French Connection

[steveno]

the "French Connection" is on Retro right now. too bad it is only the third best car chase of all time.

Bullitt is still # 1
the Sevenups is # 2

anything else doesn't even make the "wannabe" category

 

[Hapworth]

Friedkin bested himself with the car chase in To Live and Die in L.A. -- beats them all.

 

[Arik]

the "French Connection" is on Retro right now. too bad it is only the third best car chase of all time.

Bullitt is still # 1
the Sevenups is # 2

anything else doesn't even make the "wannabe" category

Ronin


....

 

[dswancutt]

the "French Connection" is on Retro right now. too bad it is only the third best car chase of all time.

Bullitt is still # 1
the Sevenups is # 2

anything else doesn't even make the "wannabe" category

100% in agreement. The music in Bullitt in the buildup to the chase is awesome.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I am biased, since the FC car chase was filmed a block away from my apartment, and I remember seeing the production while pushing my kids in the pram.

But comparing the FC chase to any other is apples and oranges. The FC chase was the most true-to-life, by far. They didn't worry about tightly controlling the action, they just blasted through Brooklyn, crashing into unaware residents along the way. The only special effects were the producers following the crashes with their wallets open, trying to sooth the locals.

Read the following article about the FC, from the gothamist, and see if it doesn't put the FC into a new light. Be sure to view the second Youtube video at the bottom of the page. It features the films principles discussing the production of the chase scene.

The French Connection Car Chase Was "Dangerous" And "Life-Threatening": Gothamist

That chase was something that should never have happened, and will never happen again.

 

[Arik]

I am biased, since the FC car chase was filmed a block away from my apartment, and I remember seeing the production while pushing my kids in the pram.

But comparing the FC chase to any other is apples and oranges. The FC chase was the most true-to-life, by far. They didn't worry about tightly controlling the action, they just blasted through Brooklyn, crashing into unaware residents along the way. The only special effects were the producers following the crashes with their wallets open, trying to sooth the locals.

Read the following article about the FC, from the gothamist, and see if it doesn't put the FC into a new light. Be sure to view the second Youtube video at the bottom of the page. It features the films principles discussing the production of the chase scene.

The French Connection Car Chase Was "Dangerous" And "Life-Threatening": Gothamist

That chase was something that should never have happened, and will never happen again.

After watching that....eh. he just drove in a straight line and beeped a lot.

Ronin

https://youtu.be/ITS5GkkqgEQ

 

[the ringo kid]

There was a good car chase in Brannigan, but McQueen's chase beat Dukes chase by a mile. The Hunter, also had a good chase if I recall?

 

[Coldshooter]

The most remarkable thing I learned from FC or FC2 was Popeye's ability to run for blocks then shoot a guy off a moving boat which was several hundred feet away. With a 2 inch barrel no less. Fun movies in spite of that.

 

[GaryS]

He learned that from Frank Cannon!

The most remarkable thing I learned from FC or FC2 was Popeye's ability to run for blocks then shoot a guy off a moving boat which was several hundred feet away. With a 2 inch barrel no less. Fun movies in spite of that.

 

[GaryS]

The one in the pilot episode of "Adam 12" was pretty good.

Wouldn't be a Smith-Wesson forum thread without mentioning Adam 12.

 

[5Wire]

The most remarkable thing I learned from FC or FC2 was Popeye's ability to run for blocks then shoot a guy off a moving boat which was several hundred feet away. With a 2 inch barrel no less. Fun movies in spite of that.

It could happen, couldn't it...?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIwVK_FxGZk[/ame]

 

[Absalom]

Loooking at the vintage of most car chases mentioned here, 20 years ago may be too recent for you guys, but one of my favorites is the SF chase in "The Rock". I know "Bullitt" is the classic for SF, but there is that airborne cable car.....

 

[bigwheelzip]

After watching that....eh. he just drove in a straight line and beeped a lot.

Your right, these days they just call that Uber drivers, even the part where they smash into the unsuspecting resident.

 

[5Wire]

The chase in the Seven Ups was produced and directed by the same guy as Bullitt and the French Connection.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY[/ame]

 

[UncleEd]

The chase in the Seven Ups was produced and directed by the same guy as Bullitt and the French Connection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY

Now we're getting to the commonality of The French Connection,
Bullitt and Seven Ups and you might also throw in Point Blank with the slamming of a car around under a bridge: BILL HICKMAN

He was the stunt driver, coordinator in all those pictures.

In Bullitt, he's driving the car chased by McQueen and the camera is on his face several times. In Seven Ups, again
the camera gives him plenty of face time not to mention the
shootout. In Point Blank besides the car stuff he was a guard
at the mob's apartment.

Check out his movie credits. Among other films, include Patton as the general's driver.

 

[g-dad]

Nope, Bullitt is the best. I saw it in the theater when it was released in 68. Sitting in the theater seat, you felt like you were in McQueen's Mustang. You could 'feel' the car bottoming out after it crested the hills.

 

[steveno]

I will give "To Live and Die in LA" a honorable mention

 

[S&W Fan]

I love the scene from Seven Ups.....but I hated the sound editing of putting in the engine noise from a manual tranny on Sheider's auto Pontiac lol. Plus why does he wait until over 5 minutes to get on the radio??!!

Ok, ok I know it's just a movie with a great scene but those things bothered me enough from the first time I saw it in a theater to every time I catch on tv (though it's been awhile since an airing).

 

[5Wire]

...you might also throw in Point Blank with the slamming of a car around under a bridge: BILL HICKMAN.

Yup. I'm a big fan of his. There;s an online interview with Steve McQueen talking about working with Bill. Interesting.

 

[UncleEd]

Yup. I'm a big fan of his. There;s an online interview with Steve McQueen talking about working with Bill. Interesting.

I'll have to look it up. Thanx.

Point I'm making for fans of all those car stunts is that one man is behind them and should get more credit. Bill Hickman also worked on The Wild Ones with Marlon Brando and was a personal friend of James Dean who loved fast cars.