According to Hagerty, Friedkin spent weeks goading "French Connection" driver Bill Hickman before Hickman got behind the wheel of the stunt Pontiac LeMan, with Friedkin working the camera over his shoulder. The incensed driver slammed on the accelerator, running stoplights and driving up to 90 mph for over 25 blocks.

Was The French Connection Chase scene real?

How William Friedkin made The French Connection – and almost killed Gene Hackman. The greatest car chase in cinema was shot with no permits and featured actual crashes with real New Yorkers.

How do they film car chase scenes?

Basically, it's a flatbed vehicle or something similar filmmakers use to load the hero car and drive around, making the vehicle look like it's maneuvering through streets when it's actually being hauled. All kinds of configurations have been used for this in plenty of modern films, including Ford v Ferrari.

Where was the Chase scene in The French Connection filmed?

The action scene, coordinated by Bill Hickman, was filmed in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, roughly running under the BMT West End Line (currently the D train, then the B train) which runs on an elevated track above Stillwell Avenue, 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn, with the chase ending just north of the 62nd ...

How did they film Ronin car chase?

For the final chase scene, which used 300 stunt drivers, the production team bought four BMW 535is and five Peugeot 406s; one of each was cut in half and towed by a Mercedes-Benz 500 E while the actors were inside them.

William Friedkin on the Car Chase Scene In THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Did Robert De Niro drive in Ronin?

To make it look like Robert De Niro and Natascha McElhone were actually driving during the car chase, right-hand-drive cars were used, with the passenger side made to mirror the real controls. The cast members then mimicked the stunt drivers' movements.

Who drove the cars in Ronin?

Among the drivers used for the scene were Jean Pierre Jarier, a former Formula 1 driver, while Le Mans aces Michel Neugarten and Jean Claude Lagniez drove the BMW and Peugeot respectively.

Who did the stunt driving in The French Connection?

scene in THE FRENCH CONNECTION were performed. by stuntman Bill Hickman, with director William. Friedkin filming from the backseat.

What kind of car was used in The French Connection chase?

According to Hagerty, Friedkin spent weeks goading "French Connection" driver Bill Hickman before Hickman got behind the wheel of the stunt Pontiac LeMan, with Friedkin working the camera over his shoulder. The incensed driver slammed on the accelerator, running stoplights and driving up to 90 mph for over 25 blocks.

What line was removed from The French Connection?

Within those six seconds, an exchange between the narcotics cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) and his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider), Doyle uses the n-word. In the new cut, he does not.

What is the most famous car chase scene?

Bullit (1968)

We kick off our list with what is widely considered the gold standard for car chases. The legendary showdown between Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang and the bad guy's Dodge Charger is 10-minutes of pure, unadulterated action.

What is the greatest car chase scene in movie history?

What is the best car chase scene in movie history?

How much of The French Connection is real?

The real-life operation was somewhat less spectacular than the movie, but the drug bust was impressive nonetheless. On January 18 and February 24, 1962, in Brooklyn and the Bronx, the NYPD seized 24 pounds and 73 pounds of heroin, The New York Times reported. The film depicts just one part of the larger operation.

What does pick your toes in Poughkeepsie mean?

"Picking your feet in Poughkeepsie" is a phrase that Egan would sometimes use during interrogations to disorient and confuse suspects during interrogations, with the aim of Grosso getting them to open up by asking more direct queries actually related to the case.

Why is The French Connection so famous?

Pauline Kael wrote that on-location shooting had ushered in a new age of “nightmare realism,” with New York as “Horror City.” Exhilarating and suspenseful, innovative and uncompromising, The French Connection leaves a strong impression of being incredibly realistic authentic, empowering the emotions of fear, anxiety ...

What is the most expensive car chase movie?

Taking the top spot on the list is the all-time classic film, Vanishing Point. With 103 featured cars and a car chasing scene totaling around US$1,464,454, this is undoubtedly one of the most realistic car chasing movies of all time.

What Lincoln car was in The French Connection?

The Continental Mark III was also prominently featured in the 1971 crime action thriller film, The French Connection.

Is French Connection a true story?

The real story behind “The French Connection”—the slightly fictionalized film account of the smashing of heroin‐smuggling ring—goes back to 1962. The leader of the ring was a tall, dapper Frenchman named Jean Jehan, who was known to his American connections (who could not pronounce his name) as “the Giant.”

Did Gene Hackman drive the car in The French Connection?

While it was desirable to have Hackman in the car as much as possible, we hired one of the best stunt drivers from Hollywood, Bill Hickman, to drive the five stunts.

Who was the stunt driver that passed away?

Ken Block, a co-founder of DC Shoes who went on to become a stunt driver known for his YouTube videos under the Hoonigan brand he co-created, died in a snowmobile accident Jan. 2. He was 55.

What car did Popeye Doyle drive in The French Connection?

The Scene from the 'The French Connection'

Popeye commandeers a civilian's 1971 Le Mans sedan to pursue the train, driving the pedestrian automobile like he was playing “Grand Theft Auto.” While weaving through traffic, he hits several cars and nearly runs over a baby carriage.

How many cars were wrecked in Ronin?

A total of 80 automobiles were destroyed during filming. To make it look like Robert De Niro and Natascha McElhone were actually driving during the car chase, right-hand-drive cars were used, with the passenger side made to mirror the real controls. The cast members then mimicked the stunt drivers' movements.

How long is the car chase in Ronin?

With the group split into rival factions, and the mystery case still up for grabs, Paris is the stage for Ronin's final nine-minute car-chase extravaganza. “I wasn't prepared for how frightening it would be,” said Jonathan Pryce (Seamus).

What is a Ronin car?

The Fisker Ronin is the world's first all-electric, four-door convertible GT sports car.