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Shaft (1971)
In Gordon Parks' definitive blaxploitation film:
- the opening credits sequence beginning with an aerial
shot of NYC skyscrapers, when the camera sharply dipped down into
the metropolitan streets below, and in a tracking shot located
four tawdry 42nd Street theatre marquees (displaying the double-billed
features of The Scalphunters (1968) and Rough Night in
Jericho (1967), Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1970) and Barbarella
(1968, Fr./It.), the offbeat Italian film He and She (1969,
It.) and the thriller The Animal (1968), and two sexploitation
films: School for Sex (1969, UK) and the independent film The
Wild Females (1968)); suddenly, the title "SHAFT" zoomed
out from the center of the frame, the theme song began to pound,
and the camera focused on the appearance of sexy and cool black
private detective John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) in a dark brown
midi-coat, who was emerging from an underground subway onto the
street; he was first seen from an overhead view, then from an impressive
lower angled close-up of his face, before he crossed the street
and proceeded down a sidewalk
- the stirring Isaac Hayes Oscar-winning introductory
theme song, with provocative lyrics: "Who's the black private
dick That's a sex machine with all the chicks? (Shaft) You're damn
right Who is the man That would risk his neck for his brother man?
(Shaft) Can you dig it? Who's the cat that won't cop out When there's
danger all about? (Shaft) Right on..."
- Shaft's "sex machine" womanizing one-night
stand with Linda (Margaret Warncke), including a shared shower
- the final daring rescue scene of Marcy Jonas (Sherri
Brewer) in a hotel room where she was held captive
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