him to shoot up himself which he does in full view of J.J. However, this final shot proves too much for Leach and Leach overdoses, but Cowboy manages to revive him & Leach continues to have a bad trip. The men who are left wait for their next connection to show up. Meanwhile, Jim turns to J.J. and tells him that the film belongs to him and goes to join the other addicts in waiting. Cast Warren Finnerty as Leach Jerome Raphael as Solly Garry Goodrow as Ernie Jim Anderson as Sam Carl Lee as Cowboy Barbara Winchester as Sister Salvation Henry Proach as Harry Roscoe Lee Browne as J. J. Burden William Redfield as Jim Dunn Freddie Redd as Piano Player Jackie McLean as Sax Player Larry Richie as Drummer Michael Mattos as Bass Player Background Based on the play The Connection by Jack Gelber, the film follows a young filmmaker who attempts to film junkies waiting for their heroin dealer to arrive. Most of the actors from the original stage production reprised their roles for the film: Warren Finnerty as Leach, Carl Lee as Cowboy, Garry Goodrow as Ernie, Jerome Raphel as Solly, Barbara Winchester as Sister Salvation, and Henry Proach as Harry. All the musicians from the original stage production appeared: Freddie Redd (composer, piano), Jackie McLean (alto sax), Michael Mattos (bass), and Larry Ritchie (drums). Non-original cast members James Anderson and William Redfield took the roles of Sam and Jim Dunn. The character of Jaybird was cut from the film, that role essentially shifted to a largely off-screen camera operator, J.J. Burden, voiced by Roscoe Lee Browne. The music played on the onscreen record player is "Marmaduke" by and performed by Charlie Parker (take 4). The film helped to loosen film censorship, as Clarke and producer Lewis Allen had filed suit to be able to show the film in New York. (The film had premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1961.) In that era, in New York, the State's Department of Education had a vote on the State's film licensing board, and they voted to deny a license, mainly on the grounds that the word "shit" was used repeatedly during the film even though it was mostly used to refer to drugs. The case went to the New York State Court of Appeals (the state's highest court). The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of