How The French Connection Became…The French Connection: Guest Post by Andrew McAleer

Years ago while having lunch with Robin Moore, Edgar Award finalist and author of the New York Times number 1 best seller, The French Connection (1969), I mentioned how the book’s “foreign” title has been immortalized as part of the American lexicon. After all, among other entities, there was a “Fence” Connection, French Connection Boutique, and even a French Connection cocktail (Equal parts cognac and amaretto over ice). A shrewd businessman, Robin put his popular international platform to work with books like, The Washington Connection, Moscow Connection, and Terminal Connection. 

Robin told me “The French Connection” title almost didn’t make it to the presses. At the time, circa late 1960s, he had contracted with publishers Little, Brown to write three books. While writing Connection he referred to the work-in-progress as “Dope One” (“Dope Two” would go on to become The Fifth Estate). He turned the “Dope One” manuscript into his publisher as The Patsy Fuca Case intending it only as a working title. 

For months Robin tried unsuccessfully to come up with a proper title, yet couldn’t. Then, at the eleventh-hour, while having a drink at the Copley Plaza in Boston with his research assistant, they discussed how “Dope Two” had to have a French connection to “Dope One.” Suddenly, months of wracking his brain for a title came to a crashing halt. Robin rushed over to Little, Brown’s Boston office and asked his editor to nix the The Patsy Fuca Case title in favor of The French Connection.

His editor said it was too late for a title change; they had already started printing Fuca dust jackets. Robin begged to no avail before agreeing to take a lower royalty. Money talks. Little, Brown finally agreed to the change and that’s how The Patsy Fuca Case became The French Connection. The paperback sold a million copies and, after the movie came out (winning five Academy Awards including Best Actor for Gene Hackman), it sold another two million. The book remains in print. 

Robin told me he sometimes wondered whether the movie’s director, legendary Hollywood director William Friedkin, would have even heard of the book if it hit the shelves as The Patsy Fuca Case. Same book. Same meticulous research. Same brilliant prose. Same cool story about the world’s biggest narcotics bust, but not the same title hook. As a result, The French Connection, nearly 60 years after its release, holds its own as one of the most highly regarded true-crime books of all time.

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Mystery Readers Journal fans are probably curious to solve the case of the third book Robin was contracted to write for Little, Brown. An eclectic scholar, Robin wrote the authorized and definitive biography of world famous composer Arthur Fiedler, titled, Fiedler: The Colorful Mr. Pops the Man and His Music. It was no French Connection, but don’t let Fielder’s composer title fool you – Mr. Pops really knew how to live it up and Robin knew how to write it down.

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Andrew McAleer is the author of the Henry von Stray classic British mystery series. The von Stray collection, A Casebook of Crime was released in March 2025 (Level Best Books). Introduction by Edgar winner Art Tayor. Volume Two of A Casebook of Crime is scheduled for release in March 2026. Introduction by Derringer winner Stacy Woodson. Visit Henry & Andy at: www.HenryvonStraymysteries.com