North America’s largest heroin suppliers). Friedkin’s car chase is one of the best ever recorded, thanks to his constant surveillance and eventually bust. –Tad Dibbern
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Director: William Friedkin
Actors: Bill Hickman, Fernando Rey, Frédéric de Pasquale, Gene Hackman, Marcel Bozzuffi, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco
Country: United States