French Connection II
1975
**½
Director: John Frankenheimer
Cast: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Philippe Léotard, Ed Lauter, Charles Millot, Cathleen Nesbitt, André Penvern
Four years after the events of The French Connection, detective Doyle arrives in Marseille, still pursuing Charnier, the slippery drug kingpin. This gritty but unnecessary sequel tells a fish out of water story, as Doyle is surprised that the French are not receptive to his obnoxious behaviour and lawless policing methods. In the first film, Doyle was a believably dogged and stubborn character, but now his actions (shooting people, burning down buildings) become ridiculous. John Frankenheimer's follow-up is too long and slow-paced, especially during the endless midsection, in which the hero gains some first-hand experience of drug addiction and rehabilitation. The original is famous for the scene in which Doyle chases a train by car, now he chases a trolleybus and boat on foot.
