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Shaft

  • 1971
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Richard Roundtree in Shaft (1971)
Watch the trailer for Shaft, starring Richard Roundtree.
Play trailer3:10
5 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeThriller

A crime lord hires black private eye, John Shaft, to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.A crime lord hires black private eye, John Shaft, to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.A crime lord hires black private eye, John Shaft, to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

  • Director
    • Gordon Parks
  • Writers
    • Ernest Tidyman
    • John D.F. Black
  • Stars
    • Richard Roundtree
    • Moses Gunn
    • Charles Cioffi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gordon Parks
    • Writers
      • Ernest Tidyman
      • John D.F. Black
    • Stars
      • Richard Roundtree
      • Moses Gunn
      • Charles Cioffi
    • 120User reviews
    • 82Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos5

    Shaft: Trailer
    Trailer 3:10
    Shaft: Trailer
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Clip 4:51
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Clip 4:51
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    A Salute to Black Directors
    Clip 4:16
    A Salute to Black Directors
    Unsung Black Heroes of Film History
    Clip 4:30
    Unsung Black Heroes of Film History
    'SuperFly' Returns With New Style, Classic Swagger
    Video 4:08
    'SuperFly' Returns With New Style, Classic Swagger

    Photos108

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    + 100
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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • John Shaft
    Moses Gunn
    Moses Gunn
    • Bumpy Jonas
    Charles Cioffi
    Charles Cioffi
    • Lt. Vic Androzzi
    Christopher St. John
    Christopher St. John
    • Ben Buford
    Gwenn Mitchell
    Gwenn Mitchell
    • Ellie Moore
    Lawrence Pressman
    Lawrence Pressman
    • Det. Tom Hannon
    Victor Arnold
    Victor Arnold
    • Charlie
    Sherri Brewer
    • Marcy Jonas
    Rex Robbins
    • Rollie
    Camille Yarbrough
    • Dina Greene
    Margaret Warncke
    • Linda
    Joseph Leon
    • Capt. Byron Leibowitz
    Arnold Johnson
    Arnold Johnson
    • Cul
    Dominic Barto
    • Patsy
    George Strus
    • Carmen
    Edmund Hashim
    Edmund Hashim
    • Lee
    Drew Bundini Brown
    Drew Bundini Brown
    • Willy
    Tommy Lane
    Tommy Lane
    • Leroy
    • Director
      • Gordon Parks
    • Writers
      • Ernest Tidyman
      • John D.F. Black
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Isaac Hayes was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Song. In fact, he was also the first African-American to win an Oscar for a non-acting category.
    • Goofs
      When Shaft pushes one of Bumpy's goons into his office, the sound of glass breaking is heard, but the glass window in the office door is clearly undamaged until a short time later.
    • Quotes

      John Shaft: Don't let your mouth get your ass in trouble.

    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 28 minutes from this film for its 1975 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in Soul in Cinema: Filming Shaft on Location (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      Theme from Shaft
      (uncredited)
      Music by Isaac Hayes
      Lyrics by Isaac Hayes
      Performed by Isaac Hayes

    User reviews120

    Featured review
    8/10

    Can you Dig it?

    I can. Because this is not only the greatest black-exploitation film ever, but also one of the best films of the 70's era. Richard Roundtree brings out Ernest Tidyman's John Shaft like no one else can (not even Samuel L. Jackson in the new shaft can compete) as the ultimate bad-a** who must investigate a kidnapping. One of the most memorable films ever made, especially by the Oscar winning song (and nominated score) by Isaac Hayes, which made his breakthrough as his funk thing grew. A+
    • Quinoa1984
    • Jun 26, 2000
    • Permalink

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Detektiv Saft
    • Filming locations
      • Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Shaft Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,125,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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