I didn't realize the movie "The French Connection" came out in 1971...

A somewhat interesting story (for me at least): 

I had the good fortune to have a little 11 acre 'farmette' in rural Virginia, and my next-door neighbor was the guy who the movie "The French Connection", was made about - living right next door to me on his 300 acre farm - which was owned at one point in American history by Meriweather Lewis.  Given that he and Thomas Jefferson were close friends and lived very near to each other, Jefferson asked Lewis to endeavor to make an expedition with William Clark as his Captain and explore the western country, thereby creating the famed expedition of 'Lewis and Clark'.  "The French Connection" movie had Gene Hackman in the starring role and whoever cast the movie did a great job, as Hackman has a strong resemblance with the real guy...

Anyway, without naming his name, I met him while cross-country jogging through the woods as he and his wife approached me on horseback riding in the 'hunt country' next to his property.  Everyone in town knew who he was, so all the townsfolk played stupid - which for me was very easy.  :^)