Having enjoyed the 1971 award-showered French Connection, I was happy to discover there was a sequel - set almost immediatly afterwards. The action shifts this time from New York to Marseille.

The gritty realism of the original is entirely recaptured, despite the different city. Hackman in probably his greatest role is obsessive throughout, grouchy, foul-mouthed and vicously cynical, he is nonetheless a very appealing anti-hero. It is rare, but delightful, to discover a sequel that matches the artistic genius of the original.