I was watching the iconic 1971 movie starring Gene Hackman as NY Detective “Popeye” Doyle and all of a sudden the bad guy played by Fernando Rey is casting a spinning reel into the ocean off his French balcony. This is best photo I could capture from my tv:
The reel in The French Connection (1971)
The reel in The French Connection (1971)
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
Looks Mitchell-ish. Shameless plug for a French reel?
J.
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
Mitchell with forked foot mounted on Conolon rod???
Paul Manuel
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Member since 2006
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
My 1st impression was Mitchell. 508 maybe?
- Midway Tommy D
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
It's a Mitchell but not a 500 series. If it was a it would be a 510 because of the torpedo knob, but the 500 series' leg comes out of the rear center of the body & angles back quite a bit before it goes straight up quickly to the rod split. The reel in the movie's leg comes up & forward before it bends up to the foot. Plus that rod isn't anything that was built stock for a 500 series. The fore & aft grips are way too long. I'm thinking it's either a 306, 406 or 410.
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
You're correct. Not 500 series. Angle is wrong. I should have looked at the one sitting right here. Just found it local. complete with the rod that matches a forked foot. The way Fernando is holding the rod it's lucky he didn't throw it in the water.
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Re: The reel in The French Connection (1971)
I'm thinking 410. If it were a 306/406, I would expect the rotor to be almost the width of his right hand.
J.
J.