48 thoughts on “The French Connection (1971) First Time Watching! Movie Reaction!”
Based on the true story of New York City detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso in 1961 as they attempt to uncover the participants of a major drug ring that had a french connection
The car chase scene was filmed on the streets of NYC without permits it permission. Allegedly it was done without any controls in place but that is hard to believe.
For an iconic car chase (Mustang vs Camaro) and crime film, watch "Bullit", with Steve McQueen, Rober Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset (she is in other good Peter Yates movies, like "The Deep", with Nick Nolte, Louis Gosset Jr and Robert Shaw, from "Jaws"). Fernando Rey (Alain) is an excellent spanish actor. I reckon the movie you mentioned with Gene Hackman and Will Smith is "Enemy of the State", not one of my favs, I think he's got better ones, "Runaway Jury" (w Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack and Rachel Weisz) or "Absolute Power" (w Clint Eastwood) are excellent.
I love the "bad" ending of this movie. 100% 1970s. Dark and incomplete. I like how Popeye commits friendly fire and doesn't care because he didn't like the guy anyway lol. Just totally committed to the (unsuccessful) chase.
There's a Part Two: French Connection II (1975), directed by John Frankenheimer. Also with Gene Hackman as "Popeye". John Frankenheimer also directed Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). One of my favourites. Definitely worth watching.
There's always a little party in my heart when I see someone reacting to this classic. It's one of my top five favorite films, along with (to date) King Kong '33, Shane, Wizard of Oz, and Godfather.
37:26 I think that's the genius of this car chase, that there's only one car involved. Normally you have the fleeing car and the following car, and then you'll have to have both cars have close misses and all kinds of crazy hijinks, and have to cut back and forth, and it can make the whole thing hard to follow and it really stretches suspension of disbelief.
There are cuts here, too, and there is the shooter in the train doing his thing, but the focus of the chase is entirely on what Popeye is doing and what's happening to him. While the train is just minding its own business and happily chugging along. I think that's what makes it so over-the-top intense.
Easily my favorite Gene Hackman film. Great acting by a Marine. I watched it countless times just over and over to make sure I got it all. Great reaction y'all. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
Hey Kids love your reactions. My favorite Gene Hackman movie is "The Heist", not to be confused with "Heist" with DeNero. Another Great Hackman movie is "Scarecrow" with Gene and Dustin Hoffman. Y'all should check them out. Another movie suggestion along the lines of Slingblade, in that it's really not well known but an exceptional movie is "Kill The Irishman" based on true events in the 70s mob action etc etc. Love Y'all! 🤫🤣🤔❤️🥰
If you ever watch American Gangster with Denzel & Russell Crowe you will get to see what happened with the French Connection drugs later on, plus it's a good movie
To put the 500,000 dollars mentioned in this movie into perspective, you need to understand that the events depicted in it occurred in 1968. In 1968 500,000 dollars was about 105 years wages for the average American. The story is an adaptation of a 1969 non fiction book. The story is basically true although names have been changed and so have a number of other details.
French Connection II, Gene Hackman's performance has to be one of the greatest acting portrayals in the craft that i've ever seen in my long lifetime! He is Just beyond in it!
To my fellow architects (and others, of course), at 11:11 are the twin towers of the World Trade Ctr. under construction in the background, as the reddish-brown internal frames rising above and to the left of the film camera on the right.
You guys should check out William Friedkin's Sorcerer, which signalled the death of New Hollywood. It came out at the same time as Star Wars and bombed at the box office. It's probably his best film. Ironically enough, Roy Schneider is also in it, the star of that other 70's Summer blockbuster!!
This was a big hit at the time, but nowhere near as big as this director's next film…. THE EXORCIST. BTW, He topped this car chase in 1985's To Live & Die in L.A.
When this movie was made, a lot of movies coming out had the protagonist getting killed at the end. So you could never be sure. BTW, another movie from this time period that is a must see is Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen. My favorite McQueen movie. Maybe the best car chase ever.
For another Outstanding Car chase check out “To Live & Die in LA”. A lot takes place from inside the car going the wrong way on an LA Freeway. Insane Ending too.
The real star here is dirty old 1970s New York, which is missing in the sequel (which takes place in France). But the sequel is still worth watching. Scheider also starred in a similar movie called The Seven-Ups.
Based on the true story of New York City detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso in 1961 as they attempt to uncover the participants of a major drug ring that had a french connection
the second part is much more better is one of those movies than the secuel is better
The car chase scene was filmed on the streets of NYC without permits it permission. Allegedly it was done without any controls in place but that is hard to believe.
For an iconic car chase (Mustang vs Camaro) and crime film, watch "Bullit", with Steve McQueen, Rober Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset (she is in other good Peter Yates movies, like "The Deep", with Nick Nolte, Louis Gosset Jr and Robert Shaw, from "Jaws"). Fernando Rey (Alain) is an excellent spanish actor. I reckon the movie you mentioned with Gene Hackman and Will Smith is "Enemy of the State", not one of my favs, I think he's got better ones, "Runaway Jury" (w Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack and Rachel Weisz) or "Absolute Power" (w Clint Eastwood) are excellent.
I love the "bad" ending of this movie. 100% 1970s. Dark and incomplete. I like how Popeye commits friendly fire and doesn't care because he didn't like the guy anyway lol. Just totally committed to the (unsuccessful) chase.
Great movie. The sequel is also fantastic and well worth a watch.
FRENCH CONNECTION 2
There's a Part Two: French Connection II (1975), directed by John Frankenheimer. Also with Gene Hackman as "Popeye". John Frankenheimer also directed Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). One of my favourites. Definitely worth watching.
😎👍
The Conversation is a great Cold War film with Gene Hackman, also from the ‘70s.
200 dollars was a lot. Over 1600 dollars today. The whole of the 1970s had very high inflation.
There's always a little party in my heart when I see someone reacting to this classic. It's one of my top five favorite films, along with (to date) King Kong '33, Shane, Wizard of Oz, and Godfather.
In case no one's mentioned it : Friedkin reinvents his own legacy (and succeeds brilliantly!) with LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.
@TBRSchmitt Enemy of the State (1998) is the name of the movie starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman
$500k in 1971 is equally to $3.75M today.
Do you guys want a real master class on acting ? Watch Gene Hackman in French Connection next.
37:26 I think that's the genius of this car chase, that there's only one car involved. Normally you have the fleeing car and the following car, and then you'll have to have both cars have close misses and all kinds of crazy hijinks, and have to cut back and forth, and it can make the whole thing hard to follow and it really stretches suspension of disbelief.
There are cuts here, too, and there is the shooter in the train doing his thing, but the focus of the chase is entirely on what Popeye is doing and what's happening to him. While the train is just minding its own business and happily chugging along. I think that's what makes it so over-the-top intense.
He didn't get away, you have to watch part 2.
Easily my favorite Gene Hackman film. Great acting by a Marine. I watched it countless times just over and over to make sure I got it all.
Great reaction y'all.
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
French connection 2 is better. It comes to a conclusion from this movie.
Hey Kids love your reactions. My favorite Gene Hackman movie is "The Heist", not to be confused with "Heist" with DeNero. Another Great Hackman movie is "Scarecrow" with Gene and Dustin Hoffman. Y'all should check them out. Another movie suggestion along the lines of Slingblade, in that it's really not well known but an exceptional movie is "Kill The Irishman" based on true events in the 70s mob action etc etc. Love Y'all! 🤫🤣🤔❤️🥰
I enjoy your reactions. Godzilla Minus One is a must see…
If you ever watch American Gangster with Denzel & Russell Crowe you will get to see what happened with the French Connection drugs later on, plus it's a good movie
The white car that hit Popeye was a total accident. They kept it in the movie.
To put the 500,000 dollars mentioned in this movie into perspective, you need to understand that the events depicted in it occurred in 1968. In 1968 500,000 dollars was about 105 years wages for the average American. The story is an adaptation of a 1969 non fiction book. The story is basically true although names have been changed and so have a number of other details.
Second part is awesome as well 😀
French Connection II, Gene Hackman's performance has to be one of the greatest acting portrayals in the craft that i've ever seen in my long lifetime! He is Just beyond in it!
The greatest character in this movie was New York City. 😂
The sequel is just as good in my opinion.
You guys need to watch “American Gangster” with Denzel, it briefly comments on the real French connection
On the subject of William Friedkin/Roy Scheider… check out 'Sorcerer', such an unsung masterpiece.
The story is true. The 120 pounds of dope was stored in a police locker and disappeared.
Can you react to Green Book (2018)???
To my fellow architects (and others, of course), at 11:11 are the twin towers of the World Trade Ctr. under construction in the background, as the reddish-brown internal frames rising above and to the left of the film camera on the right.
You guys should check out William Friedkin's Sorcerer, which signalled the death of New Hollywood. It came out at the same time as Star Wars and bombed at the box office. It's probably his best film. Ironically enough, Roy Schneider is also in it, the star of that other 70's Summer blockbuster!!
Pick your feet, was a way to confuse the suspect.
You should read or listen to Friedkin's autobiography, it's fantastic.
You should see gene hackman in the conversation
This was a big hit at the time, but nowhere near as big as this director's next film…. THE EXORCIST. BTW, He topped this car chase in 1985's To Live & Die in L.A.
When this movie was made, a lot of movies coming out had the protagonist getting killed at the end. So you could never be sure.
BTW, another movie from this time period that is a must see is Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen. My favorite McQueen movie. Maybe the best car chase ever.
For another Outstanding Car chase check out “To Live & Die in LA”.
A lot takes place from inside the car going the wrong way on an LA Freeway.
Insane Ending too.
Need to see the movie that started the great car chase: Bullitt 1968 with Steve McQueen and he did his own stunt driving.
Roy Scheider was an amateur boxer in his younger days. He got his nose broken in a Golden Gloves competition.
Oh my. French Connection 2 … gotta be done!
You should watch Deliverance which is an awesome movie with Burt Reynolds. Squeal like a pig
Next movie recommendation:
To Live and Die in LA.
The real star here is dirty old 1970s New York, which is missing in the sequel (which takes place in France). But the sequel is still worth watching. Scheider also starred in a similar movie called The Seven-Ups.
For another young/slightly stud-looking Gene Hackman movie, watch The Poseidon Adventure!