French Connection

William Friedkin's 1971 film The French connection is a masterpiece of cinematography. Several scenes can demonstrate a clever yet subtle use of camera angles, sound, and editing. Unique to The French Connection is the deft use of diegetic street noises in place of pit music, conveying the stark realism that characterizes Friedkin's production. The scene with the sniper atop an apartment building is a prime example of how cinematography works in The French Connection. In this scene, Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) casually strolls through a residential neighborhood in New York City. He is about to be targeted by a sniper who waits for him atop a residential apartment building. Instead of using music to impart a sense of suspense, the director instead relies only on the ordinary sounds of life: muted traffic noise, the sound of footsteps on pavement, and the cries of little children. Hackman is framed...
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