Shaft's Big Score (1972)

Cast:

Richard Roundtree is John Shaft
Moses Gunn is Bumpy Jonas
Joe "Cop from the Rockford Files" Santos is Andy Pascal

What the box says:

You can't say the mob wasn't warned about John Shaft. "He's a bad dude," a numbers racketeer cautions them. Now John Shaft himself will deliver that message in way New York City's wise guys understands.

Richard Roundtree reunites with the director (Gordon Parks) and the screenwriter (Ernest Tidyman) of 1971's trendsetting Shaft for Shaft's Big Score!, the second of Roundtree's three movie portrayls of the street-smart, leather-jacketed private investigator. This time, the blown-to-kingdom-come murder of a client plunges Shaft into a case that bounces him like a pinball between the 133rd Precinct and competing mobs. But the players are about to played in this "rousing and entertaining thriller" (Newsweek).

Plot:

Cal is taking money out of a safe. He hides a bag of cash into a coffin. Calls Shaft who originally ignores it until realizing it is Cal. Apparently Shaft is as James Brown would put it �sex-machining� Cal�s sister, Arna. Cal is in big trouble and needs to hire Shaft. He also wants him to see if he can find Arna�

We�re on the late night city streets as the funky music starts to play as the credits roll. Shaft is driving to Cal�s office, where he is waiting anxiously for him. The new Shaft theme is sung by O.C. Smith. It was written by Gordon Parks the director. You know in the original Shaft with all those Isaac Hayes�s songs. Nada in this movie� Cal�s office explodes about the time Shaft pulls up outside.

Fire trucks are on the scene. Captain Bollin questions Shaft. In the original, Shaft had Vic, as a friend on the force. But, Bollin, Shaft thinks is sellout. The meat wagon hauls Cal away. Bollin questions Cal�s partner Kelley about a medical clinic that was just about to be built. Kelley goes to Cal�s office and has the firefighters take the safe next door. When, everyone is gone, Kelley checks the safe and finds the money gone.

Helicopter lands on a building and a load of shifty white guys get out.

I'm not playing a woodwimp...
Gus, the Mafia don, is playing his clarinet. His lackeys report about the missing money from the safe. Gus is taking it rather well. Kelley is the key to getting established into Queens.

The gravesite service for Cal begins. Willy and Bumpy are there too. Remember them from the original? Bumpy hired Shaft to rescue his daughter. Shaft is there with Arna. After the funeral breaks up, Shaft talks with Bumpy and Willy. Apparently, Kelley is running the number racket now.

Car pulls up to a house, Shaft, Arna, and Kelley quickly see that Arna�s house has been ransacked. Shaft searches for the burglar. He manages to get away because of the clumsiness of Kelley. Or was it intentional? Kelley offers to runs Arna�s half of the business. Shaft decides to try to find who killed Cal.

Shaft runs into Bollin who wants to talk to him at the precinct. In the station, some cops are smacking around a teenager. Bollin is completely indifferent to it. A cop tries shoving Shaft around. That would be a bad idea. Bollin wants to know how Shaft is tied in with Cal and Kelley. Bollin�s theory is Shaft and Arna are involved. When Cal dies, Shaft and Kelley take over the numbers racket. Shaft brings in Bumpy to the fold. Bollin wants Shaft to spread the word for no one to rock the boat.

On the streets, one of Kelley�s men is collecting and paying off bets. They have an elaborate code about paying for burial policies. Shaft jumps him demanding to know where Kelley is.

In one of those egg shaped chairs, we�ve got the naked chick Rita. She is arguing with Kelley. She�s had enough and is going to leave when Kelley smacks her around. Andy the lackey calls Kelley who asks for more time. Kelley has to meet with Gus, the Mafia don.

Kelley drives off about the time Shaft arrives and heads to his apartment. Rita lets him in. In more ways than one sooner or later�

Kelley is frisked before meeting Gus. Kelley talks about how the money has vanished from the funeral home. Gus demands half of Kelley�s action. He has to get Arna�s half of the business and is worried about Shaft. Gus will take care of Shaft if Kelley agrees to turn over half of his business. Kelley agrees and leaves.

Shaft and Rita are testing the water bed�as the walk-a-chicken music ensues�Sex machining to all the chicks ensues. Kelley is driving home. Well, he isn�t the only one driving at this point. Kelley is waiting for an elevator in the lobby as Shaft is getting dressed. Kelley unlocks his door but finds it chained. Shaft goes out the back way and so does Rita who has officially left Kelley.

Shaft and Arna learn Cal was involved in gambling. Kelley owed Cal $250,000. Shaft gets Arna upstairs quick before a florist pulls up. Shaft attacks the guy and uses the other one as a human shield. Shaft manages to shoot him. Shaft decides to get Arna to a safer place.

Kelley meets with Bumpy. He needs Bumpy to buy in so he can use the money to pay Gus. Bumpy agrees to do it for 60%. But Arna has 50%, no room for Kelley. He agrees to Bumpy�s demands and leaves. Bumpy knows that Kelley isn�t long for this world.

At a club, Mother Ikes,

Ike Turner's momma has a nightclub.....
Shaft arrives. We See Andy the lackey in the background. Shaft tries getting into the backroom where the gambling is. Kelley is in the background and spots Shaft. He talks with Gus about Shaft. Gus has decided to call off taking care of Shaft after losing 2 men. He thinks Kelley is Shaft�s target. Kelley spins a tale about Shaft working for Bumpy to take over the rackets. That worries Gus. If he gets rid of Shaft that will scare Bumpy off.

Shaft goes to the backroom. He meets with Gus who wants him tell Bumpy to stay out of Queens. Shaft is knocked out and given a thorough thrashing. Shaft tries returning the favor as best he can but can�t take. We get a funky music ensuing with wild dancers as Shaft is beaten and left in the alley.

Willy is laughing at Shaft who comes to meet with Bumpy. Kelley is dealing with Bumpy and Gus Mascola. Gunfire erupts through the room as Shaft and Bumpy take cover. That helps Bumpy to decide to give the loan to Kelley. Willy and Shaft will take care of Mascola.

A couple of window cleaners are working on Mascola�s windows. They enter the apartment. Shaft starts beating Mascola. While Willy watches, he manages to get the drop on the returning Andy the lackey. Shaft delivers his message. Kelley is next. Shaft and Willy leave.

That night Shaft is skulking about and breaks into Cal�s funeral home. Kelley is there, too. He knows the money is around somewhere. The only coffin that�s been used was for Cal. Kelley has a light bulb moment, realizing where the money is. He and a funeral worker leave. Shaft gets out of the coffin he hid in. Kelley and the other guy ride off in the hearse. Shaft follows them.

Bollin meets with Shaft. He demands to see Arna. He knocks on the door. Arna has no idea who he is grabs a gun and blows a hole in the door. Bollin storms off, vowing to arrest Arna. Shaft comes in. Arna is almost scared enough to let the mobsters get the money. Shaft convinces her that money could help the community like Cal wanted it to do. Shaft gets ammo. He tells her to keep Bollin with her when he returns so she�ll be safe. Shaft gets some guns and leaves.

Cops are watching his place. Shaft has called Rita at some point to drive him. They manage to escape the cops.

At the cemetery, Cal�s grave is being dug. Mascola is told about it. He gathers his lackeys. The chopper flies to the cemetery, as Rita drives Shaft there, too. The chopper lands near the open grave. Kelley looks for the money and finds it under the lining. Mascola gets his cash. Shaft is sneaking up on them. Kelley and diggers are shot. Shaft manages to get the money and Mascola as a hostage. He makes it back to the car and Rita puts the pedal to mettle.

Mascola�s men are pursuit. Various cars crash. Shaft is shooting at the car chasing them. Finally, they ditch the car, Rita heads off. Shaft takes Mascola and the money with him. Andy the lackey follows them into a boatyard.

On a nearby pier, Shaft hijacks a boat. He handcuffs Mascola to the boat and heads out on the water. Andy gets back to the car. The chopper is able to follow Shaft but can�t get a good shot at him. Eventually, the boat�s engine is hit. Shaft runs it aground the gets out with the money before it explodes. But, the boat explodes barbecueing Mascola.

Andy is still after Shaft. The chopper is opening fire on Shaft now. Andy gets out of his car before it crashes into the river. Shaft has to chopper to deal with, now. He hides the money. Andy is skulking about like Shaft is.

Shaft manages to hit the chopper. It flies away. Andy is still about, though. The chopper returns chasing Shaft. Andy opens fire on him, too. Shaft has sprained his ankle and hobbles away. The chopper has several bullet holes in it. Shaft shoots Andy who turns into a mannequin falling from the catwalk. The chopper is still after him.

Shaft runs into a warehouse followed by the low flying chopper. Shaft manages to hit the gunner in his leg. Chopper is still after him. Shaft manages to kill the gunner. He finally shoots the chopper which explodes. The cops arrive right after this. Shaft talks with Bollin. Mascola and Kelley are dead. Bollin wants to know about the money. Shaft claims he doesn�t know about it and hobbles away.

What I say:

It's been a while since last we visited Shaft. Actually more than that, I've been looking for Shaft's Big Score for a long time. Typical story, spot a DVD somewhere put it back and by the time you return it's gone. Last time I spotted sam it and saw Shaft packaged with Shaft in Africa. But, had one of those. I refused to buy one while having a copy of the other movie. But, I finally found a copy of it and now graces my site.

First up, they abandoned the Isaac Hayes "Shaft" theme song. The theme song was written by Gordon Parks, the director. The song was performed by O.C. Smith. Remember how great O.C. Smith is? I can't say if Isaac Hayes was offered the chance to write the song or not. Be willing to think Gordon Parks was less than happy with all the attention Isaac Hayes got from the original Shaft theme winning an Oscar. Shaft was one of the surprise hits of 1971, being the 12th highest grossing movies of the year. Not bad for such a little production. And for it doing so well, a sequel was almost released immediately the next year.

One of the big problems with this movie is pacing. It takes 10 minutes for a small introduction and the credits played while Shaft drove around. Today, the credits would be at the end of the movie. But, in the 70s, they'd still start off with the credits. But, they didn't even have Best Best Boy whatever that is. It almost seems you could have cut nearly 10 minutes out of the first half hour of the movie without missing a thing.

I did like the fact they brought back Moses Magnum as Bumpy and his guy Willy. Too bad, Antonio Fargas couldn�t be in it. We didn�t even get the cop that was Shaft�s friend from the original movie. It has become clich�d now for cops to threaten to throw the private detective in jail or to pull detective license. We had less of a cast in this movie.

It seemed like they�d took whatever worked in the first one and tried recycling it. But, not as good the second time around. Part what worked for Shaft was it was original. Granted, not having Isaac Hayes for the songs hurt it quite a bit.

Obviously, it seems I just didn�t like this movie as much as Shaft. Richard Roundtree is as good as he was in the original. He manages to definitely improve this movie. I think a lot of faults in this movie were trying to get a sequel to it made fast enough to cash in on the popularity. And quality suffered because of it.

I don�t think we can really appreciate how popular Shaft was in the early to mid 70s. It launched the career of Richard Roundtree who got typecast into too many low-budget action movies in the 80s, though. I mean, the Shaft theme is now a punch line: Bart and Lisa Simpson singing the karaoke version of the Shaft theme.

That isn�t too say this is a terrible movie. It is hard to compare to against something that what so good. Take Psycho and compared to any of its sequels. That isn�t a good example. Take a series directed by the same director and see how it goes downhill as a general rule. Most series keep using different directors though.

The novel for Shaft�s Big Score which sounds more like it was written before the movie and not a novelization of it. Arna is Cal�s wife in the book. She chooses respectable Cal over Shaft. They also didn�t have the helicopter finale.

The Chopper finale just struck me at the wrong time. I was tired and wanted the movie over. The scene was staged competently. It seemed that Shaft was a little too superhuman. Too many action movies have the hero able to defeat hordes of villains with absolutely no difficulty. It seemed Shaft would able to use more cunning to defeat them, that just a lot of bullets. But, I�m glad the helicopter wasn�t exploded with one shot.

My big problem with this movie is the pacing. I�m sure you noticed how prolonged the final chase was. It just didn�t seem that exciting. He�d fight the guys in the car alternate with the chopper and repeat for more than 10 minutes. I�ve mentioned the opening sequence and how long it seemed.

Still, a lot of other movies that tried ripping off Shaft were pretty bad. This movie�s biggest problem is it begs comparisons to the original. Nothing could really compare to it. If, Shaft�s name were dropped out of it, I probably would be fighting a battle by trying to think about this movie on its own merits. This movie stands better if you aren�t bringing the original Shaft into the fold.

Quotable Dialogue
"I think I can put a hand on her."
"The man's trouble, he's been to my house."
"You figure I'm bringing Bumpy in?"
"I've got a wife and 6 kids and an old Buick to support."
"Look, baby boo, there's troubles and troubles."
"Shaft is working for Bumpy?"
"Anything with a stick shift is my meat."
Morals of the Story
Cops search for bodies before fires are put out.
Mobsters play the clarinet.
Mafia dons love to cook.
Best way to tip a florist is to beat them.
Mobsters have their lackeys live with them.
New York City has San Francisco like hills.