Richard Rowntree brings considerable charm to his portrayal of the clever Harlem private eye “Shaft,” who becomes entangled in some rather harsh New York political dealings. He's brought into the situation by local crime boss "Bumpy" (Moses Gunn) after Bumpy’s daughter disappears. The circumstances surrounding her abduction are unclear—there are no ransom notes and few clues, but numerous individuals come under suspi…

Richard Roundtree’s performance stood out, and the character of Shaft himself proved to be truly remarkable; however, the storyline lacked depth, and I wasn't entirely convinced by the supporting actors. The film also moved at a rather deliberate pace, creating the impression that the 100 minutes stretched on longer than it actually did. Nevertheless, it offered a decent start to what could become a worthwhile series…