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Shaft in Africa (1973)

R  112 min  -  Action | Crime | Drama   -  14 June 1973 (USA)
5.7
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Ratings: 5.7/10 from 1,263 users  
Reviews: 23 user | 17 critic

P.I. John Shaft is recruited to go undercover to break up a modern slavery ring where young Africans are lured to Paris to do chain-gang work.

Director:

John Guillermin

Writers:

Ernest Tidyman (characters), Stirling Silliphant

Stars:

Richard Roundtree, Frank Finlay and Vonetta McGee
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28 photos | 2 videos | 11 news articles | full cast and crew »

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Related News

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70s Rewind: John Guillermin's Shaft In Africa
10 June 2011 6:21 PM, PDT | Twitch
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20 July 2010 11:49 AM, PDT | The Guardian - Film News
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Roundtree ...
Frank Finlay Frank Finlay ...
Amafi
Vonetta McGee ...
Neda Arneric Neda Arneric ...
Jazar
Debebe Eshetu Debebe Eshetu ...
Wassa
Spiros Focás Spiros Focás ...
Sassari (as Spiros Focas)
Jacques Herlin Jacques Herlin ...
Perreau
Jho Jhenkins Jho Jhenkins ...
Ziba
Willie Jonah Willie Jonah ...
Oyo
Adolfo Lastretti Adolfo Lastretti ...
Piro
Marne Maitland Marne Maitland ...
Col. Gonder
Frank McRae Frank McRae ...
Osiat
Zenebech Tadesse Zenebech Tadesse ...
The Prostitute
A.V. Falana A.V. Falana ...
Ramila's Son
James E. Myers James E. Myers ...
Williams
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

John Shaft is persuaded by threats of physical force, the promise of money, and the lure of a pretty tutor, to assume the identity of a native-speaking itinerant worker in Africa. His job is to help break a racket that is smuggling immigrants into Europe then exploiting them. But the villains have heard that he is on his way. Written by Jeremy Perkins <jwp@aber.ac.uk>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Slavery | Africa | Rifle | Rolls Royce | Nazi Prison  | See more »

Taglines:

Shaft is stickin' it...all the way. See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Adventure

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

O Shaft htypa stin Afriki See more »

Filming Locations:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Shaft Productions Ltd. See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Goofs

Continuity: Shaft is nude while stick fighting with Oziot during the beginning of the film, yet Shaft can be seen wearing blue sweat pants in one shot. See more »

Quotes

Shaft: Look, why don't you get rid of that jolly giant over there, so you and I can get down to the finer strokes.
Aleme: Oziot has guarded me since I was a child. Sometimes I think of him as my living chastity belt.
Shaft: Damn! Man that size, baby, that's a whole lot of chastity!
Aleme: I'm still on my first age grade. We call that fareita. No one is permitted to marry while they are in fareita.
Shaft: What do you do for relaxation?
Aleme: I enter chala, my second age grade, this February. And even the emir's daughter may have sex and marry, after my clitoradectomy.
Shaft: Your what?
Aleme: My clitoradectomy. Female circumcision.
Shaft: You mean when they cut off your...?
Aleme: Are you afraid to say the word? My clitoris! Yes! That's what they do in the time of chala.
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ethnic Notions (1986) See more »

Soundtracks

"Are You Man Enough"
Sung by The Four Tops (as Four Tops)
Words and Music by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter See more »