The French Connection

The French Connection. 1971 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco
Director: Willam Friedkin
Available at Amazon (collector's edition).

Based on the book by Robin Moore about the "French Connection" heroin trafficking scheme, this movie won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle). The French Connection was also the first film to show the World Trade Center, which was still under construction at the time the movie was made.

Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo (Scheider) are NYPD detectives on narcotics detail, operating out of their precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. The film opens with the two witnessing a drug transaction while under cover (Doyle is dressed as Santa Claus), and it turns into a frantic chase on foot, after which Doyle and Russo (who was knifed by the guy they were pursuing) beat him severely, and force him into revealing his connection.

Doyle and Russo start keeping an eye on shopkeeper Sal Boca (Lo Bianco) and his wife Angie (Arlene Faber), whose lifestyles seem pretty extravagant for folks that only make seven grand a year (in 1971 money). It turns out that the Bocas are the New York agents for the French drug kingpin Alain Charnier (Rey), who plans to export $32 million dollars' worth of smack into New York via a car shipped over from France.

Eventually, Charnier decides that Doyle must be eliminated. The two detectives have a lot on their hands, including an ongoing feud with their superior, Walt Simonson (Eddie Egan) and a federal agent named Mulderig (Bill Hickman). Doyle insists he and Russo can handle the bust without aid from the government.

Oh, and we can't neglect to mention the fantastic car chase scene.

Seek this one out immediately! Highly recommended.