Cinema

October 7, 1971 — The Day The French Connection Changed Cinema Forever

New York, October 7, 1971 — On this day, audiences witnessed the premiere of what would become one of the most iconic police thrillers in the history of world cinema: The French Connection. Directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, the film redefined not only the crime genre but also the aesthetic and rhythm of American filmmaking in the 1970s.