Gotta give credit to Santana, man.

Friedkin -- also behind the iconic Exorcist -- didn't use a single note of music for the French Connection chase sequence, undisputably the single finest chase ever.

Yet, during its immensely critical editing, he cut the shots to the sound of Carlos Santana's Black Magic Woman. The chase itself is spellbinding, as Popeye Doyle's Pontiac LeMans guns down an eventually driverless train, a lot of the shooting done guerilla-style, minus permission.

The scene aside, the rest of the film is just as captivating. The fact-based story of a couple of New York cops trying to capture a heroin shipment from France, French Connection took the American crime film to new levels of character-detailing and plot progression.

And Gene Hackman carried off a pork-pie hat, heavy punchlines, and a perpetually racist, almost mad anger, with such awesome force.

The documentary style shooting, the surprisingly detailed art direction, and the subtle underscoring of all things New York City make the film a relic of the age as much as a gripping actioner.

The characters are extraordinarily well-etched, especially for the genre, and the pacing is, quite simply, perfect.

As for video, I just have to leave you with that mammoth chase sequence. Hold on to your hats, and Click here for the video

Back

|

Next