Film fans fume as 1971 classic The French Connection is censored without warning to remove racial slur

Film fans are fuming after the 1971 classic The French Connection was censored without warning.

William Friedkin’s drama, which can currently be streamed via the US streaming platform Criterion Channel, now has a new edit approximately ten minutes into the film.

The scene involves a conversation between characters ‘Popeye’ Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo (Roy Scheider) when a racial slur is used.

Based on Robin Moore’s 1969 book, the plot centres around the the seizure of 246 pounds of heroin smuggled via car on a French ocean liner.

Disney, who owns the rights to the film following its takeover of Fox in 2019, have been accused of censoring the scene in the US.

Reaction: Film fans are fuming after the 1971 classic The French Connection was censored without warning

Change: William Friedkin’s drama, which can currently be streamed via the US streaming platform Criterion Channel, now has a new edit approximately ten minutes into the film

On Disney+ in the UK and Canada, the film remains unedited.

Fans aren’t happy and one wrote on Twitter: ‘Disney Censor ‘The French Connection’ (1971) In cases such as this, ‘Censor’ takes the place of ‘Vandalise’.

‘They have vandalised a piece of art. This is corporate vandalism no matter how said corporation spins the language.’

Another wrote: ‘The censorship of The French Connection is shameful if true. I really wish both those on the left and the right would see that one cannot be for this and against banning books and vice versa.

‘Most like censorship if it suits their politics not seeing how it can hurt them later.’

A third wrote: ‘Glad I’ve yet to see a single person endorse the censorship of The French Connection.’

Criterion Channel have been contacted for comment.

In 2020, the former NYPD detective whose police work with his partner was used as the plot for the classic film The French Connection, died aged 89.

Viewers: Fans aren’t happy and one wrote on Twitter: ‘Disney Censor ‘The French Connection’ (1971) In cases such as this, ‘Censor’ takes the place of ‘Vandalise’

History: Based on Robin Moore’s 1969 book, the plot centres around the the seizure of 246 pounds of heroin smuggled via car on a French ocean liner

Sonny Grosso and his police work with partner Eddie Egan formed the plot of the 1971 thriller.

His character in the film, Detective Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo, was played by Roy Schieder and Egan’s character, Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle, was played by Gene Hackman.

Mr Grosso consulted on the five-time Oscar-winning film and even played the minor role of federal agent Klein.

His death, which followed a long illness, was confirmed by his former NYPD captain, Ernie Naspretto.

Mr Naspretto told the New York Post: ‘He had a good run.’

After Mr Grosso’s work on The French Connection went well he carried on to become a producer and film consultant in his own right and worked on Kojak, Night Heat and Baretta.

Questionable: The scene involves a conversation between characters ‘Popeye’ Doyle (Gene Hackman) – pictured – and Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo (Roy Scheider) when a racial slur is used

Mr Naspretto also revealed that while Mr Grosso was consulting on The Godfather he lent the actors a prop, his department-issued handgun.

He said: ‘The gun that killed Solazzo and McCluskey in The Godfather, from the toilet, that’s Sonny’s gun.

‘He carried it to the day he died.’

Mr Grosso was known for helping to take down an organised crime ring in 1961 and seizing 112 pounds of heroin – a record at the time and an amount which would have a current street value of roughly $30million.