The Controversial Reediting of 52-Year-Old Classic 'The French Connection': What You Need to Know
Controversy arises as a new cut of the classic 52-year-old film, The French Connection, removes a racial slur The film, which won five Oscars, has sparked a debate over censoring old movies
The Criterion Channel has recently started streaming a new version of the classic movie The French Connection, which has stirred up a heated debate about the ethics of altering old films to align with modern standards. The movie, directed by William Friedkin and released in 1971, portrays the story of tough police officer Popeye Doyle, brilliantly portrayed by Gene Hackman. Despite winning multiple Oscars at the time of its release, the film has been criticized in recent years for its characters' use of racial slurs, which is considered problematic by today's standards.
The controversy surrounding The French Connection centers around a particular scene that has been removed from the movie by The Criterion Channel, which is owned by Disney following the 20th Century Fox merger. The scene in question features Hackman's Doyle using a racial slur, and the decision to remove it has sparked a lively debate on social media about how media companies should handle classic movies that they own. According to Hollywood Elsewhere, some people have even reported seeing the edited version of the film during theatrical screenings. However, Disney+ Italy is still showing the original cut of the movie with the scene intact. Screen Rant has reached out to Disney for comment on the issue. Read on for a selection of social media reactions and reports about the censored version of The French Connection appearing in other places.
The French Connection And The Debate Over Censoring Old Movies
When movies like The French Connection are aired on network and basic cable television, censoring is often practiced. However, these edited versions are typically labeled as altered. The recent re-edit of The French Connection that has surfaced on The Criterion Channel lacks any warning label indicating that it is not the original version. This is particularly confusing given that The Criterion Channel is targeted towards hardcore movie fans.
The debate over whether to censor problematic old movies or leave them as they are has intensified in recent years. While content standards have evolved, and certain words that were once acceptable are now considered taboo, revising movies can be controversial. Changing the original content risks distorting the truth of history.
Offering both unedited and re-cut versions of older films can be a viable solution to address this issue, provided that each version is clearly labeled. Additionally, placing disclaimers on older movies that contain sensitive content, as demonstrated in films like Gone With the Wind, is also a sensible approach to addressing concerns. However, abruptly replacing one version of a movie such as The French Connection with a re-edit, without prior notice or clear labeling, could be perceived as misguided or even unethical.
