As we bid farewell to the incredibly talented Gene Hackman, Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at some of my personal favorites from his lead performances in 1970s films, both well-known and obscure.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
Role: Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle
Comment: I know, this is an obvious choice, but what can I say? Hackman was brilliant as this police detective based on the real-life Eddie Egan. Yes, I know the film heavily distorted the events of this true crime story but Gene was masterful in the role.
Without the benefit of screen idol looks Hackman carried this movie on sheer screen presence as the unorthodox, horny but dogged cop investigating a drug smuggling ring. Many films would try to recapture the grittiness of The French Connection and the charisma of Hackman’s Doyle but few succeeded. Continue reading
PRIME CUT (1972) – Directed by Michael Ritchie. Prime Cut was released less than 4 months after The Godfather but it’s difficult to think of two more different gangster films. And I say that as a good thing. Prime Cut is not trying for the epic, operatic scope of The Godfather, it’s just a fairly solid street-level gangster flick with a few admittedly silly action sequences. 
The Windy City mob sent a tough-guy “negotiator” to try leaning on the Kansas rebel only to have that Jayhawk State gangster take things to the next level by having the tough-guy killed, then literally ground into hot dog meat. Adding insult to injury the Kansas boss sent the hot dogs/ bodily remains of the negotiator back to Chicago in the package they were supposed to use to send their tribute money.
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