The real-life French Connection is the story of two swaggering NYPD cops and their 1960-62 operation to intercept a French heroin shipment with a street value today of $32m. The NYPD operation began with an unexpected tip-off from an FBI agent, Sonny said in a conversation with film director/producer William Friedkin.
What is the true story behind The French Connection?
Beginning in the 1930s, the French Connection was a drug-smuggling operation initiated by Corsican gangsters, who would ship poppy seeds from Turkey and Lebanon to Marseille, where the seeds would then be processed into heroin and transported to the United States in volumes measuring tens of tonnes.
This sequel to "The French Connection" of 1971 has the same hero, Popeye Doyle in pursuit of the drug lord who escaped at the end of the first film. While that one was based on a true story and a book, this sequel is total fiction.
In addition to the two main protagonists, several of the fictional characters depicted in the film also have real-life counterparts. The Alain Charnier character is based upon Jean Jehan, who was arrested later in Paris for drug trafficking, though he was not extradited since France does not extradite its citizens.
The character is based on a real-life New York City police detective, Eddie Egan, who also appeared in the film as Walt Simonson, Doyle's supervisor. Doyle, as played by Hackman in The French Connection, is ranked number 44 as a hero on the AFI's 100 Years...
Segar claimed that 'Olive Oyl,' along with other characters, was also loosely based on an actual person. She was Dora Paskel, owner of a smallgrocery store in Chester. She apparently actually looked much like the Olive Oyl character in his comics. He claimed she even dressed much the same way.
Interestingly, many claim the fictitious sailor was based on a real-life person, one of the citizens of E.C. Segar's hometown. The man in question is believed to have been Frank 'Rocky' Fiegel, whose parents came from Poland.
"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.
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.
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.
The French Connection was a scheme through which heroin was smuggled from Indochina through Turkey to France and then to the United States and Canada. The operation started in the 1930s, reached its peak in the 1960s, and was dismantled in the 1970s.
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.
The nickname 'Popeye' for Jimmy Doyle is the actual nickname of Eddie Egan, who was the inspiration for the character. Egan reportedly got the nickname because he always had his eyes wide open, and because he would often flex his biceps just like Popeye after chasing and grabbing a suspect.
Realistic, fast-paced and uncommonly smart, The French Connection is bolstered by stellar performances by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, not to mention William Friedkin's thrilling production.
The French Connection is known for the street-level grit of its handheld cinematography, location shooting, action and even the actors that didn't look like Hollywood stars. This style wasn't accidental. Before directing feature films, William Friedkin worked as a documentary filmmaker.
Mr. Egan was the tough-talking New York City police officer whose exploits inspired the Academy Award winning film The French Connection (1971). With partner Sonny Grosso, he managed a 112-pound heroin bust in 1962, one of the biggest in New York's history. Mr.
Hackman was thrown from his bike when a Toyota Tundra pickup struck his rear tire, according to the highway patrol. Alcohol did not play a factor in the crash. Susan Madore, Hackman's publicist, downplayed the incident, saying, “Gene's fine. …
What happened at the end of the French connection?
Alain Charnier escaped and is believed to be living in France. Both Doyle and Russo were transferred out of the Narcotics Bureau and re-assigned to other departments in the NYPD.
It was settled by the Dutch in 1683; its name, of Wappinger Indian origin, means “reed-covered lodge by the little water place.” Poughkeepsie served as the temporary state capital, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified there in 1788.
Olive Oyl is named after olive oil, used commonly in cooking. Segar's newspaper strips also featured a number of her relatives named after other oils, including her brother, Castor Oyl, their mother, Nana Oyl and their father Cole Oyl.
Popeye is a fictional character created by cartoonist E.C. Segar in 1929. He is depicted as a rough and tough sailor who gains superhuman strength by eating spinach. While Popeye has been portrayed as a heroic figure with extraordinary abilities, he is not associated with any religious or divine attributes.
Hartman informs him that the lumps in his arms are actually tumors. When Popeye tried to reply to this, it was all stuttered gibber. Hartman explained that Popeye's weird speaking pattern is caused by a stroke he had a few years ago. Popeye still being alive is deemed a miracle.
