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The French Connection (1971)

R10/09/1971Action, Crime, Thriller1h 44m
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Doyle is bad news—but a good cop.

Overview

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    Gene Hackman

    Jimmy Doyle

  2. Cast 1

    Roy Scheider

    Buddy Russo

  3. Cast 1

    Fernando Rey

    Alain Charnier

  4. Cast 1

    Tony Lo Bianco

    Sal Boca

  5. Cast 1

    Marcel Bozzuffi

    Pierre Nicoli

  6. Cast 1

    Frédéric de Pasquale

    Devereaux

  7. Cast 1

    Bill Hickman

    Mulderig

  8. Ann Rebbot

    Marie Charnier

  9. Harold Gary

    Weinstock

Though he's not top-billed here, I found it's Fernando Rey who delivers best in this brutal and authentic-looking story of trans-Atlantic drug smuggling. Popeye (Gene Hackman) and his pal Russo (Roy Scheider) are detectives in New York determined to bring down a network of cocaine importers who are bringing the lucrative white powder in from Marseille. They suspect that it's Charnier (Rey) who is masterminding the whole enterprise, but they can't pin anything down on him. He hides in plain sight, clad in cashmere with a distinctive hat and dining in fine establishments - but always beyond thei...