History YMMV / TheFrenchConnection

* FridgeHorror: [[WordOfGod William Friedkin has stated]] that he believes most of the perps getting dismissals or light sentences was due to payoffs and bribes. Who gets thrown under the bus? Devereaux, the TV star and UnwittingPawn (he knew he was likely getting into criminal activity, but he didn't know ''how'' bad it was) who [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere backed out when he realized how much trouble he could be in.]] Granted, he served "only" four years but it's still in a federal prison. It's a frightening message: you can't get out of a deal with Charnier.

* MagnificentBastard: [[FauxAffablyEvil Alain Charnier]] is a debonair heroin peddler who has a French detective murdered for getting too close, but resists doing so with Popeye Doyle in the knowledge that [[PragmaticVillainy it will only bring more officers]]. Intending to establish a flood of heroin on the market by smuggling it in an unsuspecting friend's car, Charnier spends the film matching wits with the police only to give them the slip and merrily escape them, ultimately [[KarmaHoudini eluding capture and fulfilling his ends]]. [[spoiler:At least until the sequel.]]

* MagnificentBastard: [[FauxAffablyEvil Alain Charnier]] is a debonair heroin peddler who has a French detective murdered for getting too close, but resists doing so with Popeye Doyle in the knowledge that [[PragmaticVillainy it will only bring more officers]]. Intending to establish a flood of heroin on the market by smuggling it in an unsuspecting friend's car, Charnier spends the film matching wits with the police only to give them the slip and merrily escape them, ultimately [[KarmaHoudini eluding capture and fulfilling his ends]].

* MagnificentBastard: [[FauxAffablyEvil Alain Charnier]] is a debonair heroin peddler who has a French detective murdered for getting too close, but resists doing so with Popeye Doyle in the knowledge that [[PragmaticVillainy it will only bring more officers]]. Intending to establish a flood of heroin on the market by smuggling it in an unsuspecting friend's car, Charnier spends the film matching wits with the police only to give them the slip and to merrily escape them, [[KarmaHoudini eluding capture and fulfilling his ends]].

* MagnificentBastard: [[FauxAffablyEvil Alain Charnier]] is a debonair heroin peddler who kills a police officer for getting too close, only to refuse to murder investigating officer Popeye Doyle in the knowledge [[PragmaticVillainy it will only bring more officers]]. Intending to establish a flood of heroin on the market by smuggling it in an unsuspecting friend's car, Charnier spends the film matching wits with the police only to give them the slip and to merrily escape them, [[KarmaHoudini eluding capture and fulfilling his ends]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: 1973's ''Film/TheSevenUps'', starring Roy Scheider as another New York City cop leading a special organized crime task force. It had the same producer and composer from ''The French Connection'', likewise used Sonny Grosso as technical advisor, and also had a high speed car chase. The main character is an {{Expy}} of Cloudy Russo.

* SpiritualSuccessor: 1973's ''Film/TheSevenUps'', starring Roy Scheider as another New York City cop leading a special organized crime task force. It had the same producer and composer of ''The French Connection'', Sonny Grosso as technical advisor and also had a high speed car chase. The main character is an {{Expy}} of Cloudy Russo.

-->"I'm gonna bust your ass for those three bags, and I'm gonna ''nail'' you for [[ItMakesSenseInContext picking your feet in Poughkeepsie!]]"

* FridgeHorror: [[WordOfGod William Friedkin has stated]] that he believes most of the perps getting dismissals or light sentences was due to payoffs and bribes. Who gets thrown under the bus? Devereaux, the TV star and UnwittingAccomplice who [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere backed out when he realized how much trouble he could be in.]] Granted, he served "only" four years but it's still in a federal prison. It's a frightening message: you can't get out of a deal with Charnier.

* FridgeHorror: [[WordOfGod William Friedkin has stated]] that he believes most of the perps getting dismissals or light sentences was due to payoffs and bribes. Who gets thrown under the bus? Devereaux, the TV star and UnwittingAccomplice who [[ScrewThisImOuttaHer backed out when he realized how much trouble he could be in.]] Granted, he served "only" four years but it's still in a federal prison. It's a frightening message: you can't get out of a deal with Charnier.

* {{Narm}}: Popeye's introductory scene, where, while dressed as SantaClaus, he and Cloudy catch a drug dealer, then proceed to kick the absolute shit out of him.

* {{Narm}}: Popeye's introductory scene, where, while dressed as SantaClaus, he and Cloudy catch a drug dealer, then proceed to kick the absolute shit out of him.

* DigitalDestruction: For the first Blu-ray release of the film in 2009, director William Friedkin supervised some significant changes to the film; no scenes, dialogue, characters or story elements were altered, but the color timing of the film was significantly changed to give the film a colder and more low-fi look. Cinematographer Owen Roizman and many fans were less than pleased, especially since the original version wasn't included in the Blu-ray. Comparison images can be [[http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2009/feb/fcbdcomp.jpg found]] [[http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/wank.php online]] for the curious, but consensus is effectively "just stick with the DVD", maybe because RealIsBrown.
** In 2012, a new Blu-ray transfer - approved by both Friedkin and Roizman and restoring the original color palette - [[http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-French-Connection-Blu-ray/39973/ was issued for exclusive sale at Best Buy stores]].

* {{Narm}}: Popeye's introductory scene, where, while dressed as Santa, he and Cloudy catch a drug dealer, then proceed to kick the absolute shit out of him.

* {{Narm}}: Popeye's introductory scene, where, while dressed as Santa, he and Cloudy catch a drug dealer, then proceed to kick the absolute shit out of him.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: For the first Blu-ray release of the film in 2009, director William Friedkin supervised some significant changes to the film; no scenes, dialogue, characters or story elements were altered, but the color timing of the film was significantly changed to give the film a colder and more low-fi look. Cinematographer Owen Roizman and many fans were less than pleased, especially since the original version wasn't included in the Blu-ray. Comparison images can be [[http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2009/feb/fcbdcomp.jpg found]] [[http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/wank.php online]] for the curious, but consensus is effectively "just stick with the DVD", maybe because RealIsBrown.

* {{Narm}}: Popeye's introductory scene, where, while dressed as Santa, he and Cloudy catch a stickup man, then proceed to kick the absolute shit out of him.

* BadassSanta: Popeye's first scene has him catching a perp while dressed as a bell ringing charity Santa.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: For the Blu-ray release of the film in 2009, Director William Friedkin supervised some significant changes to the film; no scenes, dialogue, characters or story elements were altered, but the color timing of the film was significantly changed to give the film a colder and more low-fi look. Cinematographer Owen Roizman and many fans were less than pleased, especially since the original version wasn't included in the Blu-ray. Comparison images can be [[http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2009/feb/fcbdcomp.jpg found]] [[http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/wank.php online]] for the curious, but consensus is effectively "just stick with the DVD", maybe because RealIsBrown.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: For the Blu-ray release of the film, Director William Friedkin supervised some significant changes to the film; no scenes, dialogue, characters or story elements were altered, but the color timing of the film was significantly changed to give the film a colder and more low-fi look. Cinematographer Owen Roizman and many fans were less than pleased, especially since the original version wasn't included in the Blu-Ray. Comparison images can be [[http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2009/feb/fcbdcomp.jpg found]] [[http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/wank.php online]] for the curious, but consensus is effectively "just stick with the DVD", maybe because RealIsBrown.
** In 2012, a new Blu-Ray transfer - approved by both Friedkin and Roizman and restoring the original color palette - [[http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-French-Connection-Blu-ray/39973/ was issued for exclusive sale at Best Buy stores]].

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: For the Blu-ray release of the film, Director William Friedkin supervised some significant changes to the film; no scenes, dialogue, characters or story elements were altered, but the colour timing of the film was significantly changed to give the film a colder and more low-fi look. Cinematographer Owen Roizman and many fans were less than pleased. Comparison images can be [[http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2009/feb/fcbdcomp.jpg found]] [[http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/wank.php online]] for the curious, but consensus is effectively "just stick with the DVD", maybe because RealIsBrown.