The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection'

'The French Connection' is a great movie, and in 1971 it was game-changing: had anyone made a thriller this gritty, this exciting before? This documentary, made in 1999 when most of those involved were still around to give interviews, tells the story of its making, and it's a good one: a real criminal investigation, the film's uncertain genesis, the difficult filming, the famous chase scene incredibly filmed live on the streets of New York. Not every film is interesting or significant enough to deserve a "making of" documentary, but this one merits it. And if you haven't seen the finished product, make sure you do.