SHAFT’S BIG SCORE! (Theatrical Release USA 1972)

Ben Meyers’ rating—2.8|5.0 Starsìì

Shaft’s Big Score—nothing new here, not much better than the first Shaft of the series—places as a wannabe Police/James Bond movie. There are better camera scenes and slightly improved acting, but it is pretty much the same fare as before except a little bland compared to the prequels. Richard Roundtree is tough looking, but not really the tough actor that he wants to portray. It seems he would have cast better in romantic, lighter stories than in the heavier weight Shaft series. This is a good period piece for film studies from the 1970s especially if coupled simultaneously with the Dirty Harry series.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Shaft’s (Richard Roundtree) friend is assassinated and it’s up to Shaft to clean up the mess. He does it Dirty Harry style.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Gordon Parks for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Stirling Silliphant for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn), Willy (Drew Bundini Brown), Gus Mascola (Joseph Mascolo), Rita (Kathy Imrie), Johnny Kelly (Wally Taylor), Captain Bollin (Julius Harris), Arna Asby (Rosalind Miles), and Pascal (Joe Santos).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Unfortunately, it’s not the best police story out there. Dirty Harry 1 and 3 or the Lethal Weapon series were more professionally done.

Video Critique Available Here

Ben Meyers