the french connection

Did Disney Censor ‘The French Connection’ Across All Streaming Networks?

A few years ago in 2019, Disney acquired Fox, thereby gaining ownership of a vast catalog of movies that catered to adult audiences. This presented Disney with a unique challenge as they navigated the content to be featured on their platforms, which typically focused on family-oriented films.

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Streaming

The censorship of art is never okay. 

A few years ago in 2019, Disney acquired Fox, thereby gaining ownership of a vast catalog of movies that catered to adult audiences. This presented Disney with a unique challenge as they navigated the content to be featured on their platforms, which typically focused on family-oriented films.

In the era following the decline of physical media, various companies have been actively involved in altering aspects of films and TV shows, but Disney has been particularly proactive. They initially edited out a scene in Splash, only to later reinstate it, and now they have made changes to The French Connection.

While we can assume that Disney has made alterations to the film, given their ownership, what we do know is that a 52-second segment featuring dialogue from Gene Hackman’s character, Popeye Doyle, was removed. The reason behind this edit was the presence of a highly offensive racial slur.

Before delving further into this matter, it is important to address the fact that Disney has excised a scene that contained a deeply offensive racial slur. However, this scene depicted racist behavior by the police, which is an integral aspect reflecting the realities of the world portrayed in the film. It also contributes to the complex moral landscape inhabited by the film’s lead character, Popeye Doyle, who, despite being flawed, manages to accomplish his goals within this morally intricate narrative.

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The scene in question is a candid portrayal of a world that is far from ideal. It presents a somber, cynical, and unpleasant atmosphere.

The revelation of this censorship occurred during a recent screening of the film when an audience member noticed the alteration. Furthermore, viewers observed that the change was also present in the streaming version of the movie available on the Criterion Channel.

As of now, Disney has not provided any comment regarding whether they consulted with director William Friedkin regarding this modification. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether the Criterion brand was aware of this change when they included the movie in their streaming service.

This situation raises concerns about a potential slippery slope of censorship, which worries me regarding the extent to which studios may sanitize older works. It seems like a dangerous precedent could be established, prioritizing audience comfort over the exploration of adult themes and the depiction of realities portrayed in these movies.


We have witnessed networks like TCM and even Max implementing trigger warnings and content warnings with explanatory messages before airing movies, acknowledging that they were created in a different era with different values.

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However, I find the idea of altering a character’s essence to be a significant and deeply concerning matter because it denies the essence of the movie’s story. It fundamentally undermines a crucial aspect of the character that the audience is meant to assess. We are supposed to perceive this character as a violent racist whom we dislike but still watch. Director William Friedkin once remarked, “I don’t celebrate that behavior, but I’m fascinated by it,” highlighting the complex nature of the character.

Movies of this nature, with their intricate themes, should be left intact for us to study. We should be able to watch them, hoping that the world has progressed, and then confront the aspects that have not changed. By removing the unsightly parts, we are being disingenuous to the raw experience that should prompt us to morally evaluate the individuals portrayed in the film. Unintentionally, it transforms these flawed characters into heroes, whereas they should be examined alongside the villains within the story.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter in the comments section.

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