The Connection (1961): cast, story & where to watch
1961 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1961, The Connection is a drama film directed by Shirley Clarke, running about 110 minutes. “Men Held Captive By the Power Of Drugs” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A title card announces that the film is a result of found footage assembled by cameraman J.J. Burden working for the acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jim Dunn, who has disappeared. Leach, a heroin addict, introduces the audience to his apartment where other heroin addicts, a mix of current and former jazz musicians, are waiting for Cowboy, their drug connection, to appear. Things go out of control as the men grow increasingly nervous and the cameraman keeps recording.
Who’s in it. The Connection stars Warren Finnerty as Leach, Jerome Raphael as Solly, Garry Goodrow as Ernie and Jim Anderson as Sam, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, The Connection has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Connection page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Connection tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Connection (1961)?
- In US, The Connection is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Connection worth watching?
- The Connection holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Connection?
- The Connection stars Warren Finnerty, Jerome Raphael, Garry Goodrow, Jim Anderson and Carl Lee.
- When was The Connection released?
- The Connection was released in 1961, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.