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Shaft (1971)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
2 July 1971 (USA)
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Tagline:
The mob wanted Harlem back. They got shaft...up to here. more
Plot:
Cool black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 4 wins
&
4 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Hayes Welcomes Fourth Child
(From WENN. 18 May 2006)
Pioneer Black Director Gordon Parks Dead at 93
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 8 March 2006)
(From WENN. 18 May 2006)
Pioneer Black Director Gordon Parks Dead at 93
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 8 March 2006)
User Comments:
Compared to the rest of the genre this is an exceptional film
more (62 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Richard Roundtree | ... | John Shaft |
 | Moses Gunn | ... | Bumpy Jonas |
| Charles Cioffi | ... | Vic Androzzi |
| Christopher St. John | ... | Ben Buford |
| Gwenn Mitchell | ... | Ellie Moore |
| Lawrence Pressman | ... | Sergeant Tom Hannon |
| Victor Arnold | ... | Charlie |
| Sherri Brewer | ... | Marcy |
| Rex Robbins | ... | Rollie |
| Camille Yarbrough | ... | Dina Greene |
| Margaret Warncke | ... | Linda |
| Joseph Leon | ... | Byron Leibowitz |
| Arnold Johnson | ... | Cul |
| Dominic Barto | ... | Patsy |
| George Strus | ... | Carmen |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
UK:X (original rating) |
Iceland:16 |
Argentina:16 |
South Korea:15 |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Finland:K-16 |
Netherlands:16 (video rating) |
Norway:16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Rex Robbins' first movie.
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Goofs:
Continuity: At the beginning of the movie, in Shaft's office, Shaft changes back and forth between a lighter brown coat and a dark coat. The difference can be seen by noticing the horizontal seam on the back of each coat, one is straight and the other is not.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
John Shaft: [holding up his middle finger to a cab driver who is honking his horn at him] Up yours! Get out the way!
more
John Shaft: [holding up his middle finger to a cab driver who is honking his horn at him] Up yours! Get out the way!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Red Zone Cuba (#7.19)" (1994)
more
Soundtrack:
A Friend's Place
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (62 total)
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SHAFT is a very famous so-called "blaxploitation" film--a genre that showed exceptionally tough Black men fighting "the man" and coming out on top. Most of these films had poor production values--low budgets, inexperienced actors and simple story lines. However, SHAFT is a great example of a blaxploitation film that is so much more than the genre--it's got exceptional acting, a catchy soundtrack, a decent budget and a good story. Nothing about this film seems cheap or second-rate.
Shaft is played by Richard Roundtree and he's a Black private eye and super-stud (as the title song tells us). He's been hired to find and rescue a local mobster's daughter but although he's super-tough and super-determined, he might just be in over his head--as there's much more to this story.
As I said, this film is much better than the usual blaxploitation fare and it's a real shame it's lumped into this category because it is entertaining and a good film regardless if you are Black or White or Green! I can't wait to see the sequels--I hope they are of similar quality and excitement.
FYI--It's unusual to see that the White cops in this film aren't all evil like in most other films like this one.