On this day in movie history - The French Connection (1971):

The French Connection

directed by William Friedkin,

written by Ernest Tidyman,

based on the book by Robin Moore,

was released in the United States on October 9, 1971.
Music by Don Ellis.

Cast:

Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi, Frédéric de Pasquale, Bill Hickman, Ann Rebbot, Harold Gary, Arlene Farber, Eddie Egan, André Ernotte, Sonny Grosso, Benny Marino, Patrick McDermott, Alan Weeks, Al Fann, Irving Abrahams, Randy Jurgensen, William Coke, The Three Degrees, Frank Adonis, Gilda Albertoni, Robert Dahdah, Frank Durk, Rhina Ferrari, Sarina C. Grant, Joe Lo Grippo, Melonie Haller, Eric Jones, Gladys Lane, Jean Luisi, Doris McCarthy, Charles McGregor, Lora Mitchell, Maureen Mooney, Santos Morales, Silvano Nolemi, Burt Richards, Willy Switkes, Fat Thomas, Robert Weil.

On this day in movie history - French Connection II (1975):

French Connection II,

directed by John Frankenheimer,

written by Alexander Jacobs, Robert Dillon, Laurie Dillon and Pete Hamill,

based on the story by Robert Dillon and Laurie Dillon,

was released in the United States on May 18, 1975.
Music by Don Ellis.

Cast:
Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Philippe Léotard, Ed Lauter, Charles Millot, Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Cathleen Nesbitt, Samantha Llorens, André Penvern, Reine Prat, Raoul Delfosse, Ham Chau Luong, Jacques Dynam, Malek Kateb, Pierre Collet, Alexandre Fabre, Jean-Pierre Zola, Manu Pluton, Daniel Vérité, Jean-Marc Allègre, Roland Blanche, Patrick Bouchitey, Philippe Brizard, Marie-Christine Descouard, Paul Mercey, Hal Needham, Ambroise Perrin.