Both great movies. I’ve watched the French Connection several times the past couple of months. Really an outstanding movie.
His movie Sorcerer was incredible. I couldn’t believe that it flopped like they said.
Friedkin also directed the underrated 1978 crime comedy “The Brinks Job.” Based upon actual events, the cast plays up the clownish elements of the caper. Peter Falk was the lead performer and he behaved like a criminal Moe Howard in his role.
Interestingly. Friedkin hired some local Boston criminals to assist on the production. Later, the thieves stole fifteen film cans and tried to demand $1 million in ransom money to return the film reels. The goofs had stolen outtakes and dailies, not the positive prints that had been transported to New York City and put into film storage.
Fun film well worth seeking out.
Friedkin directed one of the best music videos, when they mattered, in Laura Brannigan’s “Self Control”. The risqué treatment caused an uproar when the video was released.
Between The French Connection and The Exorcist, he did something unusual and historical: he did a filmed interview with one of the greatest directors of the early 20th Century, Fritz Lang, director of “Metropolis” (1927) and “M” (1931).
One of the last of the directing giants from the ‘70s. RIP.
RIP, Billy Friedkin. In addition to making good movies, he gave great commentary on his and others’ films. Very interesting speaker and story teller.