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Home , Badge 373, Bill Hickman, Blue Chips, Deal of the Century, Eddie Egan, French Connection II

March 8, 2016 (XXXII:7) , THE (1971, 104 min)

Directed by William Friedkin Written by Ernest Tidyman (screenplay), Robin Moore (based on the book by), (uncredited) Produced Philip D'Antoni Music Don Ellis Cinematography Owen Roizman Film Editing Gerald B. Greenberg Stunt Coordinator/ Stunt Double for Bill Hickman Technical Consultant &

Gene Hackman…Jimmy Doyle Fernando Rey…Alain Charnier …Buddy Russo …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 , Illinois) Arlene Farber…Angie Boca became infatuated with 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 , 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), (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), (1940), (1939), Live and Die in L.A. (1985), The Twilight Zone (1985, TV Series, (1938), Come and Get It (1936), Barbary 1 episode), (1983), Cruising (1980), The Coast (1935), Twentieth Century (1934), (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), (1926) and 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), (1965, Hour (1965, TV Series,1 episode), The story), (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 , ) 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), (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), (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), 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 (1978), Independence (1976, Short), The Return of Hawks himself directly influenced. He was the most versatile of a Man Called Horse (1976), (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 (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), (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), (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), (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). Rey's most fruitful collaboration After initially turning down was with the great director Luis the role of Little Bill Daggett Buñuel, which began during the in 's 1960s and continued thought the Unforgiven (1992), Hackman 1970s. Because of this finally accepted it, as its partnership, Rey was the first different slant on the interested him. For his performance Spanish actor to gain international fame. Yet, even though he he won the Oscar and Golden Globe and decided that he wasn't was a Spanish actor, due to his role in The French Connection tired of westerns after all. He has since appeared in Geronimo: (1971) and his acting work in French films, many Americans An American Legend (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), and The Quick perceived him as a Frenchman. Rey acted in over 240 films and the Dead (1995). Deep into his career, in 2001 it was his including El cianuro... ¿solo o con leche? (1994), Don Quixote quirky patriarch in Wes Anderson’s Royal Tenenbaums that (1992), Blood and Dust (1992, TV Movie), Don Quijote de la opened Hackman up to an entirely new audience of fans. In Mancha (1991, TV Series), Winter Diary (1988), Moon Over 2003, Hackman won the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime Parador (1988), Hôtel du Paradis (1986), Saving Grace (1986), achievement to acting at the Golden Globes. Longtime friend of Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985), The Hit (1984), Honey (1981), Dustin Hoffman, the two of them roomed together in New York Quintet (1979), That Obscure Object of Desire (1977), Jesus of right after acting school in Pasadena. It is rumored that Hoffman Nazareth (1977, TV Mini-Series), Striptease (1976), Voyage of slept on the kitchen floor. Originally, Hackman had offered to let the Damned (1976), French Connection II (1975), Seven him stay a few nights, but Hoffman would not leave. Hackman Beauties (1975), White Fang (1973), The Magician (1973), The finally had to take him out to look for his own apartment. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), Antony and Though they vied for roles, it was not until Runaway Jury (2003) Cleopatra (1972), The French Connection (1971), The Light at that Hackman and former roommate Hoffman performed on the the Edge of the World (1971), A Town Called Hell (1971), Cold screen together. Hackman has acted in 100 films and television Eyes of Fear (1971), Tristana (1970), Guns of the Magnificent shows, some of which include Welcome to Mooseport (2004), Seven (1969), Villa Rides (1968), The Viscount (1967), Navajo Runaway Jury (2003), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), The Royal Joe (1966), Return of the Seven (1966), El Greco (1966), Chimes Tenenbaums (2001), Heist (2001), Heartbreakers (2001), The at Midnight (1965), Son of a Gunfighter (1965), Dulcinea del Mexican (2001), Under Suspicion (2000), Enemy of the State Toboso (1964), Weekend (1964), The Ceremony (1963), (1998), Absolute Power (1997), The Chamber (1996), Extreme Scheherazade (1963), The Running Man (1963), The Savage Measures (1996), Get Shorty (1995), Crimson Tide (1995), The Guns (1962), Viridiana (1961), Teresa (1961), Mission in Quick and the Dead (1995), Wyatt Earp (1994), Geronimo: An Morocco (1959), The Last Days of Pompeii (1959), The Night American Legend (1993), The Firm (1993), Unforgiven (1992), Heaven Fell (1958), Don Juan (1956), Cabaret (1953), The Siege Company Business (1991), Class Action (1991), Narrow Margin (1950), Don Quijote de la Mancha (1947), Misión blanca (1946), (1990), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Package (1989), The Prodigal Woman (1946), La gitanilla (1940), La Dolores Mississippi Burning (1988), Another Woman (1988), Bat*21 (1940), El rey que rabió (1940), Leyenda rota (1940), Los cuatro (1988), No Way Out (1987), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace robinsones (1939), Nuestra Natacha (1936) and Fazendo Fitas (1987), Hoosiers (1986), Power (1986), Target (1985), (1935). Uncommon Valor (1983), Under Fire (1983), Reds (1981), Superman II (1980), Superman (1978), A Bridge Too Far (1977), ROY SCHEIDER (b. November 10, 1932 in Orange, New French Connection II (1975), Bite the Bullet (1975), Night Jersey—d. February 10, 2008, age 75, in Little Rock, Arkansas) Moves (1975), Young Frankenstein (1974), The Conversation achieved pop cult status by finding, fighting and blowing up a (1974), Scarecrow (1973), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), 25-foot-long Great White shark (nicknamed "Bruce") in the Prime Cut (1972), Cisco Pike (1972), The French Connection mega-hit Jaws (1975) and then electrocuting an even bigger (1971), The Hunting Party (1971), I Never Sang for My Father Great White in the inferior sequel, Jaws 2 (1978). He really came Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—4 to the attention of film audiences with his role in the Jane Fonda (1978), F.I.S.T. (1978), Glory Days (1976), Police Story (1973- thriller Klute (1971) and then as Det. Buddy Russo (scoring his 1976, TV Series), The Streets of San Francisco (1975, TV first Oscar nomination) alongside fiery Gene Hackman in the Series), The Seven-Ups (1973), Serpico (1973), Madigan (1972, crime drama The French Connection (1971). He was originally TV Series), The French Connection (1971), The Honeymoon cast as Michael Vronsky in The Deer Hunter (1978), as the Killers (1969), A Fine Pair (1968), Star! (1968), N.Y.P.D. (1968, second movie of a three-movie deal with Universal Studios. TV Series), Get Smart (1966, TV Series), The Sex Perils of However, over a dispute in plot, he quit the picture. Universal Paulette (1965) and Love of Life (1951, TV Series). executives were furious, but they agreed to let him out of his contract if he made Jaws 2 (1978), which he did. He later BILL HICKMAN (b. January 25, 1921 in , regarded pulling out the film as the career decision he most California—d. February 24, 1986, age 65, in Indio, California) regrets. He has acted in 88 films and television shows including better known for his prowess as a stunt driver. His work in Iron Cross (2009), The Poet (2007), Law & Order: Criminal (1968) is legendary where he drove the black Dodge Charger 440 Intent (2007), Chicago 10 (2007, Documentary), Love Thy Magnum that was pursued by Steve McQueen in his Ford Neighbor (2005), The Punisher (2004), Red Serpent (2003), Mustang 390 G.T. His reputation earned on Bullitt, Friedkin Citizen Verdict (2003), Angels Don't Sleep Here (2002), The hired Hickman for The French Connection (1971). He staged a Good War (2002), Chain of Command (2000), The White Raven similar chase on the streets of but with a greater (1998), Better Living (1998), The Rainmaker (1997), The Myth of presence of civilians, an element that had been missing in Bullitt. Fingerprints (1997), The Peacekeeper (1997), Executive Target Doubling for Gene Hackman in the more hazardous stunts, (1997), The Rage (1997), Romeo Is Bleeding (1993), Naked Hickman drove the brown 1970 Pontiac at speeds up to 90mph Lunch (1991), The Russia House (1990) Somebody Has to Shoot with Friedkin manning the camera right behind him. He acted in the Picture (1990, TV Movie), (1990), Night 70 films and TV shows including The Seven-Ups (1973), Game (1989), Listen to Me (1989), 52 Pick-Up (1986), The Madigan (1973, TV Series), Hickey & Boggs (1972), The War Men's Club (1986), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Between Men and Women (1972), The French Connection Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a (1971), Columbo (1971, TV Series), The F.B.I. (1966-1970, TV Number (1983, TV Movie), Blue Thunder (1983), Still of the Series), Patton (1970), Daughter of the Mind (1969, TV Movie), Night (1982), All That Jazz (1979), Last Embrace (1979), Jaws 2 The Love Bug (1968), Bullitt (1968), Batman (1967, TV Series), (1978), Sorcerer (1977), Marathon Man (1976), Jaws (1975), Point Blank (1967), Bonanza (1963-1967, TV Series), The Man Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975), The from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1967, TV Series), The Fugitive (1966, Seven-Ups (1973), To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1972, TV TV Series), The Outer Limits (1964, TV Series), The Twilight Movie), The Outside Man (1972), The Assassination (1972), The Zone (1963, TV Series), Take Her, She's Mine (1963), The Andy French Connection (1971), Klute (1971), Puzzle of a Downfall Griffith Show (1962, TV Series), Peter Gunn (1959, TV Series), Child (1970), Loving (1970), Stiletto (1969), N.Y.P.D. (1968, TV Perry Mason (1959, TV Series), Ten Thousand Bedrooms Series), The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964), The Edge of (1957), The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956), Love Me or Night (1956, TV Series), The Secret Storm (1954, TV Series) and Leave Me (1955), The Far Horizons (1955), Gentlemen Prefer Love of Life (1951, TV Series). Blondes (1953), The Unknown Man (1951), Tulsa (1949), It Happened in Brooklyn (1947), See Here, Private Hargrove TONY LO BIANCO (b. October 19, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York) (1944) and Salute to the Marines (1943). is probably best known for his performances as Sal Boca in tonight’s film. However, an acclaimed stage actor, Lo Bianco won an for Best Actor in Jonathan Reynold's Yanks- 3, Detroit-0, Top of the 7th. Following his memorable performance as Eddie Carbone in 's on Broadway, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award. He also starred in the cult classic , which is rumored to be French director Francois Truffaut's favorite film. Lo Biano has appeared in numerous films and television shows including '79 Parts (2015), Send No Flowers (2013), Kill the Irishman (2011), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2007), Endangered Species (2003), Law & Order (1992-2002), Walker, Texas Ranger (2001,TV Series), Rocky Marciano (1999, TV Movie), The Pawn (1998), F/X: The Series (1997, TV Series), Sworn to Justice (1996), Nixon (1995), Tyson (1995, TV Movie), Homicide: Life on the Street (1995, TV Series), The Ascent (1994), Murder, She Wrote (1991-1994, TV Series), The Good Policeman (1991), Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen EDDIE EGAN (b. January 3, 1930 in , New (1990, TV Movie) , (1987, TV Series), Police Story: York—d. November 4, 1995, age 65, in Miami, Florida) was the The Freeway Killings (1987, TV Movie), The Twilight Zone tough-talking New York City police officer whose exploits (1985, TV Series), Hizzoner! (1984, TV Movie), City Heat inspired the Academy Award winning film The French (1984), The Paper Chase (1984, TV Series), Bloodbrothers Connection (1971). With partner Sonny Grosso, he managed a Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—5

112-pound heroin bust in 1962, one of the biggest in New York's of Crump’s rehabilitation that his death sentence was eventually history. Mr. Egan was nicknamed 'Popeye' and was played in The commuted. WBKB-TV, the Chicago station for which Friedkin French Connection (1971) by Gene Hackman. Mr. Egan played had made the film, never used it, but was sufficiently impressed the role of his own boss. He acted in 24 films and TV shows to set up a documentary unit with Friedkin in charge. Before long some of which are True Blue (1989, TV Series), Cold Steel The People Versus Paul Crump cam to the attention of the ABC- (1987), Houston Knights (1987, TV Series), The New Mike TV producer David Wolper, who hired Friedkin to make three Hammer (1984, TV Series), T.J. Hooker (1983, TV Series), more documentaries: The Thin Blue Line about law enforcement; Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop (1980, TV Movie), Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon, a report on professional - Man Undercover (1979, TV Series), To Kill a football; and , dealing with people who risk their Cop (1978, TV Movie), Police Woman (1975-1977, TV Series), lives for money, adventure, or science. Police Story (1975-1977, TV Series), Baretta (1977, TV Series), In 1966 Friedkin met the singer Sonnny Bono, whose Joe Forrester (1975-1976, TV Series), Cop on the Beat (1975, career was just taking off and who had a backer for a film TV Movie), Let's Go for Broke (1974), (1973), starring himself and his partner Cher. This became Friedkin’s McCloud (1973, TV Series), Night of Terror (1972, TV Movie), first feature, Good Times (1967), an offbeat musical with mostly Mannix (1972, TV Series), Prime Cut (1972) and The French improvised dialogue that was something of a sleeper. The critics Connection (1971) paid little attention, but according to James Monaco, the word got around that here was someone who “knows how to handle a SONNY GROSSO (b. in 1932 or 1933[specific date unknown] in camera.” This impression was confirmed by The Night They Düsseldorf, Germany) was a New York City police officer when Raided Minsky’s (1968), set in New York in the 1920s and his experiences with his partner Eddie Egan during the early ‘60s purporting to tell the story of the discovery (by Britt Ekland) of became the basis of the film The French Connection (1971). the art of striptease. Though the movie was highly fictionalized, actor Roy Scheider, The movie’s excellent cast includes Elliott Gould, Jason who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Robards (as the erring Ekland’s Amish father), Denholm Elliottt Actor for his performance, played a character based on Grosso, (as a neurotic vice squad officer), and the English comedian called “Buddy Russo”. Like the character, Grosso's nickname as Norman wisdom. Bert Lahr, who died during the filming, pads in a detective was "Cloudy”, which was given to him due to his white spats through his memories of the golden age of pessimism, as well as the fact that "Cloudy" is the opposite of vaudeville. Uneven as it is, most reviewers found the picture "Sonny." In NYPD, Grosso worked in several specialized units, immensely entertaining , and praised the skill with which it among them: Narcotics Bureau,Vice unit, Organized Crime and captures the look and feel of ”a tawdry, vulgar, zestful era” in Homicide. He also appeared uncredited in (1972) American show- business. One critic called it “a triumph for as one of the assassins who kills Sonny Corleone at the tollbooth. director William Friedkin, photographer Andrew Laszlo, and Grosso acted in 10 films or television series including Cruising designers William and Jean Eckart.” (1980), The Country Western Murders (1979, TV Movie), To Kill a Cop (1978, TV Movie), Contract on Cherry Street (1977, TV Movie), The Godfather: A Novel for Television (1977, TV Mini-Series), Report to the Commissioner (1975), The Seven-Ups (1973), Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside (1973, TV Movie) and The Godfather (1972). He also is credited as the writer on 4 projects: Night Heat (1985-1988, TV Series, 3 episodes), Strike Force (1975, TV Movie, story) and The Seven-Ups (1973, story).

William Friedkin, From World Film Directors, Vol. II. Edited by John Wakeman. The H.W. Wilson Company, NY, 1988

Friedkin, William (August 29, 1939-) American director, was born in Chicago, the son of Louis Friedkin and the former Rae Green. He attended Senn High School on the North Side. Friedkin began his career at the age of sixteen in the mailroom of WGN-TV in Chicago. Within months he was working as a studio floor manager and in less than a year was directing local live broadcasts. A recalcitrant employee with ideas of his own, he Given these promising but scarcely intellectual says that he was fired from several television stations in the beginnings, it is difficult to understand why anyone supposed Chicago area but that during his eight years as a TV director he Friedkin was qualified to direct the screen version of Harold made around two thousand programs—local live broadcasts, Pinter’s The Birthday Party. In Friedkin’s hands, this ambiguous educational programs, and network dramas and musical shows. “comedy of manners” becomes a ponderous psychological This output included several well-received documentary suspense thriller. Turning down the idea of casting Rod Steiger specials, of which the most notable was The People Versus Paul as the hapless Stanley (for fear of destroying the balance of what Crump, winner of the 1062 San Francisco Film Festival. A is essentially an ensemble piece), Friedkin gave the role to 16mm film about a man who had spent eleven years on Death Robert Shaw, who handled it very intelligently, though Sidney Row in Cook County Prison, it offered such convincing evidence Tafler and Patrick Magee as Stanley’s mysterious interrogators Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—6 were thought less satisfactory. Stanley Kaufmann wrote that months, earning a place on Vartiety’s list of all-time box-office “nothing that could be done simply is left alone. There are lots of champions. shots in mirrors…sudden cuts to high overhead views, shot Another blockbuster followed, The Exorcist (1973), through apertures….All these lame clevernesses not only distract which confirm Friedkin’s talent for injecting suspense into us from what is going on; they take time—or at least the essentially static material. It is a skill that he traces back to his distraction makes it seem as if they’re taking tme. So the film childhood, when he “used to make up stories and scare the little drags.” girls” in his neighborhood. He polished his technique during his Friedkin’s next movie was also an adaptation from the years as a television director and through a close study of stage and, most critics thought, a better one. That play was Mart Hitchcock—Friedkin says he has seen Psycho thirty times and Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, about another sort of birthday learned from it in structuring The Exorcist. The latter was part—a gay gathering in adapted by William Peter Greenwich Village that Blatty from his bestseller deteriorates, as the evening wears about a twelve-year-old girl on, from bitchy camaraderie to (Linda Blair) who becomes painful games of character demonically possessed, and assassination and dissection. It the attempts of two Jesuit was thought that the priests (Jason Miller and claustrophobic atmosphere Max von Sydow) to dislodge imposed by the play’s original the diabolical intruder. The narrow set was somewhat demon fights back with dissipated by Friedkin’s “opening awful results—people die up” of the piece, but most of those horribly, the possessed child who had liked the play welcomed spews out vomit and obscene the screen version. profanities (dubbed by the Friedkin’s next film put actress Mercedes him in the front rank of McCambridge), levitates and commercial directors….The masturbates with a crucifix, French Connection (1971, among other scripted by Ernest Tidyman from unpleasantnesses. The setting a book by Robin Moore, is a fictionalized account of the way two is contemporary Washington, where the girl’s actress mother New York policemen—Eddie Egan and Sonny Grasso—smashed (Ellen Burstyn) is making a movie on location. an international narcotics ring, seizing 120 pounds of pure Stanley Kaufmann called this “the most scary movie heroin. Friedkin planned the film with his producer Phil I’ve seen in years,” and James Monaco agreed that “as an agent D’Antoni while still cutting The Boys in the Band, starting with of manipulation, The Exorcist succeeds magnificently….From the climactic chase in which the hero, in a commandeered car, plot elements to special effects to the handling of sound (Friedkin hurtles under the Brooklyn El in pursuit of an express train. has always been very conscious of the level the sound track has) Recognizing that the story demanded documentary realism, to the nervous cutting of the music. The Exorcist is a catalogue of Friedkin spent months on the beat with Egan and Grasso (both of devices that work. Friedkin could shoot the telephone book and whom have small parts in the film). For the same reason he make it exciting.” However, Monaco missed the sense of “human avoided star names, cast Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider (then concern” that in his opinion makes Hitchcock great, and Pauline relatively unfamiliar faces) as the two detectives, and hired a Kael went further, calling the movie “entirely mechanical and umber of NYPD officers to play themselves. Sedulously impersonal” and “so tired that we can only keep going on fresh avoiding any hint of glamorization, Friedkin shot the film on atrocities….there is no indication that Blatty or Friedkin has any location during the dead of winter in some of the seediest feeling for the little girl’s helplessness and suffering, or her sections of New York. There is no music except where it might mother’s, any feeling for God or terror of Satan.” Friedkin actually occur among the harsh noises of the city. evidently has no terror of Warner Brothers, either, since in 1975 The French Connection achieved an ugly authenticity he brought a lawsuit against the studio claiming that they had and a visceral excitement that set the style for a new kind of film withheld part of his share of The Exorcist’s profits, figured on a noir. The brilliantly edited chase sequence was particularly gross of some ninety million dollars. The suit was seen as a admired and favorably compared with the famous one in Bullitt fundamental challenge to accepted but questionable provisions (also produced by Phil D’Antoni). The film was also extremely commonly written into production financing and distribution controversial because of its treatment of the Egan character contracts. (called “Popeye” Doyle in the film); he is presented not as an After two smash hits came three failures, the first a old-style crusading cop but as a pig of a man, whose intensely major box-office disaster. Friedkin’s idols are Orson Welles, personal war against the drug dealers is conducted with the same Hitchcock, and Henri-Georges Clouzot, and after The Exorcist he brutality and gutter tactics used by the criminals themselves. The was able to find backing for his long-planned remake of picture collected five Oscars—best film, best director, best Clouzot’s masterpiece The Wages of Fear, about four down-and- screenplay, best actor (Hackman), and best editing (Jerry outs marooned in a squalid Latin American town who accept the Greenberg)—and grossed twelve million dollars in its first three suicidally dangerous task of driving two truckloads of nitroglycerine over three hundred miles of appalling roads. Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—7

Friedkin’s version, called The Sorcerer (the faded name on the LA (1985) is essentially the story of a cop pursuing door of Roy Scheider’s truck) cost several years and twenty counterfeiters, but it manipulates our expectations of the “cops million dollars, and seemed to almost everyone a portentous and and robbers” genre. The film (based on a true story, according to pretentious waste of time. Friedkin) begins with a relatively familiar and attractive portrait The Brink’s Job (1979), a restaging of the famous 1950 of the policeman, but slowly subverts that characterization, Boston heist, was also costly and very slow in the making— through plot and shooting style—both quite dramatic—until the partly because several reels of crucial footage were mysteriously cop becomes the embodiment of greed and corruption. The film stolen from the cutting room in July 1978. Friedkin had was not widely liked, but Ric Gentry found it effective, writing assembled a notable cast, including Peter Falk. Peter Boyle, that it “makes of Los Angeles a dramatic persona, an enclosed Kevin O’Connor, , Paul Sorvino, and Allen world of brute realities and moral dissolution.” Friedkin has said Goorwitz (formerly Allen Garfield), but the result, though some that To Live and Die in LA aims for the psychological complexity liked its sense of period, was generally found flat, disjointed, and that he edited out of The French Connection, fearing it would go overlong; and it lost money. over his audiences’ heads. That film, though commercially Friedkin’s next film, after a profitable start, also seems successful, was finally reduced to a “chase scene….stripped of to have faded at the box office and was from the outset character” according to the director, and To Live and Die in LA excoriated by the critics. Cruising (1980), adapted by Friedkin remains faithful to his original interests. Friedkin is clearly himself from a novel by Gerald Walker, combines some of the undaunted by the consistent unpopularity of his more “serious” elements of both The French Connection and The Boys in the films; he recently bought the rights to the work of Cuban poet Band. It stars Al Pacino as a policeman who goes undercover in and political prisoner Armando Valladares. As Friedkin describes New York’s sexual netherworld, as a decoy for a maniacal killer the whimsical fortunes of Hollywood, “when you win, it’s luck,” who is preying on heavy leather gays. In the process the circumspectly adding, nonetheless, that “when you lose, it’s policeman begins to question his own sexual identity and (some usually pre-planning.” thought) takes on the role of the killer himself. Friedkin has been described as “pale, prematurely The fact that there is so much uncertainty on this last world-weary, slightly obese….immaculately groomed, point is an indication of the film’s weak construction and exceptionally well-read and traveled.” He was briefly married to confusing plot twists, though these are perhaps attributable to the the French actress Jeanne Moreau; on 1982 he marries actress cuts that were made in response to other objections. And there Lesley-Anne Down . He has said that as a filmmaker he is was no shortage of objections to this movie, which was first happiest researching a new idea or editing a fresh batch of picketed by gay militants shortly after shooting began, footage; actual shooting seems to him a laborious, plodding Completed, Cruising was described by Gay News as “the most process, and the final editing is often a source of anxiety and homophobic film in the history of the cinema” because of the despair. “No matter what you hear,” Friedkin said once “the connections it implies between homosexuality and violence, and projectionist has final cut always.” He has been known to replace because of its portrayals of the New York gay milieu as sordid, a screen or projector lenses at theatres where his pictures are degraded, or ludicrous. Other gays found this reaction excessive, showing, and is a perfectionist about the sound and light levels at and pointed out that heterosexuals are presented as equally which they are projected. According to Peter Waymark, Friedkin unsavory, violent, and corrupt. The regular critics were almost “wants to be judged as a storyteller and cannot see why making a unanimous in their dislike of this “flashy, sensationalized, and film should be regarded as a higher form of activity than, say, very badly constructed” movie, made in what one called “an making a car.” Pauline Kael quotes him as saying that “I’m not a odious, highly charged style compounded of both relish and thinker….If it’s a film by somebody instead of for somebody, I loathing.” smell art.” It seems likely that Friedkin relishes his reputation as Though he is most often praised for his stage a “specialist in the nasty” and is content with Gerald Mast’s management and for set pieces like The Exorcist, Friedkin description of him as “the purest and most impersonal technician continues in the ‘80s to make films with what he feels to be of the new directors.” explicit moral content. Deal of the Century of 1983 was written by Paul Brinkman and starred Chevy Chase and Gregory Hines. It tells the story of self-serving, small-time arms dealers caught up in a major international arms imbroglio and was, for Friedkin, “a film about responsibility” that would prompt people to “take a stand…; the only hope to stop the arms race is sedition.” To temper this admittedly heavy-handed message and better the movie’s chances at the box office, Friedkin made The Deal of the Century as a black comedy with a cast of popular, lovable comics, but the film received little critical or commercial attention. Interestingly, the film has gained some notoriety in light of recent US government arms scandals, being pulled from television release because of its now “controversial” subject matter. In his next film Friedkin again focused on the thin line From Wikipedia: The French Connection is a 1971 American between criminal- and police-mentality, between right and crime thriller film directed by William Friedkin and produced by wrong, good and bad,” as the director put it. To Live and Die in Philip D'Antoni. It stars Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, and Roy Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—8

Scheider. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Charles Bronson was also considered for the role. Friedkin Tidyman from the 1969 non-fiction book by Robin Moore. It almost settled for Rod Taylor (who had actively pursued the role, tells the story of New York Police Department detectives, according to Hackman), another choice the studio approved, "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, whose real-life before he went with Hackman. counterparts were Narcotics Detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny The eventually successful casting of Rey as the main Grosso. Don Ellis scored the film. French heroin smuggler, Alain Charnier (irreverently referred to It was the first R-rated movie to win the Academy throughout the film as "Frog One"), resulted from mistaken Award for Best Picture since the introduction of the MPAA film identity. Friedkin had asked his casting director to get a Spanish rating system.[Note 1] It also won for Best Actor actor he had seen in Luis Buñuel's French film, Belle de Jour, (Hackman), Best Director (Friedkin), Best Film Editing, and Best who was actually Francisco Rabal, but Friedkin did not know his Adapted Screenplay (Tidyman). It was nominated for Best name, and Rey, who had played in several other films directed by Supporting Actor (Scheider), Best Cinematography and Best Buñuel, was instead contacted. After Rabal was finally reached, Sound Mixing. Tidyman also received a Golden Globe Award they discovered he spoke neither French nor English and Rey nomination, a Writers Guild of America Award and an Edgar was kept in the film. In a further irony, after screening the film's Award for his screenplay. A sequel, French Connection II, final cut, Rey's French was deemed unacceptable by the followed in 1975 with Gene filmmakers. They decided to Hackman and Fernando Rey dub his French while preserving reprising their roles. his English dialogue. The American Film Institute included the film in its Comparison to actual people list of the best American films The plot centers on drug in 1998 and again in 2007. In smuggling in the 1960s and 2005, the film was selected for early '70s, when most of the preservation in the United heroin illegally imported into States National Film Registry the East Coast came to the by the Library of Congress as United States through France being "culturally, historically, (see French Connection). In or aesthetically significant."… addition to the two main protagonists, several of the Production fictional characters depicted in the film also have real-life In an audio commentary track recorded by Friedkin for the counterparts. The Alain Charnier character is based upon Jean Collector's Edition DVD release of the film, Friedkin notes that Jehan who was arrested later in Paris for drug trafficking, though the film's documentary-like realism was the direct result of the he was not extradited since France does not extradite its influence of having seen Z, a French film. The film was among citizens.[4] Sal Boca is based on Pasquale "Patsy" Fuca, and his the earliest to show the World Trade Center: the completed North brother Anthony. Angie Boca is based on Patsy's wife Barbara, Tower and the partially completed South Tower are seen in the who later wrote a book with Robin Moore detailing her life with background of the scenes at the shipyard following Devereaux's Patsy. The Fucas and their uncle were part of a heroin dealing arrival in New York. crew that worked with some of the New York City crime Friedkin credits his decision to direct the movie to a families. Henri Devereaux, who takes the fall for importing the discussion with film director Howard Hawks, whose daughter Lincoln to New York City, is based on Jacques Angelvin, a was living with Friedkin at the time. Friedkin asked Hawks what television actor arrested and sentenced to three to six years in a he thought of his movies, to which Hawks bluntly replied that federal penitentiary for his role, serving about four before they were "lousy." Instead Hawks recommended that he "Make a returning to France and turning to real estate.[6] The Joel good chase. Make one better than anyone's done." Weinstock character is, according to the director's commentary, a composite of several similar drug dealers. Casting Though the cast ultimately proved to be one of the film's greatest Car chase strengths, Friedkin had problems with casting choices from the The film is often cited as containing one of the greatest car chase start. He was strongly opposed to the choice of Hackman for the sequences in movie history. The chase involves Popeye lead, and actually first considered (out of the commandeering a civilian's car (a 1971 Pontiac LeMans) and budget range), then Jackie Gleason, Peter Boyle and a New York then frantically chasing an elevated train, on which a hitman is columnist, Jimmy Breslin, who had never acted before. However, trying to escape. The scene was filmed in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Gleason, at that time, was considered box-office poison by the roughly running under the BMT West End Line (currently the studio after his film Gigot had flopped several years before, D trains, then the B train) which runs on an elevated track above Boyle declined the role after disapproving of the violent theme of Stillwell Avenue, 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue in the film, and Breslin refused to get behind the wheel of a car, Brooklyn, with the chase ending just north of the 62nd Street which was required of Popeye's character for an integral car station. At that point, the train hits a train stop, but is going too chase scene. Steve McQueen was also considered, but he did not fast to stop in time and collides with the train ahead of it, which want to do another police film after Bullitt and, as with Newman, has just left the station. his fee would have exceeded the movie's budget. Tough guy Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—9

The most famous shot of the chase is made from a front • Chez Fon Fon, Rue Du Vallon Des Auffes, Marseilles, bumper mount and shows a low-angle point of view shot of the Bouches-du-Rhône, France (where Charnier dines) streets racing by. Director of photography Owen Roizman, wrote • Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New in American Cinematographer magazine in 1972 that the camera York, USA (where Sal parks the Lincoln) was undercranked to 18 frames per second to enhance the sense • Le Copain, 891 First Ave, New York City, New York, of speed. Roizman's contention is borne out when you see a car USA (where Charnier dines) at a red light whose muffler is pumping smoke at an accelerated • Doral Park Avenue Hotel (now 70 Park Avenue Hotel), rate. Other shots involved stunt drivers who were supposed to 38th Street and Park Avenue, New York City, New barely miss hitting the speeding car, but due to errors in timing, York, USA (Devereaux's hotel) accidental collisions occurred and were left in the final film.[9] • Dover street near by the Brooklyn Bridge, New York Friedkin said that he used Santana's cover of Fleetwood Mac's City, New York, USA (where Sal leaves the Lincoln) song "Black Magic Woman" during editing to help shape the • Forest Avenue, Ridgewood, , New York City, chase sequence; though the song does not appear in the film, "it New York, USA [the chase scene] did have a sort of pre-ordained rhythm to it that • Grand Central Station Shuttle, Manhattan, New York came from the music." City, New York, USA The scene concludes with Doyle confronting Nicoli the • Henry Hudson Parkway Route 9A at Junction 24 (car hitman at the stairs leading to the subway and shooting him as he accident) tries to run back up them. Many of the police officers acting as • Marlboro Housing Project, Avenues V, W, and X off advisers for the film objected to the scene on the grounds that Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, USA (where shooting a suspect in the back was simply murder, not self- Popeye lives) defense, but director Friedkin stood by it, stating that he was • Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France "secure in my conviction that that's exactly what Eddie Egan (the • Montee Des Accoules, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, model for Doyle) would have done and Eddie was on the set France while all of this was being shot." • Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City • Plage du bestouan, Cassis, Bouches-du-Rhône, France • Putnam Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City • Randall's Island, East River, New York City • Ratner's Restaurant, 138 Delancey Street, New York City (where Sal and Angie emerge) • Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York City (where Charnier and Nicoli watch the car being unloaded) • Rio Piedras (now demolished), 912 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York City (where the Santa Claus chase starts) • Rapid Park Garage, East 38th Street near Park Avenue, New York City (where Cloudy follows Sal) • Ronaldo Maia Flowers, 27 East 67th Street at Madison, New York City (where Charnier gives Popeye the slip) • The Roosevelt Hotel, 45th Street & Madison Avenue, Filming locations Manhattan, New York City The French Connection was filmed in the following • Rue des Moulins off Rue Du Panier, Old Town of locations:[13][14][15] Marseilles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (where the • 50th Street and First Avenue, New York City (where French policeman with the bread walks) Doyle waits outside the restaurant) • La Samaritaine at 2 Quai Du Port, Marseille, Bouches- • 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue (near the Metropolitan du-Rhône, France Museum of Art), New York City, (Weinstock's hotel) • South Street at Market Street at the foot of Manhattan • 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York City (the chase scene) Bridge, New York City (where Doyle emerges from a • 91 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn (Sal & bar) Angie's Cafe) • Triborough Bridge to Randall's Island toll bridge at the • 940 2nd Avenue, New York City (where Charnier and east end of 125th Street, New York City Nicoli buy fruit and Popeye is watching) • Wards Island, New York City (the final shootout) • 177 Mulberry Street near Broome street, Little Italy, • Washington, D.C., USA (where Charnier and Sal meet) New York City (where Sal makes a drop) • Westbury Hotel, 15 East 69th Street, Manhattan, New • Avenue De L'Amiral Ganteaume, Cassis, Bouches-du- York City, New York, USA (Charnier's hotel) Rhône, France (Charnier's house) • Château d'If, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (where Charnier and Nicoli meet Devereaux)

Friedkin—THE FRENCH CONNECTION—10

COMING UP IN THE SPRING 2016 BUFFALO FILM SEMINARS XXXII: MAR 22 RAGING BULL 1980 MAR 29 RAN 1985 APR 5 MALCOLM X 1992 APR 12 CLAIRE DENIS BEAU TRAVAIL 1999 APR 19 2008 APR 26 MICHAEL HANEKE AMOUR 2012 MAY 3 TERRY GILLIAM THE FISHER KING 1991

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