The French Connection (1971)

Inspired by a true story, this gritty, fast-paced police drama earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor, and broke new ground for screen thrillers.

Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy “Cloudy” Russo are New York City narcotics detectives trying to track down the source of heroin coming from Europe. Alain Charnier is the suave French drug kingpin who provides much of the city's dope, and Pierre Nicoli is a hired killer and Charnier's right-hand man. Acting on a hunch, Popeye and Cloudy start tailing Sal and Angie Boca, who live pretty high for a couple who run a neighborhood corner store. It turns out Popeye's suspicions are right -- Sal and Angie are agents for Charnier, who will be smuggling 32 million dollars in heroin in a shipment from France. With it’s grimy realism, The French Connection was one of the first police dramas to challenge whether the good guys always win. Stars Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, and Roy Scheider. The film is also noted for its famous Poughkeepsie reference.

Pre-show Wurlitzer Organ music provided by New York Theatre Organ Society (NYTOS) beginning one-half hour prior to the film.
 

This presentation is sponsored by Marshall & Sterling.

Our promotional sponsor is the Poughkeepsie Journal.