Posted on 10/24/2023 8:00:30 PM PDT by Macho MAGA Man
Richard Roundtree, star of the genre-defining blaxploitation series Shaft, has passed away at 81 years old, according to his agency.
Per Deadline, Roundtree died Monday afternoon surrounded by family, after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. A statement from his representatives reads:
“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree,” the agency said in a statement. “His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
....Snip.....
At the time director Gordon Parks was credited with kicking off what became known as the Blaxploitaton genre and delivering America’s first black action hero. And deservedly so. More than 45 years later, Shaft has aged into something even more exquisite.
Shot mostly on-location, few movies capture their time and place better. Moreover, watch it again and you will discover that Shaft really is not about race. That is what so many of its imitators never understood. As personified by star Richard Roundtree, John Shaft is the ultimate outsider, not because he’s black, but because he is an outspoken and unapologetic member of the smallest and most vulnerable minority in the world — John Shaft is his own man.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
*Shaft isn’t about race? OMG!*
In the overall scheme of things it didn’t matter. Think Sanford and son when blacks entered more the mainstream and people made fun of the race issue-didn’t choose sides so quick. Think Sly and the Family Stone. Funk was in and bridged the races. Even Archie Bunker made racism funny.
After the turmoil of the 60’s the 70’s are long gone. Hasn’t been the same since. The interests in keeping the races divided won out.
*Re-watched Shaft a few months ago - it was cool when I watched it in the 70’s, but it’s a bad movie. Has some good action, but the plot and the dialogue are just pathetic.*
Give them a break. It gave blacks an anti-hero to be proud of, like Harry Callahan. It was a popular but not-so-good movie propped up by the song. Great intro, right up there with Lou Reed’s Sweet Jane and Mellenkamp’s I need a lover.
Now THERE was a well-acted film
LOL
One of the best scenes on All In The Family was when Lionel Jefferson tore into Meathead, for only wanting to talk race issues with him...."How come we never talk about the weather...black people have weather too, you know!"
I remember Charlton Heston going on the Tonight Show to promote it. He said to Johnny Los Angeles is in ruins chuckling at the time. Wonder what he would make of it today?
I read somewhere that he was a former fashion model.
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