William Friedkin on directing the chase scene in THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)

Director William Friedkin recounts how he created one of the greatest action sequences ever.
The piece also features an extensive dialogue between Friedkin and Producer Philip D'Antoni as they move along the trail of the chase.
For educational purposes only. Non-commercial purposes.

[@garrettschnaufer9983]

R.I.P. William Friedkin. You were a great director for directing this Academy Award winning film. 😢

[@thebrownfilmshow]

This is GOLD! The film is so great, they put the ending in the poster. I visited the spot in Marsielle where they filmed the french scenes. Love this film.

[@paulhue86]

(It wasn't the ending of the film...the film sorta didn't have an ending)

[@scorpio.67]

I've watched this before, but it's now all the more poignant after Billy's passing. His films will live forever!

[@linda3ken4]

Rest In Peace William Friedkin. Thanks for the great films.

[@marilynluster]

I'm watching the movie now. Love the chase scene!! Best car chase ever!!

[@Gobbersmack]

It was handy of NYC to not update their infrastructure for 40 years just so we could have this tour.

[@thomaswillans4085]

I'm a sucker for behind the scenes content. But this is a different level! Billy F is such an insane director and storyteller. Absolute gold.

[@brocbradley2313]

Pure cinematic genius. How cool to walk through with the director and have him explain the magic. No CGI. That's why the film is brilliant

[@rossdiamondthief6627]

Mr. William Friedkin - one of my favorite directors of all time. He will be sourly missed RIP❤🙏

[@ericmalone3213]

Before Friedkin made The French Connection, he had been seeing Kitty Hawks, the daughter of Howard Hawks. When Friedkin and Kitty had lunch with Howard Hawks, Hawks was very critical of Friedkin's 1970 film The Boys In The Band. Hawks said, "The public doesn't want to see a bunch of unhappy characters moping around with all of their problems, they want to see a great, exciting car chase. Do a chase scene in your next picture unlike any that's been done before, and you'll have a big hit."

[@mrtrek64]

I'm lucky enough to see these sites all 60 years of my life, and counting. I live right there.

[@Exploredinary]

Wow this is AMAZING!! Had no idea they didn’t block traffic for the car chase. That’s INSANE

[@solitudeape]

At least Friedkin understands how irresponsible that was.

[@ELHIPPO]

12:19 this crash is real

[@youmustbekidding1718]

Nope. No permits. They did hand a few envelopes around, though.

[@bikefixer]

The Mercury that slams the Pontiac at 12:20 is the same Mercury that Doyle attempts to stop at 9:22. The accident, itself, was not planned, but it was not a civilian's car as many fans think. It was simply that the stunt driver missed his mark and hit Doyle's car.

[@speeta]

Thank you. Mark Kermode's Poughkeepsie Shuffle documentary tells the tale of an accident involving a local motorist which was never included in the finished film, but illustrated the anecdote with a clip of this stunt collision, and I think that's the origin of the misunderstanding. The genuine accident as described doesn't play out at all in the same way as the stunt crash does.

[@FiveSigma72]

RIP legend. Directed the best ever movies in at LEAST two genres.

[@googleusergp]

Mr. Friedkin says it's a 1970 LeMans in the film. In fact, it appears to be a 1971 LeMans. The grilles are different, but the cars are very close in appearance.

[@dfreeman120]

The great Bill Hicks driving choreography was legendary! He also created the stunts and co-starred in Bullit with Steve McQueen.

[@markstevenson195]

and seven ups. watch that one? I think its ending is better!

[@chaplaincadet]

THANK YOU - you have no idea how valuable this is

[@TheBundleofkent]

Amazing that D'Antoni lasted until he was 89 smoking three packs a day for a lot of his life!! Great pairing with Friedkin

[@martinsorenson1055]

Oh WTF!!?!? I missed Friedkin's passing! Always loved him throughout the years with his stories - and how he was given to hyperbole to give them a little extra push. I love that he had a late career surge with Bug and Killer Joe. When he wasn't making the movies, he was discussing them. He can be found giving Director's Commentary on several films other than his own. His last directing job - The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial - just premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

[@jammer96]

Nice touch adding the brown Pontiac Lemans.

[@ashfaq1999]

Great video of this classic film scene👏

[@waynecassels3607]

A great movie.

[@burgesssam]

Never knew they just went for it and barely took any precautions, that's wiiild. This is a great video, loved hearing them reminisce about the shoot. Always great to hear Friedkin talk movies.

[@CreativeCreaturefx]

Not surprising considering how William Friedkin is known for being very tough director and does whatever he could do to get realism and authenticity.

[@domherbin8562]

The French guy was Marcel Bozzuffi 😎👍

[@mitchclement3773]

Can't believe that area looks almost the same.

[@felixmadison5736]

I just LOVE this kinda stuff!!! I was 22 years-young in 1971 and really enjoyed that era in film making. 'The French Connection' was released the month I got married. It was so great to see movies like this, 'Bullitt' and 'The Seven Ups' at my local movie theater. Sadly, they make 'em like this anymore.

[@speeta]

A very nice featurette from 2008. The filming of the chase sequence has drifted over the intervening years from a factual account of how it was achieved into urban legends and generalizations concerning the lack of safety protocols. In 1972 Friedkin wrote a breakdown of how the chase was filmed where he outlines five specific stunts, but I suspect he has embellished during more recent tellings of the story. The collisions seen in the film are all part of planned stunts (some of which didn't turn out as planned). The spectacular crash at 12:19 is one of those, with stunt drivers behind the wheels of both cars. The same white car with a black roof appears a few minutes earlier in the film, driven by a stunt performer who knew not to hit Hackman as he stood in the middle of the street trying to flag him down. Since the turn of the 21st century that shot has been repeatedly mis-identified as a genuine accident involving Gene Hackman and a local motorist. Such an accident as described by Hackman and Owen Roizman in a documentary from 2000 did occur during filming but was never included in the movie.

[@dikbozo]

Stupendous. I feel this was meant to happen. The BTS of the film by the principal makers at the sites used adds depth to those fantastic scenes. Excuse me, I have to go re-watch it.

[@gbonkers666]

This is absolutely fascinating...And that shot in the back is the poster for the movie.

[@jedpalmer3863]

There have been many cop movies and cop shows over the years but Popeye Doyle played by Gene Hackman is my all time favourite. I wasn't old enough to see this movie in the cinema but saw when released to TV. It became my favourite cop movie of all time, so much so I bought the movie a d it's sequel on VHS tape, and watch it from time to time, then when it came out on DVD I bought that too, when they show it on TV I'm compelled to watch it. The character Popeye was so single minded and driven with an unorthodox policing style and sarcastic sense of humour. The part where he chased and caught a guy and roughed him up saying "Do you pick your feet", that became a catch phrase between my Mum and myself, "Are you picking your feet?". My Mum is passed now, sometimes when I visit her grave I play the theme tune from the movie and ask her is she picking her feet. Gene Hackman brilliant actor in all characters he's played over the years. Thank you Mr Hackman for your acting skills. 👍👍⭐

[@billmuncey6147]

Absolutely one of the best on film...They said in two words what sums up the whole scene..."it worked"

[@trainglen22]

My all time favorite car chase movie ever!

[@davejones732]

Wow. In 1971 when we saw it we were 'Gob Smacked' ...t's was Holy F**k what did we just see...experience.And just watching this...Thanks guys 'Holy Wow1 The 70's baby!!! when Movies were MOVIES! Thanks Guys!

[@manofthehour6856]

Brilliant! It's an amazing chase obviously, but William Friedkin's explanations of why he chose elements and how it came together is truly fascinating. And to bring Philip D'Antonio in on the commentary is just magnificent. I can see how the two could play off one another: Mr. D'Antonio is deliberate, thoughtful, and methodical, and Mr. Friedkin? It's like, "Oh hell, let's just try this! Let's not bother clearing the road of cars or traffic like you did on Bullitt, Phil, and lets just risk some lives and property damage for the purpose of great cinema!!!!" Unquestionably this method results in realism. Any of the car crashes that occurred do not look contrived. Of course there is the famous occurance of the white '68 Ford that stumbles into the path of Doyle's LeMans, but as I watched this and heard how they just shot without planning accidents, I look at how the Pontiac slams into the wall, yet he just shifts if back into drive and this battered but seemingly bombproof car continues on. It lacks the contrived stunts in films that are overly choreographed and lack credibility or true excitement. A perfect example of their different personalities is how Mr. Friedkin sprints up the staircase, while Mr. D'Antonio wisely plays along just long enough. No wonder this film won the Academy Award with these two at the helm!!!! Thank you, gentlemen!!!!

[@mandolindleyroadshow706]

The white Ford that hits Doyle's car was accidental, but it was a stuntman, not a civilian driving. Friedkin described it in a magazine called "Action" back in 1972. He stated the stuntman missed his mark and hit the chase car. It is also the same Ford that Doyle tries to stop before the chase begins.

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

One of the most car chase ever made

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Fascinating insight into the making of this amazing movie… truly ‘the director’s cut’!

[@TheFunkybert]

2:25 - would you ever mess with a man that stood there and looked at you this way? Friedkin commanded respect because he believed in himself first and was able to clearly communicate his vision. 👏

[@markroberts9577]

I always was wondering about the background of the making of that very scene of the movie! I am super thrilled that I finally got to see what was involved in the production!

[@massapower]

No FREAKN' garbage CGI needed... That's FILM MAKING BaBy!😁👍🏻

[@theindependentcinema]

Wanna make film.... Well this is the masterpiece!

[@robclark8293]

Always got a kick at the end when the car driven by Hackman comes to a screeching stop and there’s what looks to be a bunch of onlookers across the way on the sidewalk who didn’t seem to blink an eye to the car racing towards them and stopping in a hurry instead of being scared and running to avoid possibly getting hit.

[@sitluxetluxfuit4481]

This is amazing

[@berniesorito1108]

Being from Brooklyn actually Boro Park the ending of the chase was not at 18th avenue, it was filmed at 62nd street station. Not sure why they did that.

[@jdraven0890]

The master of car chases IMHO. See also To Live and Die in LA

[@Rammstein56]

Thank you very much, I was a kid when this movie appeared and it made a huge impression on me, this film was really sensational and I can watch it over and over again !

[@sameerjoshi8417]

That was fantastic....

[@guymastrion3518]

This is one of my favorite films. This is a really nice piece. More like this.

[@_Ben4810]

Bil Friedkin also states in other interviews how he edited this car chase to Santana's 'Black Magic Woman' for rhythm & pace &...IT'S TRUE...! Start the Black Magic Woman track as Popeye Doyle is stood in front of the brown Pontiac he's just flagged-down, & sit back & watch....It really does fit & work....👌

[@SheilaNoya]

I'm gonna try that!

[@MichaelCDoroc]

This was awesome history 👏 🙌

[@johnreskusich2324]

Thank you for making this available.

[@sandro1a2b]

Perfect film, wonderful video.

[@jobsingames]

Thanks for uploading this, I really enjoyed it.

[@markbyzantine4066]

Never been bettered !

[@adolphlopez1462]

Dammmmnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That damn Gene Hackman has done a hell of a car/train chase: even if it means in driving a hell of a way. And that is in a hell of a way across the whole city throughout the City of New York City as just in travelling under the rail road train crossing just to catch that damn french guy.

[@gsrox2007]

Absolutely brilliant content this! Magical walkthrough!

[@shyamsankar5091]

Thank you sir

[@oriheller2852]

you listen to me. You're the best!

[@philleotardo8760]

Amazing.

[@detlevtschackert7396]

Very great movie of history

[@jspoons6619]

I you want to make true and memorable Art then you have to take risks and push the limits and the the results will go down in history , todays rubber coated safety mad world this would never happen, so you end up with soulless art . There are no gains with out taking risks , yes the Legend is now embellished that will always happen but the end result will live in legend forever. I only last week picked this Film up on Blue Ray so I can see it on a Big screen Home Cinema since I never saw the original Cinema run being to young at that time and have only seen it on TV since, really looking forwards to that.

[@nickberardo9243]

If it wasn't for William Friedkin this film would not have been as successful. Though his first choice for Popeye was the actor Jackie Gleeson. For Charnier Francisco Rabal. Gene Hackman Fernando Rey got the parts. He knew how to put suspense into realism and that was certainly in 'The Exorcist'. Philip D'Antoni producer one of the greatest thrillers RIP W. Friedkin.

[@JG-ld4rs]

Rip to the master Billy Friedken

[@wilverbal]

I wonder why D'Antoni had such a short career as a producer. He had a hell of a record in his short time producing films.

[@RagedContinuum]

It is strange how some filmmakers will make one or two films and disappear into nothing. I guess it's hard to get movies funded on top of writing them

[@FrancoisDressler]

Friedkin mentions it in his autobiography.

[@ronaldhuss8915]

Had a chase similar to this in Chicago

[@WhocaresWhy44]

When Bill Friedkin's pedestrians are struck you want to go the emergency room. Great Foley.

[@markking7275]

Randy Jurgensen has a part in the police garage when they are tearing the car apart looking for the drugs. Roy Schneider calls him by his real name, not the character's name, in an attempt to throw him off. Additionally, Randy Jurgensen is the only person in NYPD history to bring to trial anyone regarding the Harlem mosque shooting. A real disgraceful event and a stain on this city. Read his book, CIRCLE OF SIX.

[@blinkzone1]

RIP Friedkin, D'Antoni

[@charleswinokoor6023]

good one

[@adityachaurasia2532]

Who is the Admin of this channel? It is a great channel but doesn't have much transparency, In channel's about is nothing not any external social link attached to it. You upload great work on almost regular intervals please take time for your channel and atleast have a patreon most of your videos will be get demonetized and there could be a way people could support you. All the best for future✌️

[@speeta]

Some people use KZbin just for sharing, not profiting.

[@mandolindleyroadshow706]

They are at the wrong subway station where the chase ends. Doyle shoots Nicoli at the 62nd Street stop, not the 18th Avenue stop. I guess after 38 years they forgot. All of the stops look the same so the confusion is understandable.

[@AntoniosPapantoniou]

A teriffic action sequence with natural sounds. Check out all the "modern" filmmaker types of Nolan etc and you will find constant bombardment of non stop cacophonous music.

[@RichardEKranz]

Philip D'Antoni has done some great entertainment, from Movin' On to The Seven Ups.

[@Judgedredd95]

16:01 - the car passes pretty close to the camera

[@mikearchibald744]

I get a kick out of these movies when police are at a scene, and a lady gets shot, then other shots shoot out, but the cops always have to tell poeple "get down, get out of the area". Like people hear gunshots and are just standing around waiting to be shot unless a cop tells them what to do.

[@RogerWKnight]

The reason the scene where Popeye Doyle shoots the French guy in the back works is that audiences want to see the bad guys get it. A few minutes earlier this character shot a woman pushing her baby in a carriage. All righty, the gloves come off! Let's get that guy!

[@sonnidunne7886]

This is good tell everybody well b back in an hour

[@JoJO187ism]

So the projects is a prison. You know what he's right and this is someone whom still lives in the projects.

[@sanilalkuttimon1755]

😍😍😍

[@bloggaloggs]

4:27 I was expecting that person in the background to get shot...

[@sharpr01]

Love this. But I also -- and I mean nothing political by this -- had no idea Donald Trump directed the French Connection! 🤪 Once I heard it in the way Billy talks during this particular video and saw a little bit of resemblance, I can't unhear it now how much the two sound alike.

[@apurugganan]

What happened to the guy that gave away his Pontiac? Procedure-wise that is. He didn't get to work; legend ha it that he's still waiting for that Popeye somewhere in Brooklyn.

[@stevemuzak8526]

16:21 There is a one mistake: That famous " shot in the back" scene was shot on 62 Street Station (D Train line). 6001 14th Ave in Brooklyn. Not on 18 Av. Station.

[@CheezyDee]

During the chase for a second or two you see a triangle with an overhead train line going perpendicular. That's the intersection of Forest, Putnam, and Fairview way back up the M line nowhere near where the chase occurred.

[@youmustbekidding1718]

In the 70s, this was the B train line. But the train in the movie is labeled "N". Of course, a lot of trains were mislabeled back then.

[@danielstephens9748]

Different tree.. the one Hackman is behind is not a gum tree...the one Bill is standing next to is. Plus the chains around the grass area are gone...Can I get a job on a movie set as a 'continuity' man ?....lol

[@ajw9533]

Set the camera up on sticks. Technical language.

[@isuriadireja91]

what year was this video made..??

[@cinematographersoncinemato1199]

2009!

[@isuriadireja91]

@@cinematographersoncinemato1199 i see, thanks.. No wonder Friedkin can still hop on those staircase. 😄 Still an impressive feat, tho..for his age then. RIP

[@mikejw58]

No kiss for Randy?

[@jacobmyrick6442]

You know what they they say? It worked. 😂

[@johngulino2651]

This movie is early 70s New York City.

[@olivier.1791]

Marcel Bozzuffi

[@AngeloLunch]

Oh the 70s... 😂

[@tyrantwitness2482]

Now Doyle go after Klaus Schwab and Bill Gates !

[@salvatorecangialosi3264]

RlP

[@davedalton1273]

Friedkin sounds almost exactly like Trump! Are they both from Queens?

[@ryand141]

He does.

[@alansmithee6076]

One stuntman made Dantoni's movie car chases Bullit- The French Connection & The Seven Ups possible. Bill Hickman was that driver and stunt coordinator. These guys can't even mention his masterful work? Shows a lack of class on their part.

[@YvesPinol]

Incredible! Thanks to share Friedkin's masterpiece car chase interview. I've done a series of videos on that particular car chase, on how the shooting and the editing creates action and how this car chase is so unique. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHrKnahna6hnqK8