In 1961, Shirley Clarke finished directing her first feature film and debuted The Connection at the Cannes Film Festival to much acclaim.
Previously, Clarke had begun her creative career as a dancer before moving on to direct many well-respected short experimental films, such as 1958’s Bridges-Go-Round. Clarke had always aimed her sights high with her career and, despite the improbability of a woman directing an independent feature film in the early 1960s, she accomplished just that.
The Connection was originally a play written by Jack Gelber and performed by New York City’s Living Theatre in 1959. The plot revolves around a group of junkies waiting around one afternoon for their drug dealer to arrive.
Clarke had seen and loved the play, but it was her brother-in-law — theater critic Kenneth Tynan — who convinced her to make a film of it. Money was raised through Lewis Allen, a theater investor who wanted to move into producing films.
Previously, Clarke had begun her creative career as a dancer before moving on to direct many well-respected short experimental films, such as 1958’s Bridges-Go-Round. Clarke had always aimed her sights high with her career and, despite the improbability of a woman directing an independent feature film in the early 1960s, she accomplished just that.
The Connection was originally a play written by Jack Gelber and performed by New York City’s Living Theatre in 1959. The plot revolves around a group of junkies waiting around one afternoon for their drug dealer to arrive.
Clarke had seen and loved the play, but it was her brother-in-law — theater critic Kenneth Tynan — who convinced her to make a film of it. Money was raised through Lewis Allen, a theater investor who wanted to move into producing films.
- 9/9/2018
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Similar News
This Second Is Eternal: Shiguéhiko Hasumi on “Directed by Yasujiro Ozu”
- 4/16/2024
- MUBI
The Best Films That Didn’t Receive a Single Sight & Sound Vote
- 4/8/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
France’s Urban Distribution shuts down as company founder cites “fears for independent cinema”
- 4/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
John Sinclair, Poet, MC5 Manager, and Activist, Dead at 82
- 4/2/2024
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
John Lennon Said The Beatles’ ‘I Am the Walrus’ Was for ‘Elo Freaks’
- 3/20/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Maggie Rogers, Joan Baez, Maya Hawke Perform at Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall: Photos + Video
- 2/27/2024
- by Ben Kaye
- Consequence - Music
Rushes | Sundance CEO Out, “Oppenheimer” in Japan, Louis Gossett Jr.
- 4/3/2024
- MUBI
‘All Shall Be Well’ Review: A Found Family is Lost in a Tender But Tentative, Queer-Themed Grief Drama
- 2/25/2024
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Review: Fritz Lang’s Scarlet Street on Kl Studio Classics 4K Uhd Blu-ray
- 2/6/2024
- by Jaime N. Christley
- Slant Magazine
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to Star on Broadway in ‘Romeo and Juliet’
- 4/16/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Selena Quintanilla Deserves to Be Celebrated This Year - Not Exploited
- 4/16/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Bad Bunny's First NYC Show From His Most Wanted Tour Is Proof His Latine Fans Still Come First
- 4/12/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" Tour Made Me Feel Like a Teen Again
- 4/8/2024
- by Yerin Kim
- Popsugar.com
Jennifer Lopez's Viral "the Bronx" Controversy Proves Younger Latines Don't Find Her Authentic
- 4/3/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Taylor Swift Ends ‘Tortured Poets Department’ with ‘Clara Bow’ — Who Was She?
- 4/18/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
‘The Plot Thickens’ TCM Podcast Unveils ‘Decoding John Ford’ Season
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Is No Longer Making ‘The Movie Critic’ as His 10th Film
- 4/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Box Office: Dracula’s Daughter ‘Abigail’ Tries to Take a Bite Out of ‘Civil War’ With $12 Million Debut
- 4/17/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘Oldboy’ English-Language TV Series in the Works From Park Chan-wook, Lionsgate
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire Television
Ryan Gosling / Chris Stapleton SNL By The Numbers – S49 E17
- 4/18/2024
- by Saturday Night Network
- LateNighter
Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Alanah Bloor Join Turkish Star Can Yaman in ‘Sandokan’ TV Series Reboot as Production Starts (Exclusive)
- 4/18/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - TV News