Shaft Movie Review 1971

A black private eye (Roundtree) is hired to find a Harlem gangster's (Gunn) kidnapped daughter. Lotsa sex and violence; suspenseful and well directed by notable "Life" photographer Parks . Great ending. Academy Award-winning theme song by Isaac Hayes, the first music award from the Academy to an African American. Adapted from the novel by Ernest Tidyman. Followed by "Shaft's Big Score" and "Shaft in Africa."

Distribution

MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-6061, Phone: (310)449-3000, Fax: (310)449-3100, URL: http://www.mgmhomevideo.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 98 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Mystery & Suspense, Private Eyes, Gangs, African America, Blaxploitation

Screenplay

John D.F. Black, Ernest Tidyman

Cast

Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John, Gwen Mitchell, Lawrence Pressman, Victor Arnold, Antonio Fargas, Drew "Bundini" Brown

Cinematography

Urs Furrer

Director

Gordon Parks

Music

Isaac Hayes, J.J. Johnson

Producer

MGM

Awards

Oscars 1971: Song ("Theme from Shaft"); Golden Globes 1972: Score, Natl. Film Reg. 2000.