The 45th anniversary of The French Connection is being celebrated with a retrospective of the film. It will be hosted by Academy Award-winning screenwriter/director Christopher McQuarrie. He will interview the film's legendary director, William Friedkin, at an event sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Friedkin won an Oscar and Golden Globe for his work on the film. The French Connection was an enduring, influential film that changed the way we think about race in America.
The film's iconic car chase sequence is one of the best-known scenes in cinema history, and it serves the role of a crime thriller. Pauline Kael once said that the film's on-location shooting had "ushered in an age of nightmare realism." The film's uncompromising style, innovative style, and ability to empower audience emotions make it one of the best films of all time. The French Connection Retrospective offers insight into the making of one of the most famous and enduring films of all time.
As a bonus, the film's soundtrack features numerous works by renowned composers. In fact, the film's music editor, Ken Wannberg, also made a renowned score for Shaft. The film's story continues in the next chapter of this saga. Popeye Doyle remained on the outs with the law after killing Federal Agent Mulderig. Meanwhile, Cloudy is reassigned to another unit.
In the film's pseudo-spin-off, Roy Scheider played a cop. In reality, Sonny Grosso, a real-life police officer, inspired the fictional Buddy "Cloudy" Russo. Similarly, the character of Roy Scheider in The Seven-Ups was based on Sonny Grosso. In addition, the film also features a touching tribute to the film's screenwriter, Bryan Singer.
The film's semi-documentary style makes it relevant today, especially when it comes to the opioid crisis and police brutality. Despite its dated nature, The French Connection is still a true crime thriller with a clear political statement. Its influence on modern crime films stems from the influence of Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. In the remake, Caine recasts his character as a deranged antihero.
A BBC documentary traces the creation of The french connection the higher the better from the criminal case and the film's genesis. The film's story developed from the initial drug bust. It went through several screenplays before arriving at the final Oscar-winning production. The BBC documentary provides an insider's view of the filmmaking process, and also examines Friedkin's role as a director. While a retrospective does not re-tell the story, it does give viewers a greater appreciation for the film than they might otherwise.
