1971 started what would be 4 years in a row of crime dramas winning Best Picture. The French Connection is about two police detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy Russo in New York City. The two street wise detectives uncover a drug smuggling scheme with a French connection. Gene Hackman plays "Popeye" Doyle who's is a tough and flawed detective that is constantly in trouble with his superiors for his "gut" instincts. On one of his nights off he goes to a night club and sees some guy who is giving away money like it is water and gets very suspicious. He convinces his partner to follow the guy all night to find out what the deal is with him. The follow the trail which eventually leads to high end drug import ring.
Along with being the first Rater R movie to win Best Picture it is also the first movie to win that had cursing in it and also the first action movie to win. Being a big fan of action movies it is not surprising that I love the movie. I love how "Popeye" is a great detective but also very flawed. Not only does he drink but he is racist and has a thing for women in boots(one of them even manages to handcuff him to his own bed). I love the gritty style of the movie and one of Gene Hackman's best performances. The director William Friedkin did a great job and was one of the youngest directors to win Best Director. The movie is known for its action and for the great car chase scene where Gene Hackman is chasing a train in a car. It is one of the best car chase scenes in film history.
The movie beat two other movies that have maybe gone on to become more popular over time. Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Norman Jewison's Fiddler on the Roof. While I think A Clockwork Orange is overrated I do love Fiddler on the Roof. The academy picked the movie between the classic musical and the edgy ultra violent pic. The French Connection also won Best Actor for Gene Hackman, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.
Interesting Facts:
A Clockwork Orange was the second and last movie to be Rated X to be nominated for Best Picture
The great movie composer John Williams won his first Oscar for the music in Fiddler on the Roof it was his 3rd nomination and has a total of 45 nominations and 5 wins.
Isaac Hayes won best song for "Theme from Shaft"
The Popeyes chicken food chain was named after Gene Hackman's character
The French Connection was name to the AFI 100 Greatest Movies in both 1997 and 2007 at 70 and 93 respectively and also AFI 100 Greatest Thrills at number 8. A Clockwork Orange was also named to the same three lists at 46, 70, and 21 respectively and is also currently at #54 on IMDB Top 250
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