Product Details

• Actors: Richard Roundtree, Frank Finlay, Vonetta McGee, Neda Arneric, Debebe Eshetu
• Directors: John Guillermin
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305811725
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,603 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #26 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Action Stars > Richard Roundtree
  #67 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Blaxploitation

• This is item 3 in The Shaft Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The second sequel to the hit Shaft, this film foreshadows itself early on when Shaft, asked to go undercover in Africa to halt modern-day slave trade, claims that he's not James Bond but strictly Sam Spade. Bond, however, is the operative model here, with John Shaft masquerading as an Ethiopian to infiltrate the slave business and bring it down. Yet everyone he encounters seems to know who he is and wants to kill him--but the string of dead bodies he leaves in his wake across two continents proves that no one is able to stop everyone's favorite hip private eye. Written by Stirling Silliphant, the film is long on action set pieces that are filmed with more energy than in Shaft's Big Score. Given contemporary practices involving smugglers of illegal Chinese and Mexican immigrants, the plot isn't all that far-fetched. Roundtree, as usual, is the picture of unflappable cool--but don't get him mad. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars John Shaft Plays James Bond in Africa, January 24, 2002

By	Tsuyoshi - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Shaft in Africa [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though the second sequel to "Shaft," there's no remaining trace of the first two "blaxploitation" films. "Shaft in Africa" looks more like a big-budget 007 film, and instead of Roger Moore, put Richard Roundtree in the hero's role.

The pair of director John Guillermin and writer Stirling Silliphant will definetely reminds you of "Towering Inferno," pinnacle of the "disaster movies" in vogue in the 70s, and "Shaft in Africa" has the same feeling -- it is packed with actions and violence, plus costly set (or shots on location). This time Shaft, in order to stop the modern-day slave trading in Africa, has to endure a chains of brutal attacks from enemies and the scorching heat of Afraica. The globe-trotting story leads him from NYC to Ethiopia, and then to France. And Shaft doesn't forget that he is THE sexy guy; Shaft's love is played by beautiful princess Vonetta McGee, and he even spends a good time with a white girl in bed.

If you expect "blaxploitation" films in "Shaft in Africa" you may be diappointed. It is no longer that. The total tone is nearer to films of James Bond (to which Shaft refers briefly) and actions never stop coming on screen between Shaft's one-liners. As far as the actions are concerned, it never lets you down, and you will see unique things here and there that you can find only in the 70s: in one scene Shaft, completely naked, proves that he can do stick-fighting (!).

Overall, "Shaft in Africa" is a good action film. Often its violence is excessive, but the film's pace is always slick and Roundtree plays convincingly the cool and sexy hero. There is no more Isaac Hayes theme song, but Four Tops's great song will make you forget that. And don't miss the airport scene in which Shaft has to take a photo with a lion. This lion (of course, he is a real one) is audacious enough to give him a quick, threatening look to him. Shaft (or Roundtree) doesn't look happy about that.

3.0 out of 5 stars International Mission for Shaft !, May 8, 2009

By	Mountain Man "nostalgic movie goer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaft in Africa (DVD)

The tagline(s) for the third installment in the Shaft trilogy says it all. "The brother man in the motherland", & "Shaft is stickin it all the way". Shaft is recruited to stop a slavery racket..(Africa to France). Shaft,(Richard Roundtree) is in top form as a hard lovin, hard fightin, detective/spy in this flick. Shaft abandons his "iron" and uses a stick in some well choreographed fighting scenes. Plenty of violence is served up as the man overseeing the slavery racket, Amafi (Frank Finlay) is aware of Shaft's identity, thanks to a double agent. The Shaft chicks are the beautiful Vonetta McGee and Neda Arneric. (Vonetta McGee) Aleme - is the daughter of the emir (Cy Grant) who hires Shaft to infiltrate the international slave trading racket. Aleme gives Shaft a tutorial in the tribal customs and the language spoken preparing him for his trip to Africa. He in turn gives her a tutorial all his own.

Shaft also gets to nail the slave dealers amoral mistress...Jazar. Delectable blonde, blue eyed, Neda Arneric (Yugoslavian actress), who makes her American film debut. Aboard a slave smuggling ship from Africa to France, Shaft gives Jazar the eye as she is looking super sexy, and the feeling is mutual. She makes arrangements to spend the night with our hero, in what turns out to be an incredibly sexy & steamy seduction scene. The musical score and more specifically, Johnny Pate's guitar work, spices up some scenes. The Four Tops provide the theme song, "Are You Man Enough". Shaft makes his way to Paris and takes care of business. This film definitely has the flavor of a Bond flick as Shaft gets a couple of gadgets for his mission. A definite step away from the first two Shaft flicks and worth a view.

3.0 out of 5 stars Shaft in Africa, June 12, 2008

By	Terry Appel - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Shaft in Africa (DVD)

The third of the Shaft series and even though not as good as the orginal still not a bad flick.