Comments on: The Chicago Connection to The French Connection

By: NEF

NEF — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:29:24 +0000

There must be some kind of synchronicity in the world; the same day that GFR comments on your post (see right above me) I also have a similar question. I am currently studying at University of Chicago and would like to look further into this fascinating little-documented niche of documentary filmmaking. Is there any way you could email me directly regarding a few questions I have on this blog post? This is beyond appreciated!

By: GFR

GFR — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:45:38 +0000

I’m doing some research on the photography of urbanization during the socio-political-economic crisis of the 1960s-70s. Your blog post came up during a search I did on documentary filmmakers in Chicago. While the focus of my research is on still-photography from the era, I’m also interested in cinematography (doc and fiction) that depicts the city. Could you send me the reference you cited re: the train scene in the French Connection? And would you be willing to contact me directly via email re: add’l sources on the Film Group in Chicago? Many thanks in advance!

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Michael: The car chase scene was shot in New York. I found a wonderful article from the 1970s that detailed everything about the chase, including working with the NY transit system during the shooting of that scene. The transit authorities would not let a train crash into another train for the movie because they claimed that their safeguards would make that impossible. So, Friedkin faked the el-train crash through editing. The article detailed exactly where the sequence was shot, but I don’t remember off the top of my head. I don’t live in NYC, so I have no frame of reference.

By: Michael Corcoran

Michael Corcoran — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:07:20 +0000

Wasn’t Wabash Avenue (the portion under the El) used in the famous car chase sequence in the French Connection, or is that just folklore?

It’s been so long since I’ve seen that film, but your fabulous post has piqued my interest in seeing it again.

It seems there were other films in the 1970′s that also portrayed cops from a “warts and all” perspective. The Seven Ups (with Roy Scheider)and Serpico (Al Pacino as “the one good cop in a sea of corruption”)spring to mind immediately, but there are a few others I can’t quite recall that also adhered to your theme of “documentary-like portrayal of 70′s urban decay.”

By: debbe

debbe — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:36:44 +0000

very interesting suzidoll. I had no idea about any of the background of friedkin or the chicago filmmakers. fascinating. I also liked that this movie seen through fresh eyes.. holds up. really good. would like to see the movie again.