Packed with over 8 hours of special features content including audio commentaries by William Friedkin, Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, 9 deleted scenes, a BBC documentary and a 60 minute featurette about the untold stories of The French Connection.

There are no rules and no holds barred as the acclaimed classic The French Connection is released on Blu-ray for the first time on 1 December 2008 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, both on its own as a two disc special edition (RRP £19.99) and as a triple disc set complete with The French Connection II (RRP £34.99). Packed with brand-new special features, these spectacular Blu-ray discs perfectly showcase why these groundbreaking films had an immediate influence on dozens of movies and TV shows, redefining the crime thriller with a combination of brutal realism and high-octane craftsmanship.

The French Connection I & II on Blu-ray is packed with exclusive new High-Def content including an introduction by William Friedkin, an ‘Anatomy of a Chase’ featurette, Friedkin and Grosso remembering the real French Connection, and a featurette about the music of Don Ellis.

A milestone film from 1971 and winner of five Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, William Friedkin’s The French Connection transformed the crime thriller with its gritty, authentic story about New York City police detectives on the trail of a large shipment of heroin. Based on an actual police case and the illustrious career of New York cop Eddie Egan, the film stars Gene Hackman (Bonnie and Clyde, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven) in a career-defining performance as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle, whose unorthodox methods of crime-fighting are anything but diplomatic.

With his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider; Jaws, All That Jazz), Popeye investigates the international shipment of heroin masterminded by the suave Frenchman Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) who eludes Popeye through an escalating series of pursuits. Tough, clever and cool, The French Connection features one of the greatest car chases ever filmed in which Doyle races under New York’s elevated train tracks in a borrowed Sedan; a breathtaking sequence that earned an Oscar® for editing, and which fans can now experience in glorious high-definition detail.

The impressive sequel The French Connection II followed in 1975, this time directed by John Frankenheimer. Set several years after the original, Doyle (Hackman) arrives in Marseilles after receiving orders from his New York captain to assist the French police with their struggle to shut down the drug network in the city. Unable to simply stand back and observe as instructed, Popeye soon finds nothing is as he expected as he grapples with culture shock and heroin withdrawal. Again featuring exceptional High-Def action sequences, The French Connection II saw Hackman nominated for both a BAFTA® and a Golden Globe® for his mesmerising performance.

Don’t miss your chance to bring two all-time classic films into sharp focus this December with this stylish and impressive double-act on Blu-ray.

The French Connection I & II Blu-ray Details:

Release date: 1 December 2008
Run time (FC I): 103 mins
Run time (FC II): 119 mins
CERT: 18
Price (FC I) £19.99
Price (FC I & II): £34.99

Special Features:

The French Connection Disc 1:
• William Friedkin Introduction to The French Connection
• Audio Commentary by William Friedkin
• Audio Commentary by Gene Hackman and Roy Schieder
• Trivia Track
• Isolated Score Track
• Theatrical Trailer
• French Connection II BD Trailer

The French Connection Disc 2:
• 9 Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by William Friedkin (12 mins 50 secs)
• William Friedkin Discusses the Deleted Scenes
• Devereaux At Work – Additional Deleted Scenes
• Anatomy of a Chase (20 mins 36 secs)
• Hackman on Doyle (12 mins 14 secs)
• Friedman and Grosso remember the real French Connection (19 mins 34 secs)
• Scene of the Crime (6 mins 19 mins)
• Colour Timing The French Connection (13 mins 21 secs)
• Cop Jazz: The Music of Don Ellis (10 mins 11 secs)
• Rouge Cop: The Noir Connection (13 mins 56 secs)
• BBC Documentary: The Poughkeepsie Shuffle (53 mins)
• Making the Connection: The Untold Stories of The French Connection (60 mins)

The French Connection II:
• Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer
• Audio Commentary by Gene Hackman and Producer Robert Rosen
• Isolated Score Track
• A Conversation with Gene Hackman (15 mins)
• Frankenheimer: In Focus (25 mins)
• Theatrical Trailer
• Stills Galleries