Fox Entertainment - The Making of the French Connection (2008) Part 1 Anatomy of a Chase

William Friedkin's gritty police drama portrays two tough New York City cops trying to intercept a huge heroin shipment coming from France. Controversial in 1971, a year dominated by violent films like “A Clockwork Orange,” “Straw Dogs,” and especially fellow cop action hit “Dirty Harry,” Friedkin's award-winner is the granddaddy of darker 1980s actioners like “Escape from New York ,” and it paved the way for Friedkin's 1985 “To Live and Die in L.A.” film, which continues in an even denser mood. An interesting contrast is established between 'Popeye' Doyle (Gene Hackman), a short-tempered alcoholic bigot who is nevertheless a hard-working and dedicated police officer, and his nemesis Alain Charnier, a suave and urbane gentleman who is nevertheless a criminal and one of the largest drug suppliers of pure heroin to North America. During the surveillance and eventual bust, Friedkin provides one of the most gripping and memorable car chase sequences ever filmed. “The French Connection” has a lot of street credibility of shabby New York in the early 1970s, and the long chase filmed in Brooklyn is considered one of the most legendary in film history. The screenplay for the film from Robin Moore's nonfiction was made by Ernest Tidyman. Based on a true story, this action-packed thriller, with its iconic chase scene, earned Oscars in 1971 for Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin), Best Actor for Hackman, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. These features are from two-disc Blu-ray edition, published in 2009 and now sold out.

Part 1 Anatomy of a Chase

Anatomy of a Chase A bonus film featuring the director William Friedkin, revisiting on-location of the film's famed chase sequence, discussing the reasoning behind choosing the locations and walking through the sequence. The piece also features an extensive dialogue between Friedkin and Producer Philip D'Antoni as they move along the trail of the chase. (HD, 20 min.) 2. Hackman on Doyle Hackman recalls his famed role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, a crazy-classic antihero and the process of making the film. (HD, 10 min.) 3. Friedkin and Grosso Remember the Real French Connection This piece features the director and Sonny “Cloudy” Grosso, the real-life officer involved in the case, now recalling the events of the case that inspired the film. (HD, 19 min.) 4. Scene of the Crime Friedkin and actor (and then-real-life police officer) Randy Jurgensen — the famed NYPD detective who later consulted on Friedkin's controversial “Cruising” and “Donnie Brasco” — recall the making of one of the film's most crucial sequences. (HD, 5 min.) 5. Color Timing The French Connection In this featurette the director comments on the creation of the new transfer for this Blu-ray edition. We get a look at the process of color timing the film and on how the color takes on a pastel look. (HD, 13 min.) 6. Cop Jazz The Music of Don Ellis This supplement highlights the late composer and the story behind the film's experimental score. (HD, 10 min.) 7. Rogue Cop The Noir Connection This extra looks at the Film Noir elements of The French Connection and its revitalization of the art form, with classic examples of the film noir genre. (HD, 14 min.)

Full Version Available Upon Request