You’ll Believe A Car Can Fly!
This image is from one of the best car chases ever committed to film – shot in the early 70’s on the real “mean streets” of New York!
There were a number of great films from this era that really captured the look and feel of the times – here Is one action classic!
THE SEVEN UPS. 1973.
You want a muscular crime thriller? Start with Roy Scheider and “The Seven Ups”, a terrific action film with one of the best car chases in New York City history!
Here is the plot of “The Seven Ups”: New York City cops wage a war against assorted hoods and criminals after one of their own is brutally killed by a hoodlum. “Seven-Ups” refers to the minimum jail time each of the crooks will have to spend if they are caught.
They, of course, do NOT want to get caught, which is why you have one of the great “streets of New York” car chases ever!
Produced and directed by Philip D’Antoni, who also produced “The French Connection” and “Bullitt”, two other films with legendary car chases!
“The Seven-Ups” was a story by NYPD detective Sonny Grosso, who star Roy Scheider played in “The French Connection.”
Check Out “The Seven Ups” Trailer!
A great cop film that uses the streets of New York perfectly!
The car chase in “The Seven Ups” so so good that the entire ten-minute sequence can be found on YouTube, and I have that for you but don’t let that stop you from watching the entire film – this is a great police drama all the way through…
The film’s crew included Bill Hickman, who had orchestrated the car chases of both earlier films as stunt coordinator, as well as music by Don Ellis, whose French Connection soundtrack won a Grammy.
Finally, both Scheider and co-star Tony Lo Bianco returned in similar roles to their French Connection originals, playing respectively a rogue cop and scheming low-level mobster.
Terrific character Actor Joe Spinell is here as well, doing what he does best: another tough guy – like when he gets interrogated by the cops.
Toredano the Garage Man: “Look at my hands.” (He shows puffy, gnarled fingers to the Cops) “I’ve been here before, so do what you gotta do. I didn’t talk then, and I won’t talk now.”
Here is the chase scene!
Wow!
This was named one of the 5 best movie car chases of all time in one poll!
Now, put this next film on – also with Roy Scheider – and decide which car chase is the best:
The French Connection!
It was the Academy Award-winning Best Picture of 1971, the true story of “Popeye” Doyle, a NY cop determined to bust a heroin smuggling ring…here is the trailer:
He is, of course, a cop willing to break all the rules in order to get his man – and that includes one of the most amazing car chases ever filmed…beautifully directed by legendary Director William Friedkin, who went on to make “The Exorcist”, “To Live And Die In LA”, “Sorcerer” AND “Killer Joe”!
The Legendary Car Chase!
Thanks to the terrific website IMDB, here are some amazing anecdotes about the filming of the legendary car chase through the streets of New York in “The French Connection.”
The car crash during the chase sequence, at the intersection of Stillwell Ave. and 86th St., was unplanned and was included because of its realism. The man whose car was hit had just left his house a few blocks from the intersection to go to work and was unaware that a car chase was being filmed. The producers paid the bill for the repairs to his car!
Here is some of the chase – hold on!
WOW!
According to IMDB, the car chase was filmed without obtaining the proper permits from the city! Members of the NYPD’s tactical force helped control traffic. But most of the control was achieved by the assistant directors with the help of off-duty NYPD officers, many of whom had been involved in the actual case.
A camera was mounted on the car’s bumper for the shots from the car’s point-of-view. Hackman did some of the driving but the extremely dangerous stunts were performed by Bill Hickman, with Friedkin filming from the backseat.
Friedkin operated the camera himself because the other camera operators were married with children and he was not. The mjaority of the chase was, however, very well choreographed, but it is that realism in the filming that makes the scene itself so heart-pounding!
The film spawned a sequel, as Hackman goes to Marseilles to track down his nemesis…this is also a great film with a dynamite performance by Hackman…
Hackman’s Oscar-winning role included memorable dialogue such as this:
“All right! You put a shiv in my partner. You know what that means? Goddammit! All winter long I got to listen to him gripe about his bowling scores. Now I’m gonna bust your ass for those three bags and I’m gonna nail you for picking your feet in Poughkeepsie!”
Hackman’s shocking death obscured the fact he was one of cinemas greatest Actors…here’s a look at some of his greatest work:
These two films are terrific example of a 70’s film: gritty, a slower pace than modern action audiences are used to, but with terrific casts who excel in parts big and small…here’s another example of a classic 70’s film:
Robert Mitchum is terrific as a lowly member of the Boston Mob…just trying to hang on…click here to see the trailer and more:
One more as a bonus:
Forget the awful remake and book a ticket for this 70’s thriller!
Click here for the trailer and more!
Yes, the veteran Character Actor was known for his comedic roles, but he had a run of great 70’s action as well – here are details:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Action Films, Art, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Movies, New York, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
These are the kind of films my husband likes. I do remember seeing the car chase in ‘Bullitt’ though, but I haven’t seen the others.
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The French Connection!
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ooh, I loooooooved both, but it’s the French Connection for me!
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super fun post! and a while back, Iused to grade papers from home and shows like Rockford Files, Kojak, and Columbo were great to have “on” while working – and John, oh the cars in those shows.
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One thing I love about TV today are all of the “retro” channels that show old shows from decades and decades ago…many older than me, some I grew up on, but who expected to have them there for us today as well? Thanks for the note!
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I agree, right at our fingertips to stream and enjoy.
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I love both films and chase sequences. The one in the Seven Ups always has me peeking through my fingers. Wish the Seven Ups was better known today.
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Great point – while it can be found, it doesn’t show up like “The French Connection” does – a great double bill! Thanks for the comment!
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I saw both films at the cinema, and remember the car chases. I prefer The Seven Ups as a film to The French Connection, but the FC car chase is outstanding. For me, there is nothing to match the car chase scene in ‘Bullitt’. I saw that on release and thought it was amazing, up and down those hilly streets of SF. Another good car chase scene is in ‘Ronin’, along the streets of Paris.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I watched The Seven Ups a few years ago for the first time and I think it’s car chase is as good as any!!
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And it was all done on the real streets with real stunt drivers…no effects at all! I love it – and the film as well…gritty 70’s cop action thriller! Thanks for the note!
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