A milestone film from 1971 and winner of five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, 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 as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, whose unorthodox methods of crime fighting are anything but diplomatic. With his partner (Roy Scheider), Popeye investigates the international shipment of heroin masterminded by the suave Frenchman (Fernando Rey) who eludes Popeye throughout an escalating series of pursuits. The obsessive tension of Doyle's investigation reaches peak intensity during the film's breathtaking car chase, in which Doyle races under New York's elevated train tracks in a borrowed sedan--a sequence that earned an Oscar for editing and was instantly hailed as one of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed. Produced on location, The French Connection had an immediate influence on dozens of movies and TV shows to follow, virtually redefining the crime thriller with its combination of brutal realism and high-octane craftsmanship. Boosted by the film's phenomenal success, director William Friedkin gained even more attention with his follow-up film, The Exorcist. --Jeff Shannon
Exiled from their home nations, four strangers from separate corners of the earth agree to undertake a dangerous mission to transport unstable dynamite through the dense jungle of South America in order to earn their passage home. When the slightest bump in the road could equal instant death, the real question is not whether these men will survive this nerve-shredding ordeal but who will they have become if they return at all? After the success of The French Connection and The Exorcist, William Friedkin began work on his biggest project to date. Seizing the moment, he embarked on an ambitious and lengthy shoot in the dense jungles of the Dominican Republic and like Werner Herzog with Fitzcoraldo and Francis Ford Coppola on Apocalypse Now, Friedkin battled the elements, came face-to-face with nature and emerged victorious. Now, 40 years since its release, Sorcerer is regarded by critics and ï¬lmmakers alike as a true lost cinematic masterpiece a feat of ï¬lmmaking that encapsulates the revolutionary artistry of 1970s American cinema that is a triumph to behold Special Features: Sorcerers A Conversation with William Friedkin and Nicolas Winding Refn (74 mins) The Mystery of Fate A letter from director William Friedkin Newly commissioned artwork to celebrate the 40th Anniversary Reversible sleeve containing the newly commissioned and original theatrical artwork
The belief in evil - and that evil can be cast out. From these two strands of faith, author William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin wove The Exorcist, the frightening and realistic story of an innocent girl inhabited by a malevolent entity
Two narcotics detectives Popeye Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo (Gene Hackman Roy Scheider) start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story this action-filled thriller with its renowned chase scene won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.
Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of The French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make The Exorcist as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial best-seller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made, The Exorcist was mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. --Jeff Shannon
Academy Award-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) directs Al Pacino as an undercover cop pitched into New York's seedy underbelly in Cruising available for the first time on Blu-ray in a brand new director-approved transfer. The Big Apple is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who is preying on the patrons of the city's underground gay bars. Captain Edelson (Paul Sorvino) tasks young rookie Steve Burns (Pacino) with infiltrating the S&M subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows but as he immerses himself deeper and deeper into the lurid underworld, Steve risks losing his own identity in the process. Based on reporter Gerald Walker's novel of the same name, Cruising was the subject of great controversy at the time of its release and remains a challenging and remarkable movie to this day, with Pacino's haunted lead performance as its magnetic centrepiece. Limited Edition Contents: Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio supervised by William Friedkin Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new audio commentary by authors Mark Kermode, Alan Jones and Gary Needham Archival audio commentary by William Friedkin The History of Cruising archival featurette looking at the film's origins and production Exorcising Cruising archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy Original Theatrical Trailer
Directed by William Friedkin this cult classic stars William Petersen as Chance the risk-seeking maverick Secret Service agent and Willem Dafoe as the slick and stylish yet truly psychopathic Rick Masters. Chance's partner Jack who is near to retirement is close to completing a case against Rick Masters a ruthless ex-con and expert counterfeiter who has been selling millions worth of almost undetectable fake currency to support his weird fetishes. Unfortunately Jack gets a l
A FEDERAL AGENT IS DEAD. A KILLER IS LOOSE. AND THE CITY OF ANGELS IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. In the seventies William Friedkin made The French Connection, The Exorcist and Sorcerer. In the eighties he equalled them with To Live and Die in L.A., one of the most stylish thrillers the decade had to offer. When his partner is murdered just days before retirement, Secret Service Agent Richard Chance (William Petersen, Manhunter) begins an obsessive hunt for his killer counterfeiter and all-round psychopath Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe at his villainous prime. Beautifully shot by Robby Muller (Repo Man, Paris, Texas) and with a driving score with British new wave act Wang Chung, To Live and Die in L.A. looks and sounds exceptional in this brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative supervised and approved by director William Friedkin High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations Original Uncompressed Mono PCM audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Audio commentary by director and co-writer William Friedkin Counterfeit World: The Making of To Live and Die in L.A. archive featurette containing interviews with Friedkin, actors William Petersen and Willem Dafoe, and others Alternative ending Deleted scene Stills gallery Trailers MORE SPECIAL FEATURES TO BE ANNOUNCED! Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anne Billson
The robbery nobody thought could happen by the guys nobody thought could pull it off.Peter Falk heads a charismatic cast in this stylish and witty account of the Great Brink's Robbery of 1950 one of the twentieth century's most skilful heists. Helmed by William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director of The French Connection and The Exorcist, this Oscar-nominated film is made available here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements, in its original theatrical aspect ratio.Hoping to break a run of back luck, small-time crook Tony Pino and his gang target a Brink's armoured car and walk away with small fortune. When the raid goes unreported, Tony reconnoitres the firm's supposedly impregnable Boston headquarters and finds the level of security is risibly lax. He begins to plan something a little more impressive...SPECIAL FEATURES: Original Theatrical Trailer Image Gallery
Travel into the fifth dimension once again with the Twilight Zone, testing the limits of reality and exploring the mysteries of the universe. Airing from 1985 to 1989, this critically acclaimed anthology series carried on the legacy of the original Rod Serling programme and attracted a brand-new audience of fans Casts featured such stars as Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Martin Landau, Joe Mantegna and Fred Savage. Episode Directors include Wes Craven, William Friedkin, Joe Dant...
Rules of Engagement opens strongly with a Vietnam battle sequence that sets the stage for the rest of the story. But then director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about staging harrowing action sequences, and if you don't believe that, you've never seen The French Connectionor To Live and Die in LA. Unfortunately, Friedkin can't do much about the implausible plot that follows, in which the Marine commander, played by the always-terrific Samuel L Jackson, is accused of slaughtering innocent civilians (who actually were shooting at him and his men). He must rely on an old Marine buddy--a lawyer played by Tommy Lee Jones--to get him through the jury-rigged court martial. But the central premise--that an evil presidential aide would perjure himself and destroy evidence simply to maintain good relations with US allies in the Middle East, rather than defending a highly decorated Marine colonel who risked his life--is inevitably hard to swallow. And the ending is even flimsier. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
When drug dealer Chris (Emile Hirsch) has his stash stolen by his mother, he plans to dispatch of her and cash in on her $50,000 life insurance to repay his debts. He hires Detective Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a dirty cop who moonlights as a contract killer, who sets his sight on Chris' innocent sister Dottie (Juno Temple) as collateral for the job. But the agreement turns complicated when Dottie forms a bond with Killer Joe and everything begins to unravel. Killer Joe is a controversial and shocking black comedy thriller from director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection).
An FBI deep-woods tracker captures a trained assassin who has made a sport of hunting humans.
A group of thirty-something gay men gather to celebrate a birthday, but before long, tensions rise, secrets emerge and the insults begin to fly. Director William Friedkin reassembled the original cast for his film adaption of the ground-breaking Broadway hit. Playwright Mart Crowley adapted his own play, creating a script full of acerbic speeches and cutting one liners for his cast of unforgettable characters. Released 50 years after its Broadway debut a year before the Stonewall riots - The Boys in the Band still has the power to shock. SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: Audio Commentary with Director William Friedkin and Writer Mart Crowley Act 1: The Play' Act 2: The Film' Act 3: 40 Years of Boys in The Band' More TBC
A milestone film from 1971 and winner of five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, 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 as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, whose unorthodox methods of crime fighting are anything but diplomatic. With his partner (Roy Scheider), Popeye investigates the international shipment of heroin masterminded by the suave Frenchman (Fernando Rey) who eludes Popeye throughout an escalating series of pursuits. The obsessive tension of Doyle's investigation reaches peak intensity during the film's breathtaking car chase, in which Doyle races under New York's elevated train tracks in a borrowed sedan--a sequence that earned an Oscar for editing and was instantly hailed as one of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed. Produced on location, The French Connection had an immediate influence on dozens of movies and TV shows to follow, virtually redefining the crime thriller with its combination of brutal realism and high-octane craftsmanship. Boosted by the film's phenomenal success, director William Friedkin gained even more attention with his follow-up film, The Exorcist. --Jeff Shannon
Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of The French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make The Exorcist as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial best-seller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made, The Exorcist was mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. --Jeff Shannon
An unhinged war veteran holes up with a lonely woman in a spooky Oklahoma motel room. The line between reality and delusion is blurred as they discover a bug infestation.
In a prequel to legendary horror "The Exorcist," priest Lancaster Merrin encounters unspeakable evil in the deserts of East Africa.
Harold Pinter's first full-length stage play, The Birthday Party, was 10 years old when William (The Exorcist) Friedkin directed it for the cinema in 1968. In some ways, it was already a period-piece by then, Pinter's use of a combination of silence and excruciatingly banal dialogue to generate precipitous dramatic tension having been absorbed by contemporary theatrical mythology long since. Are the sinister McCann and Goldberg real? Or do they exist only in Stan's head? At the end, we're none the wiser. But Friedkin's claustrophobic direction, with the tormented Stan as its focus, has taken us through a master study in understated horror. The handheld camera, so fashionable in modern television drama, has rarely been used to such hypnotic effect. As Stan, Robert Shaw is mesmerising in his descent to animal-like submission. Sydney Tafler's Goldberg and Patrick Magee 's McCann make a truly terrifying double act. Cult television fans will appreciate an early appearance by Helen Fraser (these days best known as a sadistic prison warder in Bad Girls) as the easily seduced neighbour. Now that Friedkin's film is itself over 30 years old, the scent of mothballs ought to be even more pronounced. Its decrepit seaside boarding house setting and the drabness of the peripheral players are redolent of the distinctly non-swinging side of the 1960s in which it was made. But more than anything, The Birthday Party is about unspecified terror and the sort of inner demons that lurk in all of us. On the DVD: Excellent sound quality helps to make this a compellingly theatrical experience: never has the noise of tearing newspaper been more menacing. And the picture quality retains the grainy authenticity of the original print. Special features include brief backgrounders on the history of the play and Friedkin's career, and a slide show of still s from key scenes. --Piers Ford
A special set featuring two of the 1970s' most exciting action pictures 'The French Connection' and 'French Connection II'. French Connection: Two narcotics detectives Popeye Doyle (Hackman) and his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story this action-filled thriller with its renowned chase scene won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman. French Connection II: Doyle casts his net further and wider in his pursuit of the drug smuggling ring and his ruthless dedication puts him in mortal danger when he tracks down the criminal kingpin to the French port of Marseille...
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