A little while ago we told you about 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s plans to release William Friedkin’s The French Connection and its sequel French Connection II on Blu-Ray Disc and today we finally got the details for the release in.

In The French Connection New York City detectives “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) hope to break a narcotics smuggling ring and ultimately uncover “The French Connection.”  But when one of the criminals tries to kill Doyle, he begins a deadly pursuit that takes him far outside the city limits.  Based on a true story, this action-filled thriller won five Academy Awards® in 1971, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin) and Best Actor for Hackman.

The release will offer a 1080p transfer of the movie, complete with a newly remastered DTS 5.1 HD Master Audio track. Arriving as a 2-disc set the release will contain a large number of bonus features – all of them in high definition! – including a brand new Introduction to the movie by the director and two Commentary Tracks, one by director William Friedkin, and a separate commentary track with actors Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider.

An all-new Trivia Track will also be included as well as the movie’s Isolated Score in 5.1 surround format. the D-Box Motion Control and the movie’s Theatrical Trailer will round out the first disc.

On the second disc you will find William Friedkin Discusses Deleted Scenes in which the director examines with you 8 scenes that have been excised from the movie. A large number of Featurettes will also be found here covering aspects such as “Anatomy of a Chase,” “Gene Hackman and Popeye Doyle,” the film’s look, it’s music and many other aspects of the production. All in all there will be seven brand new featurettes to be found. But the release doesn’t stop there. The BBC Documentary The Poughkeepsie Shuffle will also be part of the release as well as Making the Connection the movie’s original making-of documentary.

While “The French Connection” was only the beginning… French Connection II is the climax!  Directed by cinematic visionary John Frankenheimer, the action moves overseas to Marseilles where “Popeye” Doyle is tracking the one drug trafficker that eluded him in New York.  After being held captive and tortured by the man he pursues, he enlists the help of the French police and the pulse-pounding chase is on once again.

Also presented in 1080p high definition with a newly remastered DTS 5.1 HD Master Audio track, the release will offer up a Commentary Track by Director John Frankenheimer, as well as the movie’s isolated score in 5.1 surround format. Further, two brand-new Featurettes called “Frankenheimer in Focus,” and “A Conversation with Gene Hackman” are included – also in high definition – as well as a Still Gallery and D-Box Motion Control.

“The French Connection” and “French Connection II” will make their Blu-Ray debut on February 24 and can be your for $34.99 each.