John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is the ultimate in suave black detectives. He first finds himself up against Bumpy, the leader of the Black crime mob, then against Black nationals, and finally working with both against the White Mafia who are trying to blackmail Bumpy by kidnapping his daughter.

otsoNY Comments: As the opening credits appear, detective John Shaft is seen walking across 7th Avenue in front of the on coming traffic. Rumour has it, the director instructed the actor to walk down the sidewalk and into the actual traffic with no stunt drivers, thereby capturing the real results from cameras positioned in various different locations.

7th Avenue and West 42nd Street, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: If you look closely, you can see the church doorway opposite the hotel. This church was used in 1980 as the main entrance to the High School of Performing Arts better known as Fame. The street was also used for the dance scene where the students hold up the traffic and dance to the Fame theme tune.

West 46th Street (btw 6th and 7th Avenue) Manhattan.

Times Square (Broadway, 7th Avenue, West 42nd and 47th Streets) Manhattan.

Shaft's Apartment 55 Jane Street and Hudson Street, Manhattan.

No Name Bar, 621 Hudson Street and Jane Street, Manhattan.

Caffe Reggio, 119 MacDougal Street and West 3rd Street, Manhattan.

MacDougal Street and Minetta Lane, Manhattan.

Bleecker Street (btw MacDougal Street and Sullivan Street) Manhattan.