Shaft (movie)

Shaft is a 1971 crime drama movie. It was directed by Gordon Parks.
Plot.
John Shaft, a private detective, is warned that some gangsters are looking for him. Police Lieutenant Vic Androzzi meets with Shaft. Androzzi unsuccessfully tries to get some information on the gangsters. When Androzzi leaves, Shaft sees one of the men waiting for him in his office building. He brings the first gangster into the office. The second gangster is waiting there. After a quick fight, Shaft avoids one of the gangsters, who goes out the window. The other gangster surrenders and tells Shaft that a man named Bumpy Jonas wanted a meeting between him and Shaft. Jonas is the leader of a Harlem-based organized crime family,
Shaft meets with Bumpy. Shaft learns that Bumpy's daughter, Marcy Jonas, has been kidnapped. Bumpy asks Shaft to make sure that Marcy is returned safely.
Shaft tracks down a man named Ben Buford. A big shootout takes place. After the shooting, Shaft is told by Vic that "he" (Shaft) was the target, and not Ben. But the view is black against white, according to the general public.
Vic shows Shaft two pictures of the Mafia men who arrived in New York City. 
Shaft suspects that gangsters are watching his place from a local bar. He pretends being a bartender. He calls the police to have the gangsters arrested. He later goes to the police station and sets up a meeting. The meeting is about where Bumpy's daughter is being held.
Awards.
The "Theme from "Shaft"" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The "Shaft" soundtrack album won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album. It also won a Grammy for Best Original Score, and two other awards
Reception.
The movie was one of only three profitable movies in 1971 for MGM.
"Shaft" was very successful. It helped pull a then-struggling MGM out of danger of bankruptcy.
The critics reviews on the movie were mixed. Roger Ebert gave the movie 2½ stars. Rotten Tomatoes rated this movie at 89%.
Themes.
"Shaft" spawned several years of 'blaxploitation' crime movies.