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The French Connection (1971)
What is it? A pair of New York narcotics cops (Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider) stumble upon a massive heroin ring with a French connection, and pit their wits against the criminal Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey).
Why did it win? It's an ace film, and we're guessing that Academy voters were still revving their engines to the car race. In contrast, the other nominees seemed positively stuck in third gear: A Clockwork Orange was a bit too edgy, Fiddler on the Roof a bit too old-school, The Last Picture Show a bit too fresh (with wunderkind director Peter Bogdanovich behind it) and Nicholas and Alexandra a bit too Ruskie.
Did it deserve to win? Yes, this is a respectable win - but it was a hell of a year. Also nominated were A Clockwork Orange and The Last Picture Show; not quite making the cut were Dirty Harry, Get Carter, Harold and Maude, Straw Dogs, McCabe and Mrs Miller, Play Misty For Me, Klute and Sunday Bloody Sunday. Take that, 1970!
Worth a look? Totally. Check out the rest of the "deserved win" paragraph as well though.
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