Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced The French Connection and French Connection II are coming to Blu-ray Disc simultaneously on February 24.
Previously multiple retailers had reported The French Connection would arrive earlier on January 20. With both films now on the same date, which makes more sense anyways, the inevitable Amazon.com bundle can’t be far off with Fox not offering an official one to all retailers.
Both French Connection films will be presented in newly mastered widescreen 1.85:1 1080p transfers with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, isolated 5.1 audio soundtracks and D-BOX Motion Code.
The French Connection will be spread across two discs and feature a number of new extra features, all presented in high definition. Additional extras ported from previous DVD releases will remain in 480i/p resolution. The break out of both discs is as follows.
- Disc One
- NEW HD – William Friedkin Introduction to The French Connection
- Commentary by William Friedkin
- Commentary by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider
- NEW Trivia Track
- NEW Isolated 5.1 Score Track
- Theatrical Trailer
- NEW D-Box Motion Control
- NEW HD – William Friedkin Discusses Deleted Scenes
- Tailing the Frog
- The Whip Girl
- Devereaux at Work
- Mutchie’s Bar
- Mutchie’s Bar Part 2
- Girl on a Bicycle
- Street Walker
- Hector
- NEW HD Featurette: Anatomy of a Chase
- NEW HD Featurette: Gene Hackman on Popeye Doyle
- NEW HD Featurette: Friedkin and Grosso Remember the Real French Connection
- NEW HD Featurette: Scene of the Crime
- NEW HD Featurette: Color Timing The French Connection
- NEW HD Featurette: Cop Jazz-The Music of Don Ellis
- NEW HD Featurette: Rogue Cop-The Noir Connection
- BBC Documentary: The Poughkeepsie Shuffle
- Making the Connection: The Untold Stories of The French Connection
Disc Two
French Connection II will be housed on a single disc with far fewer extras. Aside from an audio commentary, everything on this release is new and presented in high definition.
- Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer
- NEW HD Featurette: Frankenheimer in Focus
- NEW HD Featurette: A Conversation with Gene Hackman
- NEW D-Box Motion Control
- NEW HD Stills Gallery
- NEW Isolated 5.1 Score Track
The French Connection and French Connection II on Blu-ray will retail for $34.99. We’re already working on providing high resolution cover art for both titles.
Click here to pre-order The French Connection on Blu-ray for $26.49 from Amazon.com.
Click here to pre-order French Connection II on Blu-ray for $26.49 from Amazon.com.
Are you interested in either or both French Connection films on Blu-ray? Waiting for an Amazon.com bundle to appear? You can cast your vote now on this topic in the HDR Forums. Registration is not required, but always encouraged to help us build a strong community.
