SHAFT

US, 1971, 100 minutes, Colour.
Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi.
Directed by Gordon Parks.

Shaft is a fast-paced private-eye thriller that stands in comparison with most other good films of this genre to come out of America. Its Oscar winning theme, the excellent and forceful photography of New York City, the exciting action would excite most thriller audiences. What makes the film different is that it was made by African Americans, chiefly with a black cast and principally for black audiences. Race issues arise, but by and large the black world is taken for granted and presented. Audiences interested in the race question should find the film an interesting experience.

Director is Gordon Parks, the black photographer, journalist, author, composer, whose first film was the screen version of his autobiography, The Learning Tree (1969). Screenplay is by Ernest Tidyman and John Black from Tidyman's novel. (Tidyman won an Oscar for his screenplay in The French Connection.) Sequels and T.V. series followed.

1. What did Isaac Hayes' theme contribute to setting the mood and tone of the film?

2. The photography of New York was skilful, portraying the shades of quality of life there. How important was this environment and its presentation in the film?

3. Was this a good thriller? Why? How did it compare with similar thrillers? Was it exciting? Interesting? Fast-paced? Realistic?

4. The director says that this is a "Saturday night fun picture with no message." Do you think there was any message in the film? What was it? How was it communicated?

5. How important was the race issue in the film? Regarding Shaft himself, his job, his attitudes; other Negro characters; the white police; the Mafia racketeers; the potential Negro audience for whom the film was made?

6. How important were law and order issues - the function of the police, their rights and the limitations of their rights; private eyes and their relationship to the law, cooperation and sidestepping the law; the control of the Mafia; the Negro racketeers and the protection; the black militants?

7. Did the film give you any insight in to contemporary urban life and problems, corruption and power, greed and violence? How typical is this of American cities, other cities?

8. What kind of man was John Shaft? (Note the words of the theme song.) How self-assured, proud, concerned for others, selfish, moral or amoral? Why was he a private eye? Why was he on the side of the law? Did the film give you enough sequences of him as a person? His wisecracks, his toughness? Was he prejudiced'? How did he relate to whites? To hostile blacks, black militants?

9. Does a film like this contribute to the breaking down of prejudice?

10. Why was the film so entertaining?