THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971, 104 Min)
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March 8, 2016 (XXXII:7) William Friedkin, THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971, 104 min) Directed by William Friedkin Written by Ernest Tidyman (screenplay), Robin Moore (based on the book by), Howard Hawks (uncredited) Produced Philip D'Antoni Music Don Ellis Cinematography Owen Roizman Film Editing Gerald B. Greenberg Stunt Coordinator/ Stunt Double for Gene Hackman Bill Hickman Technical Consultant Eddie Egan & Sonny Grosso Gene Hackman…Jimmy Doyle Fernando Rey…Alain Charnier Roy Scheider …Buddy Russo Tony Lo Bianco…Sal Boca Marcel Bozzuffi…Pierre Nicoli Frédéric de Pasquale…Devereaux Bill Hickman …Mulderig Ann Rebbot…Marie Charnier Harold Gary…Weinstock WILLIAM FRIEDKIN (b. August 29, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) Arlene Farber…Angie Boca became infatuated with Orson Welles after seeing Citizen Kane Eddie Egan…Simonson (1941). He went to work for WGN TV immediately after André Ernotte…La Valle graduating from high school where he started making Sonny Grosso…Klein documentaries, one of which won the Golden Gate Award at the Benny Marino…Lou Boca 1962 San Francisco film festival. In 1965, he moved to Patrick McDermott…Chemist Hollywood and immediately started directing TV shows, Alan Weeks…Pusher including an episode of the The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962); Hitchcock infamously chastised him for not wearing a tie. Many Oscar Wins of his films often feature a pivotal car chase, tonight’s film, To Best Picture Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Jade (1995), being prime examples. Best Actor in a Leading Role: Gene Hackman He has been nominated for Best Director twice, once for the The Best Director: William Friedkin Exorcist (1973) and he won in 1972 for The French Connection Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another (1971). The night he won his Academy Award for directing The Medium: Ernest Tidyman French Connection (1971), he was riding with his manager when Best Film Editing: Gerald B. Greenberg their Rolls-Royce broke down several miles from the ceremony. They had to hitch a ride from a driver at a gas station in order to Oscar Nominations arrive in time. He was believed to be the youngest person to win Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Roy Scheider the Best Director Oscar, at age 32. Later, he was discovered to Best Cinematography: Owen Roizman have actually been born in 1935, and was 36 at the time. He has Best Sound: Theodore Soderberg and Christopher Newman directed 36 films and television series, some of which are Killer Joe (2011), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2007-2009, TV National Film Preservation Board, 2005 Series, 2 episodes), Bug (2006), The Hunted (2003), Rules of Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—2 Engagement (2000), 12 Angry Men (1997, TV Movie), Jade (1948), The Big Sleep (1946), To Have and Have Not (1944), The (1995), Blue Chips (1994), Tales from the Crypt (1992, TV Outlaw (1943, uncredited), Air Force (1943), Sergeant York Series,1 episode), The Guardian (1990), Rampage (1997), To (1941), His Girl Friday (1940), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), Live and Die in L.A. (1985), The Twilight Zone (1985, TV Series, Bringing Up Baby (1938), Come and Get It (1936), Barbary 1 episode), Deal of the Century (1983), Cruising (1980), The Coast (1935), Twentieth Century (1934), Today We Live (1933), Brink's Job (1978), Sorcerer (1977), The Exorcist (1973), The Scarface (1932), The Dawn Patrol (1930), Trent's Last Case French Connection (1971), The Boys in the Band (1970), The (1929), The Air Circus (1928), A Girl in Every Port (1928), Paid Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), The Birthday Party (1968), to Love (1927), Fig Leaves (1926) and The Road to Glory Good Times (1967), The Thin Blue Line (1966, TV Movie (1926). Additionally, he wrote for 26 films including Scarface documentary), Pro Football: Mayhem on (1932 screenplay, uncredited), The a Sunday Afternoon (1965, TV Movie French Connection (1971, documentary), The Alfred Hitchcock uncredited), Red Line 7000 (1965, Hour (1965, TV Series,1 episode), The story), The Outlaw (1943, uncredited), Bold Men (1965, TV Movie Only Angels Have Wings (1939, story documentary) and The People vs. Paul "Plane from Barranca" - uncredited), Crump (1962, TV Movie documentary). The Dawn Patrol (1938, story - He has also written for 6 films uncredited), Test Pilot (1938, including, The Guardian (1990, uncredited), Today We Live (1933, screenplay), C.A.T. Squad: Python uncredited), Scarface (1932, Wolf (1988, TV Movie, story) , uncredited), The Dawn Patrol (1930, Rampage (1987, screenplay), To Live adaptation & dialogue), A Girl in and Die in L.A. (1985, screenplay), Every Port (1928, story), Underworld Cruising (1980, written by) and The Thin (1927, scenario - uncredited) and Blue Line (1966, TV Movie Quicksands (1923, story). documentary, story). OWEN ROIZMAN (b. September 22, ROBIN MOORE (b. October 31, 1925 in 1936, in Brooklyn, New York) began Concord, Massachusetts—d. February his career shooting TV commercials, 21, 2008 (age 82) in Hopkinsville, and made his feature debut as a Kentucky) had a relatively brief writing director of photography with the career in film with five titles to his name: obscure and little seen movie Stop Inchon (1981, screenplay, story), The (1970). Owen brought a strong and Happy Hooker (1975, book), The French compelling sense of raw, gritty, Connection (1971, based on the book documentary-style realism to William by), Hot Pants Holiday (1971) and The Green Berets (1968, Friedkin's harsh and hard-hitting police action thriller classic The novel), in which he is also the co-author, with Staff Sergeant French Connection (1971). Roizman received a well-deserved Barry Sadler, of the song “The Ballad of the Green Berets”. Academy Award nomination for his outstanding visual contributions to this picture; he went on to garner four additional HOWARD HAWKS (b. May 30, 1896 in Goshen, Indiana—d. Oscar nominations, for The Exorcist (1973), Tootsie (1982), December 26, 1977 (age 81) in Palm Springs, California) never Network (1976) and Wyatt Earp (1994). In addition to tonight’s won an Oscar in competition and was nominated for Best film, Roizman was the Director of Photography for The Addams Director only that one time, despite making some of the best Family (1991), Tootsie (1982), The Electric Horseman (1979), films in the Hollywood canon. In fact, his only Oscar director Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Network (1976), nomination was in 1942 for Sergeant York (1941). At the The Stepford Wives (1975), The Taking of Pelham One Two ceremony award-winning John Ford famously said the prize Three (1974), The Exorcist (1973) and Play It Again, Sam should have gone to Hawks. His career spanned the freewheeling (1972). He also was the cinematographer for 15 additional film days of the original independents in the 1910s, through the studio which are French Kiss (1995), Wyatt Earp (1994), Grand system in Hollywood from the silent era through the talkies, Canyon (1991), Havana (1990), Taps (1981), Absence of Malice lasting into the early 1970s with the death of the studios and the (1981), True Confessions (1981), The Black Marble (1980), emergence of the director as auteur, the latter a phenomenon that Straight Time (1978), Independence (1976, Short), The Return of Hawks himself directly influenced. He was the most versatile of a Man Called Horse (1976), Three Days of the Condor (1975), American directors, though recognition did not come until much The Heartbreak Kid (1972), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot later in his life. In 1975 Hawks won an on Honorary Academy Straight (1971) and Stop (1970). Award for a filmmaker whose creative efforts hold a distinguished place in world cinema. Hawks directed 47 films GENE HACKMAN (b. January 30, 1930 in San Bernardino, which are Rio Lobo (1970), El Dorado (1966), Red Line 7000 California) would be over 30 years old when he finally decided (1965), Man's Favorite Sport? (1964), Hatari! (1962), Rio Bravo to take his chance at acting by enrolling at the Pasadena (1959), Land of the Pharaohs (1955), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Playhouse in California. Legend says that Hackman and friend (1953), Monkey Business (1952), The Big Sky (1952), I Was a Dustin Hoffman were voted "least likely to succeed." cast in the Male War Bride (1949), A Song Is Born (1948), Red River small role of Norman in Lilith (1964), starring Warren Beatty. Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—3 When Beatty was casting for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), he cast (1970), Downhill Racer (1969), The Gypsy Moths (1969), Bonnie Hackman as Buck Barrow, Clyde Barrow's brother. That role and Clyde (1967), Hawaii (1966), Lilith (1964), East Side/West earned Hackman a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Side (1963, TV Series), Route 66 (1963, TV Series), The Supporting Actor, an award for which he would again be Defenders (1961-1963, TV Series), Naked City (1963, TV nominated in I Never Sang for My Father (1970). Hackman is a Series), Tallahassee 7000 (1961, TV Series) and Mad Dog Coll versatile actor who can play comedy as the blind man in Young (1961). Frankenstein (1974) or villainy as the evil Lex Luthor in Superman (1978). His career FERNANDO REY (b. September roles have swung equally as 20, 1917 in A Coruña, Galicia, wide: He was the first choice Spain—d. March 9, 1994 (age to play Mike Brady on The 76) in Madrid, Spain) a long and Brady Bunch (1969) and prosperous career as an actor in actually the sixth choice to movies, the theater, radio, and play Popeye Doyle in The television. He also was a major French Connection (1971). voice-over artist in Spain, He was also the first choice to narrating films and dubbing the play Hannibal Lector in The voices of actors in foreign films. Silence of the Lambs (1991).