Happy Birthday to Dorothy Malone and Gene Hackman.
Since I put Gene Hackman on the calendar I decided to watch the French Connection. I have wanted to see the film for several years, but I just never got around to it.
Probably the most known scene is the where Gene Hackman is in the car underneath the subway, chasing a train. This was beautifully shot and edited. When the camera is in the car, POV of Gene, it is somewhat nauseating. The fast side to side motion, the accidents, it is like you are in the car. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to see on the big screen. When the camera switches to show Gene through the windshield you can see the frustration and his swearing. When the camera is in the train, everything seems normal (other then the guy with the gun).
The movie has great views of New York City, the good points and the bad points of the city. My favorite scene in the film is Gene in a bar sleeping, a window behind is bright with the morning sun, he wakes up abruptly and for a few seconds you see the confusion on his face. He then reaches for the drink in front of him, drinks the shot and then leaves the bar. This is a very minor scene, it is only a few seconds long, but there is something about the moment.
In a news magazine several months ago that Gene Hackman had retired. He didn't make an announcement, but he decided that since he did not want to play certain roles, the things that he was offered. I hope that is not true. He is a very talented actor and can do it all.
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