The Black Connection (1974)

Director: Michael Finn

Starring: Bobby Stevens, Sweet Louie & Sonny Charles

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: These Dudes Got A Plan To Burn The Man!

Plot: Miles Carter runs the crime on the West Side of Las Vegas. Miles lost a half kilo of heroin and owes the local mafia boss $100k! But the boss wants his money, either with delivery of the goods or the life insurance money he'll get from Miles' unfortunate death. Miles is on the run from the mob and from his dangerous way of life.

My Rating: 6

Would I watch it again? Yeah


#3 on Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)

I really expected a (jive) turkey with this one! When I saw that it was produced by Harry H. Novak (producer of such fine films as COUNTRY HOOKER (1970) and MIDNITE PLOWBOY (1971)) I feared the worst. Damn! What a fun little surprise of a movie!

No stereotypes in this movie, nope.

Checkmates Ltd (an R&B band comprised of Stevens, Louie and Charles) are the real stars with their great, groovy soundtrack. The lead singer, Stevens, is also the lead in the picture as Miles Carter and, for the most part, he does a damn fine job of acting. That's not saying that he's a great actor but considering he has no other credits, this guy brings it and steals the show much of the time.


Here's Miles' girl in action!

JOHN: "Baby, you're the best buy in town."

MAGDA: "I'm glad you feel that way 'cause all sales are final."

(referring to her lesbian pimp, Bobbi)
"The trouble with her is she don't know a lady when she sees one...

and I AM a mutha fuckin' lady!"

Fucking classic delivery, too. It's a riot.

Some nifty shots...





I don't know who this actor is but he's terrific as one of the Don's top guys. Oh, and I almost forgot...nice cans, lady!


Sadly, there's a good bit of filler which was needed for the already low budget. We get to spend a few minutes of shots of the tram that takes you from the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico to the mountaintop. Miles is told to meet someone there about a big score and once he's made it his contact tells him a couple of things and then tells him to go back and wait in his hotel room for further instructions!!! That's about ten minutes wasted for no good reason but to pad the film for a bigger running time.

Sis encourages her brother to hire his first whore and laughs at him as he awkwardly fumbles through the phone call.

And then later...a little something for the fellas...


There's some great scenes with these two guys, Gino & Tony...

HEY, KIDS! It's Wayne Newton!!! Danke Schoen, Baby!

They work for the Don and are in charge of taking out Miles and his team. They clearly enjoy their jobs, too, laughing and treating it like kids would a BB gun and tin cans.


Sadly, Gino meets his untimely and hilarious end at the kung fu hands of Fats, a gay hitman for hire.










I certainly didn't expect the well-choreographed fight scene they put on. It was quick and there wasn't much editing. That and gay Fats looked like he really knew his stuff.

Saaaaaay. That's a J&B bottle! Haven't seen one of those in a while!

THE BLACK CONNECTION (aka RUN NIGGER RUN) is definitely a product of the 1970s right down to the bleak ending.

SWEET SPOILERS BADASSSSSSSS SONG...

Miles has done it. He's figured out a way to get the Vegas mob off his back at the same time he's selling his West Side interest and making enough dough to take his girl and get away from this lifestyle for good. Fats doesn't know that the hit is off and pops Miles as he leaves the hotel to start his new life. Even though you see it coming miles away (ahahaha) , it's still effective and it says a lot about the times in more ways than one. It's a shame, really, because Stevens does such a good job and he makes Miles such a likable character.

END OF SPOILERS...YARRRRR!






Great flick. I can dig it. Can you?