SHAFT’S BIG SCORE! (1972, USA, 105m, 15) ***½
Action, Crime, Thriller
dist. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (USA), MGM-EMI (UK); pr co. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) / Shaft Productions Ltd.; d. Gordon Parks; w. Ernest Tidyman; pr. Roger H. Lewis, Ernest Tidyman; ph. Urs Furrer (Metrocolor | 2.39:1); m. Gordon Parks; m/l. Gordon Parks, Isaac Hayes; ed. Harry Howard; ad. Emanuel Gerard.
cast: Richard Roundtree (John Shaft), Moses Gunn (Bumpy Jonas), Drew Bundini Brown (Willy), Joseph Mascolo (Gus Mascola), Kathy Imrie (Rita), Wally Taylor (Johnny Kelly), Julius Harris (Capt. Bollin), Rosalind Miles (Arna Asby), Joe Santos (Pascal), Angelo Gnazzo (Al), Don Blakely (Johnson), Melvin Green Jr. (Junior Gillis), Thomas Anderson (Preacher), Evelyn Davis (Old Lady), Richard Pittman (Kelly’s Hood #1), Robert Kya-Hill (Cal Asby), Thomas Brann (Mascola’s Hood), Bob Jefferson (Harrison), Dan Hannafin (Cooper), Jimmy Hayeson (Caretaker), Henry Ferrentino (Det. Salmi).
Dynamic sequel to SHAFT benefits from a higher budget, which is notably apparent in the protracted chase finale where Roundtree, returning as Private eye John Shaft, is pursued by villains by car, speedboat and helicopter. This set piece is the highlight of a movie that comes close to matching the original. This time out Shaft runs afoul of feuding mobsters as he searches for the truth behind a friend’s death. Most of the technical crew returned from SHAFT, as did Gunn and Bundini Brown, and the snow-filled winter provide some excellent photographic scenes for Parks and his cinematographer Furrer – notably those shot in Cypress Hills Cemetery. Roundtree is the epitome of cool as Shaft and is athletic in the action sequences, whilst Mascolo brings a level of charm as well as a menace to his role as a Mafia boss with a sense of style. Imrie and Miles provide Roundtree with romantic interludes, but otherwise have little to do. Director Parks also composed the impressive jazzy score after SHAFT composer Isaac Hayes dropped out of the project (although he does still contribute one song). Followed by SHAFT IN AFRICA (1973).
