Unearthed: Edgar Wright's Heartfelt Letter Reveals William Friedkin's Untold Tales

Summary

Director William Friedkin is honored by Edgar Wright as he shares a heartfelt letter written by the esteemed filmmaker. Friedkin's illustrious career began with the groundbreaking film The French Connection, followed by his iconic direction of The Exorcist.

In 2017, Wright questioned Friedkin about The French Connection's famous car chase. Friedkin attributed the influence of Buster Keaton and acknowledged Bullitt as a source of inspiration.

Although The Exorcist remains Friedkin's most renowned film, The French Connection has left an enduring mark on the crime thriller genre. It has served as a source of inspiration for upcoming directors and has established the benchmark for chase sequences in films.

Edgar Wright has honored the memory of the late William Friedkin, acclaimed director of "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection," by sharing a heartfelt letter written by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker. Friedkin began his career in documentary filmmaking and television, but it was his debut feature film, the 1967 Sonny and Cher movie "Good Times," that first put him on the map. However, it was his groundbreaking crime thriller "The French Connection" in 1971, followed by the iconic horror masterpiece "The Exorcist," that solidified his reputation as a visionary filmmaker. Sadly, Friedkin passed away at the age of 87 in his home on August 7, 2023.

Adding to the outpouring of tributes, Wright joins a long list of filmmakers and celebrities who have acknowledged Friedkin's immense contribution to the world of cinema.

Why The French Connection Is Friedkin’s Most Important Movie, Not The Exorcist

Wright took to Instagram to inquire about Friedkin's experience in directing "the greatest car chase of all time" in the iconic chase scene from The French Connection. In response, Friedkin acknowledged that his sequence was influenced by the car chase in Bullitt, a 1968 film starring Steve McQueen, while also giving credit to silent film star Buster Keaton as a source of inspiration.

Although Friedkin will always be primarily remembered for his iconic 1973 horror film, it is his 1971 venture into the realm of crime thrillers that has had a significant and lasting impact on future generations of writers and directors. Drawing inspiration from Robin Moore's novel of the same title, The French Connection chronicles the efforts of NYPD detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo as they tirelessly pursue an elusive French heroin smuggler.

Renowned for its breathtaking car chase starring Gene Hackman as Detective Doyle, the behind-the-scenes account of Friedkin's approach to the chase sequence is nearly as legendary as the final product itself. From persuading the head of the Transit Authority to allow the use of one of New York City's elevated trains, to challenging his stunt driver to recklessly navigate over 20 blocks in Brooklyn, every moment of Friedkin's nerve-wracking approach is palpable in the final edit. While the director later acknowledged his actions as "foolish", the finished outcome still stands as one of the most exhilarating action sequences in the history of cinema.

Moreover, The French Connection not only set the standard for later chase sequences in films like The Bourne Identity and Baby Driver, but it also established numerous fundamental elements that would become commonplace in virtually every police movie to come. While the widespread cultural impact of Friedkin's The Exorcist cannot be underestimated, it is The French Connection that remains his most influential masterpiece.

Source: Edgar Wright/Instagram