The World of Shaft

A Complete Guide to the Novels, Comic Strip, Films and Television Series

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by Steve Aldous

Type

Studies

Subject

One Film > Shaft

Keywords

Gordon Parks, characters

Publishing date

2015

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 268 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN

978-0-7864-9923-6

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Book Presentation:
Mention Shaft and most people think of Gordon Parks’ seminal 1971 film starring Richard Roundtree in a leather coat, walking the streets of Manhattan to Isaac Hayes’ iconic theme music. But the black private dick who inspired the blaxploitation film genre actually made his debut on the printed page as the creation of a white novelist. Ernest Tidyman was a seasoned journalist down on his luck when he decided to try his hand at fiction. Shaft was the result, giving Tidyman the break he was looking for. He went on to become an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and respected film producer. Based on extensive research of Tidyman’s personal papers, this book tells the story of Shaft from the perspective of his creator. The author provides new insight and analysis of the writing of the Shaft novels, as well as the production of the films and TV series. First-ever coverage of the forgotten Shaft newspaper comic strip includes previously unseen artwork. Also included is Shaft’s recent reappearance on the printed page, in both comic book and prose form.

About the Author:
Steve Aldous has a lifelong interest in film, TV and popular music. Author of a number of well-received short stories, articles and essays, he lives in Bury, Lancashire, UK

Press Reviews:
"Excellent"—Kirkus Reviews
"Buy this book…pretty much all you’d ever want to know about Shaft"—The Thrilling Detective Web Site
"Extensive information…the only go-to quick reference you’ll ever need…essential"—Cinema Retro
"Shaft’s creator, Ernest Tidyman, provides the inspiration and extensive personal notes for the basis of this exhaustive study of the first true ‘Blackploitation’ print and film star…Shaft’s early life, his influences, motivation…makes for a fascinating read"—Collector’s Corner
"Relates a story of a pioneering "blaxploitation" film of 1971- and the novels from which it was drawn and the comic strip and brief TV series that expanded the genre"—Communications Booknotes Quarterly
"A wonderful, fascinating, well-researched, and extremely detailed look into every permutation of Shaft…everything a Shaft fan could want, filled with terrific details on the writing and development of the books and films…excellent…strongly recommended"—Lee Goldberg, author and producer

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co

See Shaft (1971) on IMDB ...