IMDb >
Shaft (1971)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsShaft (1971) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
2 July 1971 (USA)
more
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:
Right On!
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:
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: The outline of a microphone is visible under Shaft's turtleneck at one point when Bumpty Jones visits Shaft at his office.
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:
Walk From Regio's
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (62 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Shaft (1971) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Shaft | King of New York | The Godfather | Magnum Force | Beverly Hills Cop |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
Blaxploitation at it's best. A simple story with a simple twist done right. That is Shaft. The concept of a black man as a cool ultra slick, lady lovin' private detective was fresh. For once in the world of cinema the black man was tops and unlike other genre entries this one clicked with people of both colors. They had created a solid character in John Shaft that both the white and black segment of the population took a shinning to. For once it wasn't something exploitive being sold to a one-sided market audience exclusively.
But look I'm getting sidetracked. Shaft isn't this huge epic struggle of the black man through the generations. It's a solid, satisfying action picture that gets by on pure character. The character of Shaft. Being spot on for it's time the black private detective has endlessly been imitated, but never duplicated. With much of the character's success having to be attributable to Richard Roundtree, a perfect fit for the material. He wasn't so much playing a character named John Shaft, but rather he was John Shaft. Perhaps to the detriment of his career, I still can't watch a movie with Richard Roundtree in it without thinking of Shaft. The plot is on auto pilot - you've seen it before - maybe even done better - but this movie has Shaft and that's all there is to say. Dig it.