Shaft (1971) - Opening Credit

Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An action film with elements of film noir, Shaft tells the story of a black private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob in order to find the missing daughter of a black mobster. It stars Richard Roundtree as Shaft, Moses Gunn as Bumpy Jonas, Charles Cioffi as Lt. Vic Androzzi, Christopher St. John as Ben Buford, and Gwenn Mitchell and Lawrence Pressman in smaller roles. The movie was adapted by Ernest Tidyman and John D. F. Black from Tidyman's 1971 novel of the same name.
The movie is widely considered a prime example of the blaxploitation genre. The Shaft soundtrack album, recorded by Isaac Hayes, was also a success, with the "Theme from Shaft" winning the 1971 Academy Award for Best Original Song, and according to the American Film Institute is the 38th best song from a movie of all time.

[@Jamaicafunk]

No one looked cooler walking through New York City in a leather jacket than Richard Roundtree. Rest in peace. ✊🏾

[@brianfeathers7473]

Damn right. Neo got nothing on Shaft.

[@Mister_Listener]

True. But this also made me think of RHODA.

[@Jamaicafunk]

@@Mister_Listener Shaft was before Rhoda.

[@mathewsotieno1422]

Richard roundtree is Top dog .great movie.

[@mathewsotieno1422]

Cool as fuck 😎😎😎

[@americangiant1003]

RIP Mr Roundtree. You were a game changer in this ground breaking role that forever changed the entire Hollywood/American Entertainment Industry. You will always be remembered. Ps a terrible shame that Mr Roundtree before his passing, never got a “Honorary” Oscar.

[@thetruesoulofanaquarius9302]

Black men were so handsome and clean cut back in the day 70s-90s.

[@robertevans2089]

I would love to be back in those days again and the music was great too, I would have loved to have been in America in the 70s when films such as this were being made.

[@Khorne_of_the_Hill]

Robert Evans being born in the 70's would be so great

[@jimscribner8314]

My cousin Paul lived in Manhattan right near central park back in the '70's with his Aussie girlfriend when they were students at Colombia there. I used to visit him now and then. Nice place aside from the bullet hole in the skylight and the hole in the wall where the cops took out the wall safe of the drug dealer who owned the apartment before them. The early Seventies were pretty cool to live in to be sure. The largest generation of teenagers in human history had just graduated high school, Nixon ended the Draft in 1972 and set up Affirmative Action so that pretty much ended the riots they used to have every summer back in the '60's. About half of all Americans under 30 smoked ganja so most people were pretty mellow. Michael Jackson and the Jeffersons were on television. Lots of sex for pretty much everybody. Of course right after that came 25 million people dying in the global AIDS epidemic and mass unemployment from the Oil Boycott when Jimmy Carter was President but it was a fun party while it lasted most definitely. :)

[@dragonslasher007]

If I could go back in a time machine the 70's is where I go; I was mostly a teenager then and it was great, the music was varied but great, still play it all the time

[@thankthelord4536]

@@dragonslasher007 yes me too. No bills, no worries, maybe a little hunger pangs and being broke but for the most part it was little heaven.

[@thankthelord4536]

@@jimscribner8314 yes I always tell my grown daughters that we always had kids to play with and hang out with by clicks bc there were so many kids/teenagers bc of the baby boom. There was no shortage of large families in the 70s. It was great. Now kids not only can't play outside alone. But it's hard for them to meet friends. No one is having kids.

[@indigowolf556]

He was an amazing actor. So talented!

[@ergbudster3333]

This wonderful music makes me want to go and buy myself a long leather coat and a stingy brim hat.

[@juanitacrenshaw127]

R.I.P Richard Roundtree died age of 81

[@CamiloSanchez1979]

Iconic

[@ivorstevenson4559]

Bloody brilliant

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

Great intro. 🍿📺

[@DJ-wl5qo]

One of the greatest introductions to any movie character ever. RIP Richard Roundtree

[@michaelanatole9672]

RIP Richard Roundtree. Some of the youngins will never understand the power of seeing a hero on screen that looked like the members of your family, church, or block. I had that in the 70s as a child.

[@Betamax84]

PREACH

[@benjaminwilliams1292]

"Damn right"🎼🎵🎶😀

[@jeffreybaier5312]

I worked with someone who said the same thing. The theater went nuts when told the detective off. There weren't many movies for African Americans.

[@evenflow5491]

I dig, sucka

[@kevangeorge1357]

Shaft was So Cool thanks to Richard Roundtree.

[@crazyrabbits]

This five-minute sequence tells you more about a character than some films do in two hours.

[@furonet138]

Technically not really, information-wise, but it definitely delivers the information a hell of a lot more effectively and memorably

[@hectornegron9155]

Yesss.

[@jimscribner8314]

Necramonium If you're alive when you get to the other side of the road you obviously do know how to cross a street safely. What that shows is that he's a risk taker who doesn't follow the traffic rules any more than James Bond does most of the time and like James Bond he's good at getting away with it without dying.

[@kennethcollier7878]

I agree a classic song RIP Issac Hayes.

[@davethewebguy]

​@@jimscribner8314 - As if that is a good thing -- but given that for sake of argument, you have to admit he's a cop impersonator. Flashing a "private dick's" badge around like he's a police officer or some crap.

[@ripDenmarkVesey]

"That cat Shaft is baaaad mutha".....SHUT YO MOUTH ! "But I'm talking bout SHAFT".... Well we can dig it. That's some classic stuff

[@karlc2869]

R.I.P. Isaac Hayes and Richard Roundtree.

[@neneshubby]

Before Denzel, Vin Diesel and The Rock, there was Richard Roundtree.

[@danielhawkins4783]

yes

[@Godzilla-tu2cd]

Exactly

[@EarthWindandFirepower0990]

OKAY,VIN WHO.THERE'S NO COMPARING RICHARD ROUNDTREE TO A DIESEL KEITH.YOU MUST BE YOUNG OR JUST STUPID.

[@andynixon2820]

Yep , Richard roundtree is seriously cool in this film . He's definitely the cat that won't Kopp out .

[@jkr527]

Right on!!!

[@benjaminprietop]

When you can make something as simple as walking down the street looks completely badass, you´re doing something right

[@Paul-tn3sc]

Shaft was a badass. I'm sorry. Queen Latifah could never do that.. no matter how woke we try to be...

[@stephanies7013]

Bruh…yeah. You nailed it right there! He was badass and the women loved him, including me! Women love a bad ass man! Never doubt that! ❤

[@Qboro66]

The genius of the legendary renaissance man, Gordon Parks(Mr. P)

[@dwightlove3704]

@@Paul-tn3sc Why would she even think about trying to copy this man

[@johnprestigiacomo2134]

One of the greatest opening scenes in movie history. In five minutes you know everything about Shaft and realize you're going to be in for one hell of an experience!

[@wendellbatts2477]

Movie changed my life

[@billyb4790]

I wanted to know more about Marty. I think he was the one behind the kidnapping.

[@pierredupont1096]

100%. Straight up iconic.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

I was just telling my wife that the opening theme by Issac Hayes was the perfect meld of classical composition and pop/rock/funk music.

[@gregoriovargas4108]

en verdad una gran película que grandiosos tiempos gracias y saludos.😊

[@globalspiritualrevolutionmedia]

One of the greatest openings of any movie in cinematic history! Old School New York City during the 70’s! Times Square is all cleaned up now.

[@WedgePee]

Good! I would have hated New York then.

[@voice_of_reason5604]

Damn right

[@lesliejones7348]

That's right the theme didn't get an Oscar for nothing ✊!!!

[@staceelashley4611]

My prayers and condolences go out to his family and loved ones. He will be missed tremendously, but his legacy will live on!! Rest in Power to the legendary Richard Roundtree 🙏🏾🙏🏾🕊️🕊️

[@toshiojohnston3732]

R.i.p richard Roundtree and shaft will live on I'm 1st generation shaft fan and may the nyc we viewed and many experienced 1st hand may it too and the people who made nyc in the 70s including my now gone from us parents and older brother may they too and nyc 1971 r.i.p as well.

[@spannerjaxs]

This was the cat we all wanted to be when we grew up. Him and Bruce Lee.

[@KianoUyMOOP]

If you strive to be like them with dogged determination, you can become like them.

[@emandalosvek4054]

Speak for yourself!

[@KianoUyMOOP]

Emanda Losvek No, you aspired to become like Shaft or Bruce Lee during your childhood years whether you like it or not,

[@nativesun9865]

So true. Every young dude wanted to dress and be cool & smooth, and get all the fine girls like Shaft. Then if any simp who is hating on you for taking all the ladies, be able to turn around and give him a beat down like Bruce Lee.

[@DaNNyByESO]

@@emandalosvek4054 better than being a depressed bitter bitch named Emanda with Daddy issues.

[@jmarcguy]

I didn’t know anything about this movie. One night around 1990, I’m watching an NBA game with my mom and this comes on after. I kept watching it because of the music. When the vocal came in my mom smiled and said the words along with Isaac Hayes. She said “I use to love that song!” I watched the movie, learned what “cool” was and bought the soundtrack not long after. I was was hooked. ❤ RIP Richard Roundtree. 10/25/23

[@handlehouseflamingknights6913]

Wow Isaac Hayes was an amazing composer and musician. Now Richard Rountree has left us. Rest in Peace gentlemen. Gone but never forgotten!!

[@albertowen1025]

Funk lost its magic when Isaac Hayes died. RIP brother.

[@kevinmiller9884]

Right on

[@karlc2869]

Funk no longer existed by the time Hayes died, LOL.

[@nyterpfan]

One of the most iconic openings in film history!!

[@yoshimano]

well all of it was in the music

[@isabelladestegonzaga5529]

@@yoshimano , nope - it was the soft zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz in isaac hayeszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

[@davidchan9632]

The beautiful beginning of the 1970's. Historical Adult entertainment in New York. Miss it all.

[@ps36081]

Lol the Up Yours in the start

[@averyj8924]

This was way ahead of its time as far as opening scenes go.

[@funnycide3461]

Nobody made getting out of a NYC subway cooler than this great opening to a movie.

[@raccabracca]

Suffering from serious coat envy here.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Rachael Eyre Word

[@RDASoccer]

Me too. That coat was hot.

[@DoctorBatmanMD]

And turtleneck envy.

[@Smileandwavelol]

Isaac Hayes was a musical genius.

[@dwightlove3704]

His Oscar win was proof enough

[@D14bra]

No doubt. Deserves more recognize. Miss him r.i.p

[@vadersbiggestfan13]

In his words, "Damn right."😢

[@marryellenmonahan5585]

The sound is so nineteen seventy one and no one can duplicate it.❤❤❤

[@ITSMRZFG]

His son is following in his footsteps

[@gerhardtbotes5010]

Richard Roundtree walking through the traffic streets of New York , complimented by the Shaft soundtrack, was the ultimate best intro for a movie. I've never seen any movie that can top this intro. "It's the best of the best, of the best!!! " quote from MIB.

[@yell0wberry]

Rest in peace to an outstanding actor, Mr. Richard Roundtree

[@flurfityfloof1000]

The demonstration he walks through is actually a real demonstration, called a ZAP, an early LGBT style of protest. They were protesting a company called Fidelifacts, that stalked potential employees to determine whether they were gay or not and then reported the results to potential employers.

[@davewanamaker3690]

The man, Richard Roundtree, the music, Isaac Hayes and the director, Parks. Wow! a CLASSIC!

[@chrisdrummond8893]

I guess the Lord needed to take " the man who won't cop out when there's danger all about" home. R.I.P. Richard Roundtree.

[@hankchinaski4427]

RIP Richard Roundtree! Thanks for all the memories!

[@sweetrose19]

He still looks damn good at 74, but this man was fine as hell in his prime yrs.

[@iamdonnietae]

I met him in person last year, he’s an alumni of my college SIU in Carbondale Illinois. He definitely is holding up well for a man in his mid 70s. Black don’t crack!

[@mikesendec3972]

Would you still smash?

[@Sparkledash1]

Watching this right now while everyone talk about Black Panther. Shaft was a black superhero almost 50 years ago sucka.

[@jimscribner8314]

Black Panther was the first black superhero in comics first appearing in 1966 about half a decade before Shaft but Shaft was the first black live action hero to star in his own Hollywood movie to be sure. Bill Cosby's Montgomery Scott character from the I Spy TV show also predates Shaft as a black action hero and there were other heroic black characters in earlier films and television shows but they were all pretty much like Sammy Davis mainly sidekicks for white characters. Shaft was also the first black action hero to have his own personal theme song everybody thought of when they saw him like the Lone Ranger or Superman did.

[@arealhebrew]

@@jimscribner8314 The original Lone Ranger was Bass Reeves an African-American slave during the 1800s and the greatest Lawman ever to walk this Earth, but thanks to RACIST So-Called Jew Hollywood back in the 1950s, and 60s, they decided to cast the Lone Ranger as a Caucasian. Google Bill O'Reilly Lone Ranger was BLACK, testifying to all of the above, in front of Millions on the Jimmy Fallon show.

[@jimscribner8314]

@@arealhebrew The original Lone Ranger was a radio show. There were a number of ex-slaves who may have been lawmen on the American Frontier which was mostly Lincoln Republican after all. The Buffalo Soldiers were certainly a very strong law enforcement presence in the West Hollywood never mentioned until the South stopped voting strait Democrat to be sure. However Hollywood has always pandered to the prejudices of anybody they could make the most money from including turning Nick Fury who was based on the Jewish Battle of the Bulge veteran of Patton's Third Army Jack Kirby the Black Panther's original artist into a black man.

[@youturd55]

Jim Brown was just as popular as Richard back then.

[@SL-cl9gt]

Sparkledash1 better than a superhero because with enough heart and guts you could actually be shaft.

[@Betamax84]

Rest in peace Richard Roundtree. LEGENDARY.

[@Realigndadjmusic]

i truly believe this film should be used in college film classes all over the world! the cinematography is genius! every scene is incredible! i love the films that were produced in the 1970's of this style

[@lesliejones7348]

Correct

[@3dmonkeybizz]

RIP Charles "Skip" Pitts (April 7, 1947 - May 1, 2012)! The magic behind the guitar!

[@nathanrogers4018]

The wah wah man Skip.

[@BenJabituya]

I always thought it was Wah Wah Watson.

[@DD4YM]

Superhero in Black Cinema!!! RIP Richard Roundtree 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@maxt69992008]

"He's a complicated man, but no one understands him but his woman."

[@Anonym0usFC]

+Thomas Carter "Seek therapy"

[@gb032645]

Can you dig it?

[@joel8583]

Sho nuff!

[@Eliot451]

"He's a complicated man, but no one understands him but his woman." On the contrary. Shaft crosses the street against traffic and flips the bird to a cabbie. A complicated man? He seems pretty simple minded to me.

[@jimscribner8314]

Eliot451 You're incredibly superficial in your understanding of human beings if you can't see the complexity of the character who let's note avoids getting into an argument with the affirmative action protesters for the same reason he can't stop to wait at the crosswalk to get across the street in New York City traffic or do more than flip a bird at a cabbie who cusses him out for it or do more than flash a badge to scare away somebody trying to sell him watches he immediately guessed were stolen property. He's a man with a mission on his way someplace and only stops to talk with the blind guy who might have information pragmatically useful to him in pulling it off successfully without getting killed. That mission is saving the life of the daughter of a man he despises who's been kidnapped as a hostage in a gang war. Ever done that?

[@kendallrivers1119]

This and Enter The Dragon's opening credits and scores are the greatest of the 70's! And in the top ten of all time in any decade! In the 60s-80s We had icons like James Bond, Shaft, Bruce Lee, Indiana Jones etc. what happened? smh.

[@dans5940]

This theme rocks. I was not born in the 70s but in the early 2000s. I gotta watch this. RIP Richard Roundtree. I wish I would've grown up watching this

[@mustwatchthis50]

Im a white man I just turned black after listening

[@joel8583]

Right on, fellow white soul brother!!

[@garysmith8073]

You're Funny but I appreciate Kate your Admiration of John Shaft .

[@phyllispereira4939]

😀

[@spacepatrolman]

I declared myself to be black when Dick Gregory wasn't elected president

[@greeneyedmonster6694]

That’s the Isaac Hayes effect! 😂

[@flymast1]

A Legend has passed away who opened the doors for the "Black Man Male Lead" in Hollywood. You current leads now owe your careers to this man, the great Richard Roundtree.

[@tyliekinc.]

Yes! Before Chadwick played Black Panther, Wesley Snipes played Blade it was Richard Roundtree as John Shaft!

[@tyliekinc.]

Yes! Before Chadwick played Black Panther, Wesley Snipes played Blade it was Richard Roundtree as John Shaft!

[@tyliekinc.]

Yes! Before Chadwick played Black Panther, Wesley Snipes played Blade it was Richard Roundtree as John Shaft!

[@tyliekinc.]

Yes! Before Chadwick played Black Panther, Wesley Snipes played Blade it was Richard Roundtree as John Shaft!

[@tyliekinc.]

Yes! Before Chadwick played Black Panther, Wesley Snipes played Blade it was Richard Roundtree as John Shaft!

[@alanmorris7669]

I wish that I could've been in New York during the 1970s. The bright lights, news stands, diners, movie theaters and people from every walk of life.

[@alanmorris7669]

@Slim Pickens I've visited New York several times because I have relatives who live there. I know the rules of the streets and how to maneuver by avoiding certain areas. On the other hand, the windy city (Chicago) is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!

[@chrisrj9871]

I don't know about living in the 70s, but I'd love to visit.

[@grantharrismusic]

You’re forgetting the rapes, murders, break-ins, beatings. Yeah the 70s in NYC really were the bomb.

[@alanmorris7669]

@@grantharrismusic Oops, I forgot about all of that. Oh well, it would've been a nice place to visit.

[@davidcarter1013]

@@alanmorris7669 I did in 1969 or 70.so i was around 10yrs old and it was the holiday season on a school trip from Baltimore.We went to the museum of natural history and i rode the subway and seen the empire state building etc,but the thing i remem ber the most was walking in the city streets and the old black men with their grills roasting those chestnuts the smell permeated the whole city AHHH,memories.

[@crockett616]

Coolest opening scene and theme ever. So nice to see the 70s streets and shopfronts and such, the feel of the big city in those days. I for one can dig it :)

[@toshiojohnston3732]

Yes this movie brings back so many memories.

[@toshiojohnston3732]

R.i.p richard shaft roundtree.

[@Chaco1961]

RIP, Richard Roundtree (and Nedicks). Walking into moving traffic on 7th Avenue, in a long leather coat, is true badassery.

[@silverinkpot7]

Visually one of the best movie openings of ALL time - plus great music!

[@ericbarash8496]

Richard Roundtree may he rest in peace.

[@StarFleet_Tech1701]

RIP Richard Roundtree was one BAD MUTHA

[@SpeaksTooSoon-su5gq]

Shut your mouth!

[@serendipicity]

I like how no one has the balls to give this a thumbs-down. No one messes with Shaft.

[@cka2nd]

And still true 11 years after your original comment!

[@cka2nd]

@@jamesrussell1904 Yes, Dear. Whatever you say, Dear.

[@youknowwhoiamgoddammit1763]

Rest in peace to the iconic Richard Roundtree.

[@SCA84]

This is the most 70s thing ever

[@jeffreyprather5834]

MY FIRST BLACK HERO AS A LITTLE BLACK BOY , GROWING UP IN THE 70,SSS

[@MarcoKlammer]

RIP Richard Roundtree & Isaac Hayes

[@DoctorPretorious616]

Rest in power Richard Roundtree, a terrific actor, iconic action hero, blaxploitation legend and a true baaaad mutha!

[@1986SSMONTECARLO]

What a lot of people don't know is that Isaac won the Oscar for this.

[@sabocram]

RIP Richard Roundtree

[@jeffreyprather5834]

R.I.P. MR. ROUNDTREE, GREATEST BLACK MOVIE EVER MADE, AMAZING

[@munz1870]

Times Sq with its smut & grit pre Disney land BS.

[@jarrodbutts716]

No matter how many times I see this intro, I am fascinated by New York as it was, especially back in the late sixties/early seventies. That's why Midnight Cowboy, The French Connection and Shaft have such an allure, at least to me.

[@commanderbell1965]

Rest in Peace Richard Round Tree

[@Hartbeat1555]

When NYC was grimy!! Now it's disney world

[@wa2k99]

Then deblasio ruined it

[@S_M_0009]

The music by Isaac Hayes is too good. Gives goosebumps even to this day.

[@geo_ashburn]

40 years later and still a badass song.

[@angusmerriweather1589]

RIP Richard Roundtree.

[@EarthWindandFirepower0990]

ONE OF THE MOST COLD-BLOODED SOUL JAMS EVER STILL IN 2019.

[@theman2017inc]

Just heard the very sad news of the passing of Mr Roundtree THE ORIGINAL and THE BEST John Shaft, May he rest in peace 💔😞

[@alcfoxxy]

Rest in paradise Mr. Richard Roundtree 🙏🏾

[@cremetangerine82]

R.I.P. Richard Roundtree (and Isaac Hayes).

[@jackbollingmoore7554]

Shaft (1971) (MGM) Shaft (2000) (Paramount) Shaft (2019) (Warner Bros.)

[@davidalvarado7915]

Getting less creativity every decade.

[@iamdonnietae]

Next, it’ll be Shaft (2030) (Fox/Disney)

[@courtgizzle]

Jack Bollingmoore my favorite is always 1971 shaft starring Richard Roundtree

[@jazzpoet1974]

A server once asked me how I take my coffee, and I said: "Black". She said: "No cream or sugar?" "No", I replied, "to me coffee should be like: 'Shaft'. Black all the way through, and kicking ass."

[@retrogamelover2012]

You're daaammn right. B)

[@o.gvlogs4378]

Your trying to hard 😂😂😂

[@Setebos]

You're a complicated man.

[@smithwesson1896]

@@Setebos But no one understands him but his woman

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

You dam right!

[@lamarjohnson4023]

RIP, John Shaft Richard Roundtree.

[@lumpinwomper]

Most stylish (for men) movie ever. No one pulled off the turtleneck + suit look like Roundtree.

[@marioskywalker64]

That was the most epic trip to the barber shop I have seen in my entire life.

[@frankuraku5622]

All of this badass music and walking with crimes just to go get a haircut.

[@TheSoundYouDontNeed]

it was a shoe shine shop

[@DC322]

RIP Richard Roundtree. Thank you for being the coolest cat.

[@iamdonnietae]

The recording of the “Shaft” theme playing over this scene sounds...weird. Sounds like an unpolished demo compared to the soundtrack print. Especially when the background singers go “Shaft!!”

[@thetruesoulofanaquarius9302]

R.I.P. Richard Roundtree ❤❤❤

[@evenflow5491]

Not only a legendary introduction to one of the coolest cats in cinema, but also an iconic (and well deserved Oscar winning) score by the late great Isaac Hayes. Everything about it was just perfect

[@mgtowbro917]

Masculinity all the way.

[@DominikSobolewski]

+MGTOW Bro Correction, misogyny all the way.

[@mgtowbro917]

What's your definition of misogyny?

[@mgtowbro917]

If I remember correctly Shaft was a private detective who had a girlfriend and was hired by a local mobster to find his daughter kidnapped by the mod. You dig? That's mysoginy? How?

[@mgtowbro917]

A misogynist hates women. A player fucks women. Yes?

[@DominikSobolewski]

MGTOW Bro I guess sleep around isn't misogynistic. I guess cheating is perfectly fine, because you're a man and have needs?

[@nunayobiz]

Shaft was NOT Blaxploitation. That came later when Black movies of poor quality were released by the dozens.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Black Caesar, Black Belt Jones, Dolemite. All pretenders next to Shaft.

[@MaidenUtah1]

“Live and Let Die”, Roger Moore’s debut as James Bond.

[@jack_myers]

Shaft is blacksploitation . It's far better then many others released but it still matched the qualities of many other films from that genre !

[@HasturYellowSign]

But those other movies were still fun to watch. I would sneak off to the back room and watch them when they came on TV on Saturday afternoons.

[@mrhowardb]

This song and movie will ALWAYS be special for me. This film came out the year my mother gave birth to me in 1971 and it has to be one of the best film scores of all time as well..

[@dwightlove3704]

Lucky You

[@juniordawkins4193]

R.I.E.P RICHARD ROUNDTREE 🙏🏿😔🌹 Junior from London 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@jcoltrane8976]

They shoulda just made this sequence the entire movie. Shaft struttin’ down the streets of New Yawk to the music of Isaac Hayes for 90 minutes. I’d pay a buck twenty-five to see that!

[@taylorchandler7058]

Rest in Peace Richard Roundtree.

[@Ace-hj3ei]

Who came after the new movie trailer to remember the good old days😭

[@leonwhite864]

I did

[@jmarcguy]

Me too!! Glad Roundtree has a bigger role in this one then in the 2000 film.

[@angelodeita4605]

Rest In Power Richard!

[@raczinger20]

RIP to the original black superhero, the one and only John Shaft, Richard Roundtree :(

[@Cam-yy3sh]

Possibly the best intro in all of cinema

[@ACLTony]

In spite of the "Blaxploitation syndrome", characters like shaft had a positive impact on us kids with his strong no-nonsense views of justice and a dislike for criminals, black or white. Today, hollyweird producers go out of their way to portray thugs and criminals in ways that tries to glorify them while downplaying the role of fathers. Sad to say many good guy characters today are portrayed as goofy and/or weak while Alpha males are portrayed as tough but nearly brainless.

[@salparadise5335]

Blaxploitation films are great fun as they also too project a positive image of a strong black hero. They couldn't do films like this today because no one wants a positive black image. Not even black directors. Tyler Perry spewing out that crap is not exactly helping the cause in any way.

[@DominikSobolewski]

Dan Turpin How is shaft a positive black hero?

[@ACLTony]

What was shaft doing? Trying to rescue a victim. Of course he doesn't do things by the book but look at the cop shows/movies where the main character uses unconventional tactics. Shaft was a hero because here's a guy that was educated, self-employed, wasn't a drunk or a drug user, wasn't a drug dealer, dressed well, had a strong sense of justice, and was ready to risk out his neck to help someone. Yes, he was a hero to many of us that were kids then. Today, instead of "Shaft-like" heroes, many of our kids today are looking up to gangsters and thugs as heroes. So frustrating that the government and the media are helping them along.

[@ACLTony]

+Dan Turpin Man, so well put! Good example is the sitcom show Love Thy Neighbor; I liked it at first but stopped watching it upon seeing what an incredible weak willed "Wimp" the character "Danny Harris"; is. Young, in good shape yet he's terrified of upsetting or disagreeing with his whiny mother or expressing himself with confidence to a woman. I'll take "The Jeffersons" over that tripe any day.

[@tacforcesupplies3947]

Even London was a better city back then.

[@mistercool3859]

RIP, Richard Roundtree. Our first black superhero.

[@benjaminwilliams1292]

I was saddened to hear that Richard Roundtree has passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 81. One of Cinema's most versatile and charismatic character Actors. Rest In Peace 🙏 😢

[@digital2500]

RIP Richard Roundtree!!

[@johnjarou2357]

1971,what a great year.

[@panamafloyd1469]

I just heard. RIP, Richard. Thanks for what you did for my friends with skin darker than mine.

[@nachobusiness2050]

You know your a BHAAAAD man when a million people watch a intro to a movie of you just walking🚶‍♂️

[@richardherrera1736]

RIP the Honorable Film Actor & Hollywood Legend Richard Roundtree🌹1942-2023 Thanks for the memories 💗📽⭐️🎼

[@alanmorris7669]

Did anyone notice Shaft walking past the old Cheers Steak House restaurant at 3:13? Today it's the AperiBar at LUMA Hotel Times Square, 120 W 41st St, New York.

[@pjaybasmaignee]

Yes

[@Dibrini]

RIP Richard Roundtree (1942-2023)

[@RichWeigel]

Well folks if you were wondering who the toughest guy in Essex County was here he is. Not sure how Richie got the jacket off him though.

[@janetriggione6637]

No way NYC was a bad ass and hip city in the 70s today 42st is fucking disney

[@heatherferreira4225]

Get out of the City and enter BK or QNS. It's still there