Maps of Movies

The French Connection (1971)

Where The French Connection says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Marseille harbour lunch, a Santa suit in Brooklyn, and a car racing an elevated train under the tracks of Bensonhurst.

Scenes and places

Frog One's Marseille harbor lunch (1971)

A man shadows Alain Charnier, who runs a heroin-smuggling syndicate. Charnier's hitman Pierre Nicoli murders the shadow, and Charnier sets up a plan to ship US$32 million of heroin to New York inside a friend's car.

Set in A restaurant in Marseille — The Marseille restaurant where smuggling boss Alain Charnier is shown at the start of the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Vallon des Auffes is a small fishing harbour in Marseille.

Filmed at Chez Fon Fon, Rue du Vallon des Auffes, Marseille (Vallon des Auffes, Marseille, France) — Charnier comes out of this restaurant in the opening. Coordinate is the Vallon des Auffes neighbourhood, not the restaurant itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Popeye in a Santa suit (1971)

Detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, dressed as Santa Claus, and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo stake out a bar known for drug trafficking. The tail that begins here leads them to Sal Boca and his wife Angie.

Set in A Brooklyn bar known for drug trafficking — The Brooklyn bar where Popeye, dressed as Santa Claus, and his partner start a chase (called Rio Piedras in the film).

The building is now demolished; the Woodhull hospital stands on the site.

The shuttle escape (1971)

Charnier realizes he is being surveilled, identifies Popeye as a detective, and escapes on a departing subway shuttle. Popeye loses him.

Set in Grand Central Station — Charnier notices he is being watched and gets away on a departing subway shuttle. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Grand Central Terminal is the New York rail hub; the 42nd Street Shuttle runs from its lower level.

Filmed at 42nd Street Shuttle platform, Grand Central Terminal (Midtown Manhattan, New York, United States) — Filmed at the shuttle platform; the coordinate is the terminal. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

A deal in front of the Capitol (1971)

To get away from Popeye, Charnier has Boca meet him in Washington, D.C. Boca asks for a delay to avoid the police, but Charnier wants the deal closed quickly.

Set in In front of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. — Charnier makes Sal Boca come to Washington to meet him away from the police. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The meeting was shot in front of the Capitol building.

Filmed at National Mall, in front of the U.S. Capitol (Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., United States) — Sal and Charnier meet in front of the Capitol. Coordinate is the Capitol building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The sniper in Brooklyn (1971)

Nicoli tries to snipe Popeye in Brooklyn but hits a bystander instead. Popeye gives chase on foot.

Set in Popeye's building in Brooklyn — Nicoli takes a shot at Popeye outside his building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Marlboro Houses is a public housing complex in Gravesend, Brooklyn.

Filmed at Marlboro Houses, Avenues V, W and X, Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn (Brooklyn · Gravesend, New York, United States) — The sniper shooting at Popeye was shot at the Marlboro housing project. Coordinate is the complex centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Car versus elevated train (1971)

Popeye shouts to a policeman on the train to catch Nicoli, commandeers a passing car and gives chase, crashing into several vehicles on the way.

Set in Under the elevated train in Brooklyn — Popeye commandeers a car and races a hijacked elevated train under its tracks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The route runs under the BMT West End Line along Stillwell Avenue, 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue.

Filmed at Bay 50th Street station, BMT West End Line, Brooklyn (Brooklyn · Bensonhurst, New York, United States) — The chase begins at Bay 50th Street station. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at 62nd Street / New Utrecht Avenue station, Brooklyn (Brooklyn · Bensonhurst, New York, United States) — The chase ends just north of this station. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The hand-over on Wards Island (1971)

Charnier drives to an old factory on Wards Island to meet Weinstock and deliver the drugs. A chemist tests one of the bags to confirm its quality.

Set in An old factory on Wards Island — Charnier brings the car to a factory where Sal Boca's brother works. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Wards Island sits in the East River next to the Triborough Bridge.

Filmed at Wards Island, Manhattan (Wards Island, New York, United States) — The final drug deal was shot on Wards Island. Coordinate is the island. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Avenue de l'Amiral Ganteaume, Cassis (Cassis, France) — Charnier's house near Marseille Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at 91 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn (Brooklyn · Bushwick, New York, United States) — Sal and Angie's cafe Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at 177 Mulberry Street, near Broome Street, Manhattan (Little Italy, New York, United States) — Sal leaves a package in Little Italy Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Columbia Heights, Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States) — Sal parks the Lincoln Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Triborough Bridge, East 125th Street, Manhattan (East Harlem, New York, United States) — Sal is tailed over the toll bridge Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle — A hard-driving New York narcotics detective on the trail of a heroin ring.
• Alain Charnier — A Marseille heroin boss planning to smuggle US$32 million of drugs into New York.
• Salvatore "Sal" Boca — A New York mobster tied to a narcotics financier, buying Charnier's shipment.