8mm Forum: The French Connection-1x400ft.-16mins.

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Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on June 27, 2007, 04:03 PM:

One of the best editng jobs from Fox/Ken films was this 1971 thriller!Here's my view on it.
After the familar Fox searchlight opening and a short sequence of the original titles,we find ourseles in Marseilleswhere the narrator tells us that the herion connection,is made herewith rival
underground mobsters fighting to control the drug trade.
A little man,enters his apartment and opens his mailbox.He looks up
and is shot point blank in the face,by an assassin,who then just steps over the mans body,breaks off a piece of French bread,and walks calmly away!.
In New York we meet detectives Doyle and Russo(Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider) of the narcotics division,as they try to persuade their boss,that a wire tap is essential to their current investigations.Eventually their boss agrees to their request.
Their weeks of waitng are finally rewarded,as they overhear a phone call arranging a meeting between their suspact and a French
man-the French connection.
That suave actor,Fernando Rey,makes a excellent villian.He heads down the subway,with Doyle in hot pursuit.Rey gets on the waitng train,followed by Hackman.However,when the door closing warning is heared,Rey steps off,on to the platform,then back on the train again,Hackman too,repearts those movements himself,but at the last second,is caught out.
The train pulls away,with Rey on it,and Hackman on the platform.
He runs along side,cursing,as Rey gives him a smile and a wave.
A beauiful sequence!.
On the plane back to France,we see Rey talking to the cold blooded assissan in French!Subtitles explain this conversion,and they both agree that the policeman must be killed,if their plans are to go through!
Back in New York,Hackman is walking along the sidewalk,when a shot is heard,and an innoccent woman is hit.As women and children scream,Hackman dives for cover.He makes it up to the roof from were the shots came from.Finding only a rifle,and some spent bullets,he peers over the side to see the sniper getting away.
Hackman is in pursuit as the assissian heads for the overhead subway.He boards a train,leaving Hackman behind,but this is one determined cop.He chares down to the street below,commanders a passing car and one of the screen's classic car chases is about to begin.
The train guard,who heared Hackman's warnings,follows this agitated passenger,and is brutally gunned down for his trouble!
Down in the street,Hackman is driving like a madman.Cars and lorries swerve to miss him in this brillant sequence;as Hackman attemps to keep up with the train above him.
The woman,with a pram straight ahead of you will have you on the edge of your seat!Great stuff.
However,on the train,the assassin reaches the driver's compartment,forces his way in and orders the driver not to stop at the next station.Another guard is killed,the driver passes out,and the train crashes into the rear of another train.
The assassin breakes a window,climbs onto the platform and heads for the stairway,where Hackman is waiting!Hackman fires,and the assassin falls at his feet!.
However,the drug deal still goes thru,andthe pay off takes places in a derlicet factory.REY,feeling very pleased with himself,leaves with a smile on his face.But that smile is whipped
from his face,when they encounter a police blockade.Hackman returns the same wave and smile;Rey's car is put into reverse,as the police follow.
Rey slips quietly away as the police engage in a gun battle with the other drug dealers.Hackman smashes into the derlict warehouse,declaring Frog One is in that room!.
He runs into the shadows,a shot is heard and then fade out.Atitle explains that Rey was never caught and is belived to be living in France:Hackmanand his side kick were transferred from the Narcotics Bureau and re-assigned.
This is one of the best ever cut-downs that was released on super8 and worth tracking down.Sound is excellent,print is good,Andy.
Print B-
Sound A.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 27, 2007, 04:35 PM:

Good review! This was also released as a super 8 feature film as well. Let us not forget that it also had a good role for Roy Scheider as well, (one of his early roles) who would later leap to 70's Super stardom with JAWS!

Posted by Dave Cragg (Member # 401) on June 28, 2007, 06:43 AM:

Does anyone know if French Connection 2 made it to super 8 full length?

Thanx,
Dave

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on June 28, 2007, 10:16 AM:

Yes Dave.It was released on super8 back in the early 80's.Ken films
as in the cutdowns were the distrubers.Order only though.Andy.

Posted by Dave Cragg (Member # 401) on June 28, 2007, 12:54 PM:

Thanx Andrew,
I'll look out for both of those.

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on December 27, 2014, 04:17 PM:

The feature print of French connection 2 is well worth getting hold of - I have a copy and the whole sequence of Popeye Doyle going cold turkey is excellent . Just proves what an excellent actor gene Hackman is.

David

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 28, 2014, 01:57 PM:

Have all of these 400 footers faded? We had a copy and it went red, id like to get a low fade 40 footer of the first French Connection it was a good cut down.

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on December 28, 2014, 06:08 PM:

This has to be the best the best PT 2 of an already brilliant 1st movie. Gene Hackman is just great in this movie, based on a true story. I was lucky enough to get both these from Perry's movie's about year or so ago, good print on both parts, but I think they're on Kodak SP, so going slightly brownish in parts, but still good to watch. Actually I wouldn't mind if it were in B/W, because the story is so gripping. I got the 200ft version of pt2, but that's turning red now sadly.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 28, 2014, 08:02 PM:

Quite fancy that Paul if you ever come across another [Smile]

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