In the film, The French Connection, Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider are police officers on the hunt for Corsican drug kingpin Paul Carbone. Their raid shatters the gang's supply chain of illegal heroin labs, and marks a turning point in the fight against drugs. The movie was based on true events, and the film's tense pacing and Jerry Goldsmith's score have made it one of the most popular action films ever. It is also one of the best examples of 70s police-action directing, and it is known for some of the most thrilling scenes ever put to film, like the scene where Detective Dixon, on motorcycle, outwits Carbone's henchmen in a subway station.
The story behind the film is fascinating, and it's worth reading up on it if you want to know more about how the film was made. The real-life case started in 1967, when a Guatemalan ambassador, Mauricio Rosal, was caught smuggling morphine base from Lebanon to Marseille. This was used to make heroin, which was then shipped to New York. The film is based on the real-life raid that shattered this trafficking ring, and it's an exciting, fast-paced drama with an unforgettable soundtrack.
After the success of the film, the clothing The french connection keep in touch brand French Connection became a Seventies fashion sensation, selling sleek tailoring and Breton stripe tops. The label expanded into toiletries and watches, and a range of fashion accessories, including bags and shoes. The company went public in 1983, and its owner Stephen Marks was one of the UK's richest men, with a share price of 123p.
But things started to go wrong, and by 1992, sales were flagging. It's not unusual for fashion brands to experience a fall from grace, and as the market moved away from logo-slapping slogans towards simpler styles, French Connection was left in the wake. Today, the company has fewer than 30 stores in the UK, and it is currently closing 14 of them.
This isn't the first time that the company has had to shut down stores to save money. In 2010, it sold the loss-making Nicole Farhi label, and in 2011, it closed its US and Japanese stores. But the company seems to be making a comeback, with its recently relaunched homeware collection and plans for expansion in China and India.
It's not yet clear whether the company will revive its fading fortunes, but it might have to learn the hard way that FCUK is a bad name for a fashion label. The trouble with trading clothes based on a single slogan is that the trend will always move on - and shoppers who can be amused by catchphrases are unlikely to remain loyal.
The company might be out of the headlines, but the brand's name remains in the dictionary, and it could resurrect its reputation with some clever marketing. Perhaps a line of FCUK perfumes or aftershave might be just the thing to revive its sales?
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