Many have passed on their fascination for the city to the general public and made some of its places famous worldwide, making them into the legend of pop culture. The city that never sleeps has been the muse of a large number of directors, actors, screenwriters, singers, musicians, cartoonists and writers… The world capital of pop culture, New York embodies unbridled creative freedom. The filmmaker did not rest on his laurels and followed up with The Exorcist, writing yet another decisive page in his history… and in ours.ĭiscover the secrets of the cult places of the greatest masterpieces of pop culture in New York! The car is thus damaged when Popeye arrives below the 62 Street Station where the chase ends in a shootout with mobster Pierre Nicoli (Marcel Bozzuffi), shot at the top of the steps.Ĭomposed of five successive stunts, this high-risk chase, seen by Friedkin as a metaphor for Popeye’s obsession, contributed to the film’s popularity. Throughout the process, several accidents occurred, but they were not serious, forcing the technicians to constantly tinker with the Pontiac. While the actor is driving, the director yells instructions to him on a walkie-talkie, both to allow him to adapt, but mostly to surprise him in order to gain realism.
For the close-ups, Gene Hackman’s reactions are filmed separately. Thirty-five days of shooting are necessary. Wishing to use an aerial subway line for this sequence, William Friedkin obtained permission to use a section of the Stillwell Avenue line, connecting Bay Fiftieth to 62nd Street in Brooklyn. Retaining the idea, he had entirely conceived it with his producer Philip D’Antoni, during a walk on Park Avenue, heading south… The scene was given to the director by his friend Howard Hawks. However, the chemistry takes and the whole team ends up taking to the streets of New York to shoot what history will remember as one of the greatest car chases of the seventh art.
I almost fell asleep at the lunch.“, the director recalled in his autobiography. “ Phil and I met him for lunch in the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel on a Friday. While he sees Paul Newman, James Caan, Charles Bronson or Steve McQueen to play the central character, namely Popeye Doyle, William Friedkin, initially reluctant, gives his chance to Gene Hackman. The roles given to the actors are directly inspired by the real protagonists of the French Connection… William Friedkin then took the book and made what many considered his first masterpiece.Īnxious to remain realistic, the filmmaker adopts a staging style close to documentary, hand-held camera, with natural lights, in the places directly concerned. The story is based on real events that took place on both sides of the Atlantic, which the media soon dubbed the “French Connection”. Published in 1969 in the United States, the book focuses on the investigation of two New York policemen concerning drug trafficking from Marseille. It all started with the novel French Connection by Robin Moore.
We had no permits from the city to be on the streets at all.” 62 Street Station New York - Photo credit: Fantrippers A true piece of bravura orchestrated by a visionary William Friedkin whose work has contributed to turning the codes upside down. Filmed between France and the United States, French Connection remains popular for its amazing chase through the streets of New York.