The French Connection (William Friedkin, 1971)

[brundlefly]

For whatever reason, the version currently streaming on Max includes the offending language.

Having not seen it for so long and having only skimmed the controversy, I'd assumed there was a lot more of that -- plenty of opportunities! -- and that maybe the revision left the single instance and Doyle's actions to speak to his character and removed other instances as egregious. But if that's all there was, it's available there.

[hearthesilence]

Someone on Facebook who attended a screening of a 35mm print of The French Connection at the Library of Congress also learned that Janus and Criterion are sourcing the print for a confirmed 4K release in 2025. He did not ask which month, but it’s 100% coming next year.

[beamish14]

Someone on Facebook who attended a screening of a 35mm print of The French Connection at the Library of Congress also learned that Janus and Criterion are sourcing the print for a confirmed 4K release in 2025. He did not ask which month, but it’s 100% coming next year.

So they’re using it to color grade? I assume the OCN still exists, too. Shame Owen Roizman isn’t around to grade Stop and ensure it’s properly preserved the way it was meant to be seen

[nicolas]

This could then be the first Fox title to emerge from the Disney vaults since the merger without a living director being the catalyst for the release, so either the vault’s slowly opening or Friedkin worked this out before his death and Criterion’s only now getting around doing the restoration. I guess 2025 will be very interesting re. Fox titles.

[domino harvey]

You’re forgetting some titles, unless Henry King is still with us

[yoloswegmaster]

I think Nicolas may have been referring to the new deal with Fox, since we've only seen 2 Fox titles get licensed this year and both are from directors that are still alive. I believe the last time Criterion released a Fox title from a deceased director was back in 2022 and then we didn't see any Fox titles come out in 2023.

Someone on Facebook who attended a screening of a 35mm print of The French Connection at the Library of Congress also learned that Janus and Criterion are sourcing the print for a confirmed 4K release in 2025. He did not ask which month, but it’s 100% coming next year.

So they’re using it to color grade? I assume the OCN still exists, too. Shame Owen Roizman isn’t around to grade Stop and ensure it’s properly preserved the way it was meant to be seen

I would assume the same since it would be bizarre to use a 35mm print as the source for a 4K release. It's a bit amusing how all these 4K releases of Friedkin's films are coming out once he sadly passed, presumably not wanting to deal with his revisionist streak. Speaking of which, was there anything wrong with the previous blu for The French Connection?

[domino harvey]

What “new deal” with Fox?

[yoloswegmaster]

That's just an assumption on my part.

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

I heard from someone last year that this could be coming. They (the person I know) were working on trying to setup screenings but couldn’t get a good time for it.

[Finch]

If there is a new deal with Fox, I hope it includes a BD upgrade of The Steel Helmet.

[nicolas]

You’re forgetting some titles, unless Henry King is still with us

Sure he is. Rumor’s going round that he’s currently at L’immagine Ritrovata in Italy supervising the grades of a couple of his color films.

[dwk]

If there is a new deal with Fox, I hope it includes a BD upgrade of The Steel Helmet.

That one is with Janus Films. But, yes those three in the Samuel Fuller Eclipse set are long overdue for Blu-rays.

[beamish14]

I wish both French Connection films would be released together. It really feels like one extended work, and Hackman is incredible in both. The final 10 minutes of Frankenheimer’s sequel are so unbelievably satisfying

[yoloswegmaster]

MifuneFan on the other forum (God bless him) was able to find a listing for the screening at the LoC on the 7th, which provides some vital information:

This Weekend at the Library of Congress Culpeper Theater!
• Rare Un-Cut / full grain Version of THE FRENCH CONNECTION on 35mm that you cannot see anywhere else!
• Very rare screening of this classic with the original look, un-cut and on 35mm!

It sounds like Criterion are going to use the print as a guide on the color-timing. A bit surprising that any 35mm prints of the uncut version are considered to be rare.

[beamish14]

MifuneFan on the other forum (God bless him) was able to find a listing for the screening at the LoC on the 7th, which provides some vital information:

This Weekend at the Library of Congress Culpeper Theater!
• Rare Un-Cut / full grain Version of THE FRENCH CONNECTION on 35mm that you cannot see anywhere else!
• Very rare screening of this classic with the original look, un-cut and on 35mm!

It sounds like Criterion are going to use the print as a guide on the color-timing. A bit surprising that this is considered to any 35mm prints of the uncut version are considered to be rare.

Yeah, new prints of both films were struck during the 2000s