Shaft in Africa

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Shaft in Africa
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Guillermin
Written by	Stirling Silliphant
Starring	Richard Roundtree Frank Finlay Vonetta McGee Frank McRae
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	June 14, 1973 (USA)
Running time	112 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Shaft in Africa, released in 1973, is the third film in the trilogy of films that starred actor Richard Roundtree as John Shaft. John Guillermin directed and Stirling Silliphant did the screenplay. The cost went up to $2,142, 000, but the gross fell to $1,458,000. MGM quickly sold the property to television, but the television series was cancelled after just seven episodes.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

While in Africa, 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 the country. 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.

Shaft must pass a test before being hired for the job; the test involves him surviving in a small, overheated room without water, and a floor covered in deep sand, mimicking the supposed conditions of Africa. Shaft ingeniously covers himself with the sand, thereby avoiding heatstroke and winning the contract from his employer.