Most movies from the 70s or before will show their age, but the good ones are timeless nonetheless. The French Connection is not one of those movies.

Director William Friedkin’s direction is both gritty, somber and exhilarating at all the right times and Gene Hackman puts in what may be the best performance of his career as the irascible protagonist Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. Roy Scheider plays Doyle’s partner “Buddy” Russo with his usual aplomb and intensity.

The cinematography was also quite good, the grittiness of New York city was well realized.

With the direction and acting top notch what’s not to like? A plot as simple and dated as Red Riding hood, and what is undoubtedly the worst ending of any film to win an Oscar.

Police dramas have moved so far beyond the simplicity of this film that every moment was utterly predictable and often boring. I felt like I was watching a well executed episode of TJ Hooker. Indeed, watching Shatner hang onto a car hood for 20 minutes or so probably would have improved my viewing experience.

The ending is so bad that it actually leaves an action scene unresolved and cuts to a narrator describing everyone’s fate.

The French Connection is worth seeing if you can endure the low points. The acting, direction and action scenes are worth the view.

Grade: C+