The French Connection (W. Friedkin, 1971) - Gene Hackman Interview

2008 interview with Gene Hackman on "The French Connection", a 1971 film by William Friedkin.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

The finest US screen actor ever, bar none.

[@garyfenlon5769]

Unforgiven for me is the role that shows just how brilliant an actor he is, he goes from jovial to utterly terrifying in seconds!!!! the scene with the writer and 'The Duck of Death' (Richard Harris) in the jail cell always gives me CHILLS!

[@carlospatricio5214]

Awesome, spectacular actor. I remember him in The Poseidon Adventure, perhaps a minor film for such an actor, but his performance was brilhant and unforgettable.

[@hansjuker8296]

One of the greatest actors of all time. I'll watch a Hackman movie simply because he's in it.

[@JDL0427]

A long time favorite. Still with us at 93. Bless him.

[@Mister_H.]

He’s a tough ol’ boy is Gene. Lot of respect due!

[@rossdiamondthief6627]

Gene Hackman is truly an Actor’s Actor

[@damianlopez-gaston2466]

Such a great interview. He's a charming gentleman.

[@MrBlackhibee]

Great film as is Part 2. Gene Hackman is a brilliant actor, he's a really humble, mild-mannered guy, somebody you could share a pint with. Bet he could tell a few stories too.

[@jeshkam]

Part 2 detox scene is incredible and so sadly overlooked.

[@user-tv2bz2ci6b]

I totally agree. FC2 is hugely overlooked.

[@HandyMan657]

By the time he got to Mississippi Burning and the subject matter, he was more than happy to apply the correct intensity and physicality to fit the scene. Perfectly

[@scottmcneil1150]

Classic actor. Classic film. One of my favourite top 10 films.

[@GILLY56ify]

Definitely in my top 10 of classic must watch movies ... it is so realistic because of the great acting by the main characters and the supporting actors ... Fernando Rey plays his part so well as Frog 1 and is nearly as good as Hackman who was genuinely outstanding

[@spockboy]

Brilliant actor, brilliant film. Ahhh the 1970's.

[@chrisnewman7281]

One of Gene Hackman‘s best

[@ianboyce8202]

My favourite actor of all time Gene

[@johndoherty4976]

Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen where better actor's then Gene Hackman

[@user-tv2bz2ci6b]

​@@johndoherty4976That's hilarious. Good joke!

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@johndoherty4976 *were *actors No. Gene was better than both. Hackman's career took off when he was 40, and he got better as he got older. Great in everything.

[@budsodalsky]

He's wonderful. I first realized this on the movie Hoosiers.

[@Lord_of_The_World]

Wow! What an interview.

[@freddysquirenaranjo4859]

Great film and interview.... one of my favourite films ever!!!! 😎

[@asmodeus0454]

Great actor is Gene Hackman. Brilliant.

[@jamesdavis6036]

Saw this when I was 10 in Brooklyn N.Y. so I know "new-yorkers". Accent, mannerisms etc. If you would of told me then this was a southern boy, I would of thought you were lying to me. Today, it's still hard to believe. Gene Hackman's performance in my top 3 of all time! Classic!!!

[@jakerson181]

He's not a southern boy. Born in Southern California and grew up in Illinois.

[@jamesdavis6036]

@@jakerson181 Non-Newyorker then. Only place on earth that have that accent.

[@oneblueorange]

A bona fide Masterpiece

[@royphillips7435]

Friedkin has such a brilliant sense of the oddness of streets in the city that was always there in the 70s !

[@mikecorlett3414]

Is he any relation to Dan Friedkin who is about to become the next owner of Everton FC?

[@ban_tik_tok]

Part 1 is a MASTERPIECE. The ending is one of the most memorable for me, and I've seen plenty of films in my time.

[@natt73]

Gene is such a classy guy and a superb actor. French Connection and him were made for each other. My top 5 movie.

[@quanto8287]

Best actor ever

[@tylertilwick6852]

They really don’t make ‘em like they used to. Gene Hackman was such a riveting/powerful actor. Everything he did, he always gave his 110%. French Connection, Unforgiven, Hoosiers, Mississippi Burning and Get Shorty are some of my favorite performances of his.

[@conorsmith8551]

He’s great in the birdcage too ha

[@shasta810]

Scarecrow from 1973 the conversation from 1974 two of his other great ones.

[@ManCave1972]

One of the finest actors of all time and one of the greatest directors in cinema, creating one of the best thrillers ever made. Absolute cinematic perfection. I dare anyone to start watching French Connection and try to tear themselves away from the screen.

[@kylewood8327]

Awesome film, Hackman is awesome too.

[@muaykaliente4386]

RIP Billy

[@stephengiese7549]

Thank you very much for this! Gene was funny, serious and matter of fact about the film. He was relaxed and well spoken here. Enjoy your retirement😀

[@nottavictim5]

Love the Irish Goodbye upon exiting the bar! ☘️

[@dora1980]

Gene Hackman is probably one of the 10 best actors the last 50 years. I miss the French Connection, it's been many years since I saw it and I would like to watch the sequel too.

[@maxbowie6074]

For me he's a strong contender for the best film actor America's ever produced. He's that good

[@dora1980]

@@maxbowie6074 He's one of the best for sure and I like him when he plays tough guys.

[@melsteffano6189]

F.C II is terrific as well!

[@dora1980]

@@melsteffano6189 I've never watched it but I believe you!

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

I've watched both films at least 10 times each. I just love them both.

[@neiladlington950]

Another example of why the 70's was the greatest decade for movies, whatever the genre and whatever the language.

[@gillan5]

And for music too.

[@officialsimonharris]

totally, it reached a peak in the 70s before other things like effects and marketing took over and from the 80s it started to go downhill, now it's really at an all time low.

[@boba2783]

I could listen to this guy all day

[@kosmikcharlie6637]

one of my favourite movies

[@ianbauer4703]

The greatest police/crime drama in cinema history, bar none.

[@simsim5919]

Isn't he lovely.

[@maxbrazil3712]

His regular speaking voice is a lot different from films. A true chameleon.

[@barbararey-constantin5679]

His work is always spot on, never a false moment. One of the best, right up there with Spencer Tracey.

[@lightoftheworld7493]

Great actor. The eerie film score of TFC was great as well, especially during the end scene.

[@kevincrouch2732]

A truly great actor

[@orpheus9037]

Whatever doubts and hesitancy Hackman had about effectively portraying Popeye's fearless physical bravado and bullying, roughneck nature, we in the audience never detect it. Hackman's performance is seamless and his commitment to the character is fully realized. I think the film seems somewhat dated now - it is very much a movie of its particular historical moment - but Hackman's work holds up exceptionally well. Some might say his greatest performance came in The Conversation in which he plays a character that's vastly more cerebral and emotionally reserved - nearly an inversion of Popeye Doyle - but both performances are a testament to Hackman's considerable range and talent.

[@melsteffano6189]

Well said! The idea that the movie is "Dated" strikes me as odd. All period films are "Dated" This is a modern "Period" film. Wouldn't you say? Simply astounding.

[@orpheus9037]

@@melsteffano6189 You have a point there. This is something I've been thinking about for a while now. I would agree French Connection is definitely part of the modern period - in other words, it seems more part of our era than distinct from it. But here's the thing. Look at Jimmy Cagney's famous gangster film from 1931: The Public Enemy. As a thought experiment, pretend you're watching it in 1981. Do you think the film, fifty years after the fact, would seem dated? I would definitely think virtually anything from the early thirties - especially movies - would seem dated to a an early eighties audience. Yet, oddly, here we are in 2023 talking about a movie released in 1971 that seems more recognizably contemporary. Something about that 60/70 era - the movies, the music, etc - stays with us. It never becomes "Clara Bow"

[@mandolindleyroadshow706]

I agree, I have always thought of The French Connection and The Conversation as the yin and yang of Hackman performances (extrovert vs. introvert). Yet his physicality remains remarkably consistent: his shambling walk, the way he points his finger, etc. Brando did something similar when he followed-up The Godfather with Last Tango In Paris. Two totally different performances, but the essence of the actor remains in place.

[@dzanier]

Very well said.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Good comment. It's interesting that Hackman had that hesitancy to portray that bullying and toughness on screen. In real life Gene was a tough guy (an ex-marine), a guy you wouldn't want to mess with, and at times as a young man would go looking for fights. Dustin Hoffman said that about Hackman, as both he and Gene were good friends going back to their early actor days in NYC. "I need to get in a fight," Hackman said (paraphrasing slightly) to Hoffman one time.

[@ciaranohara92]

Love Gene 🇮🇪

[@vinnyvincent2862]

You the man G ! We will never forget to Remember you ! ❤

[@chadrat39]

"Whether you like him or not, he is who he is" on his character Gold

[@ccwoodlands1565]

A great actor. Kevin Costner said he was arguably the best actor he’s ever worked with!

[@roquefortfiles]

Back when they made REAL films. Not the shit they make now.

[@paleo704]

Marvel

[@rolonnemarieross7243]

Exactly Good cinema and great actors.

[@jamesanthony5681]

This was a period when the guys running the studios were the movie guys, the ones that loved film, before the accountants and lawyers took over.

[@roquefortfiles]

@@jamesanthony5681 You got it. A different era. And I miss it terribly. They made films then

[@roquefortfiles]

@@jamesanthony5681 I watched a documentary on Gene Hackman where Dustin Hoffman (Who roomed with him in the early days) said Gene used to say "I got to go out to a bar for a drink and get in a fight" That's what Gene was like

[@signalenergie]

Insane film. A miracle. Gene Hackman owns the movie.

[@billyz5088]

~~ William Friedkin could be difficult & demanding for his cast & crew to deal with - but the results speak for themselves - French Connection still resonates to this day - and that film is what earned him the right to do The Exorcist and he clearly made the most of that opportunity as well ..

[@GordonCaledonia]

Hackman is one of the greats, almost all of his performances are fantastic. _Scarecrow_ (1973) with Pacino is an underrated movie.

[@wondereagle]

Just love Gene Hackman🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Mister_H.]

What an absolute legend!

[@amraceway]

An absolute shocker of a film.

[@Shnuki222]

I adore this film. I can watch it over and over. Perfection

[@09nob]

Gene and Roy are some of the best.

[@j0rundur]

my favorite actor

[@Pure-Minty]

One of the best movies ever made.

[@shyman3000]

Love it!

[@domwalker6526]

Gene is a real legend

[@mikearchibald744]

I loved William Goldmans story about Roy Scheider in marathon man when he says Dustin Hoffman is griping that his character 'wouldn't look for a flashlight' and they are carrying on with the director and Roy Scheider is just standing there for an hour just being rock solid. I remember he didn't want to do Jaws 2 but was contractually bound, and that movie would have been, well, Jaws 3, if he hadnt been in it. Definitely was an under rated actor. But its amazing that a movie like this could be so good, when its basically about 'well, some french guys smuggling in drugs and they get away'.

[@eldorado1830]

Absolutely one of my favorite actors.

[@gillan5]

As a teenager I watched in in the 70ies-One of the 3 most badass movies of all time.

[@mikedonovan4768]

I watched this last week for the first time all the way through and really loved the shots of New York.

[@studebaker4217]

The movies released in 1971 show the sheer creative poverty now, an awesome list.

[@marstondavis]

Great actor. Great Movie! Won 5 Oscars. You should see this film. It's a great ride.

[@elldre3]

Hackman's interview in James Lipton's 'At the Actor's Studio' is still the best episode by a wide margin.

[@LisetteSanabria-Velazque-ne9jb]

Great Interview 💯 💯 💯

[@saifulizal6420]

He's a great actor.

[@thetop100films]

Gene Hackman didn’t think he could play Popeye Doyle convincingly. Good thing he did-it's one of his best roles! 🎭💪

[@gt-gu7rb]

They don't make em like this anymore.

[@user-os7ld4wq8n]

Gene Hackman is a GREAT Actor. I've never seen him give a poor performance.

[@jarthur5094]

His performance in birdcage so underrated. He’s such a wonderful human being. Not too many like him. Authentic, integrity, humility, genius.

[@toddnyc1642]

gene hackman:LEGEND. TERRIFIC MOVIE

[@catsupchutney]

That movie could never be made today

[@arnaldovillani4867]

Assisti Missi sip em chamas com Gene Hacmam que ator tslentoso demais

[@stanleyrogouski]

Hackman did his own stunt driving? Wow.

[@domherbin8562]

Bill Hickman did !

[@1957kwick]

I’m surprised he would do an interview he lives a very secluded life style.

[@gerriepieters9033]

Love Mississipi Burning

[@herbertkornfield2020]

how cool

[@mandolindleyroadshow706]

Billy Friedkin originally wanted Jackie Gleason to play Popeye, and when you see Eddie Egan (the real Popeye) it is hard to imagine anyone but Gleason in the role (if it was a year or two later, Charles Durning would have fit the bill). Gene Hackman brought a different skill set to the performance. First, his physicality lent itself to this most physical of leading man performances, his innate charm and likeability took the edge off of Egan's racism. What Hackman lacked was, not as he says, the anger, but Eddie Egan's Brooklynese way of speaking. That voice was the character's signature and Hackman found out quickly he couldn't master that "deez, dem and doze" dialect. So what he did instead was take a cue from his old Marine drill instructor and that helped make Popeye his own (Egan was a Marine as well, and when he told Hackman he was, the actor knew he could find Popeye's core). You will note that when Popeye raids Roy's Bar ("Popeye's here!"), Hackman spouts it from the side of his mouth. That's straight up "hut-hut" Marine style.

[@Eric_Gilbert]

He’s one of the greats! Wonder if they kicked in a bonus to him after the success?

[@jma00a1]

My Brother-in-law was the real life treasury agent from the book

[@1986SSMONTECARLO]

Hackman was GREAT as Popeye

[@charleswinokoor6023]

TCM, to their shame, for years has been censoring the dialogue between Doyle and Grosso in the police station after Sonny has been slashed in the arm by a black drug dealer. It’s a key and extremely well-written scene, but TCM for some reason doesn’t think viewers are mature enough to digest a brief exchange between two cops that included the word ni*ger. And keep in mind that the word is uttered only that one time in the entire movie. There are other movies TCM has aired where the dreaded n-word is spoken and not censored. One of them, “In The Heat of The Night,” is also a great movie. But for some reason they couldn’t keep their hands off of “The French Connection.”

[@moneypenny1957]

I've seen it uncut on tcm

[@charleswinokoor6023]

@@moneypenny1957 The last two times it aired the dialogue in question was missing. I know because I recorded it both times.

[@philippastore2228]

@@charleswinokoor6023 Uncarded public access Vending Machine Cigarettes priced at 35 cents per pack in New York State in '71 was the greater Evil, also highlighted in that scene between Gene and Ray @2:06.

[@jukodebu]

I noticed that also - but they kept in the term sp*cs a few times

[@CBrolley]

The remote button you identified as “Wi-Fi” is actually the oscillation button.

[@truck9moon100]

Five Oscars, not bad, not bad at all.🤣🤣

[@andrewganley9016]

Never made a bad movie

[@dwk8081]

real deal

[@JiveDadson]

All the best tough guys and sax players wear a pork-pie hat.

[@martindumont5553]

I’ve always thought of Hackman as the US version of Michael Caine.

[@BruceMusto]

1971, I'll bet he didn't protest that much.

[@hansfeld5233]

It's his life, if it's his time to retire, it is. It's just sad thinking he'll never entertain me the way he's provided me with so many times before.

[@drbonesshow1]

About all I remember he did plenty of running.

[@Laguna2013]

he looks and sounds great why not making movies today?

[@thomassmith1945]

This interview was from 2008. he retired from acting years ago and is in his nineties.

[@nicolamcguinness8689]

Rest in peace sammy Wilson

[@neogeoriffic]

What bar was it??? Is it still there?

[@dylanparry5712]

Is Mr Hackman wearing a Seiko divers?

[@metahduh4003]

The director probably laughed hard😁

[@IagoRodriguezDopico]

Fernando Rey was great too

[@johncopeland3826]

Sounds like a lot of those scenes in the brilliant movie ,scared the Bejesus out of you Mr Hackman ?

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

8:47 Doesn't this contradict everything Friedkin has said about this scene?

[@BahFungoo]

Just because someone says the nword doesn't make them racist If that's the case everyone that used it would be racist Movies and rap music have made billions from using it.

[@billkeller5555]

Wow he is somewhat shy almost, to hear his voice as Gene, not whatever character he’s portraying.

[@BillyJo44]

Wow he looks really good, he must be about 83 now?

[@SurvivingTheApocalypse]

This interview was recorded in 2008.

[@TechNoir-wz5ic]

Gene Hackman I believe is around 94 now.

[@jakerson181]

​@@TechNoir-wz5ic94

[@greatsajby9266]

As of 2020 the network TCM has expunged the "n" word segment from the film. I'm not a fan of that decision at all. Listen to Gene above to understand why.