Criterion Reflections – Episode 119 – Gordon Parks’ Shaft’s Big Score!

David and guests talk about the second installment in the SHAFT franchise and also discuss TOP OF THE HEAP, both currently featured in the Criterion Channel's "Beyond Blaxploitation" bundle.

Criterion Reflections is David Blakeslee’s ongoing project to watch all of the films included in the Criterion Collection in chronological order of their original release. This fourth season of the podcast features conversations about movies that originally premiered in 1972 and were destined to eventually receive the Criterion imprimatur. In this episode, David is joined by Richard Doyle and Jason Beamish to discuss Shaft’s Big Score!, directed by Gordon Parks. We also discuss a bonus title from 1972, Top of the Heap, directed by and starring Christopher St. John. Both films were available on the Criterion Channel streaming service at the time of this recording.

The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Channel
Letterboxd
Wikipedia
JustWatch
The Gordon Parks Foundation
ArtNet
International Center of Photography
Life Magazine
National Gallery of Art
New York Times (obituary)

Shaft’s Big Score

The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Channel
Letterboxd
Wikipedia
JustWatch
New York Times (1972)
Roger Ebert (1972)
Attack of the 50 Foot DVD
Blu-ray.com
Derek Winnert
DVD Talk
Expelled Grey Matter
Marc Fusion
Mondo Bizarro
Rotten Reelz
The Spinning Image
TCM
Vern’s Reviews

Top of the Heap

The Criterion Channel
Letterboxd
Wikipedia
JustWatch
New York Times (1972)
Cool Ass Cinema
Marc Fusion
Mondo Digital
Outlaw Vern
Shock Cinema

Ice-T’s Guide to Blaxploitation:

Criterion Reflections blog (1922 – 1967)
Criterion Reflections columns on CriterionCast (1968)
The Eclipse Viewer
A Journey Through the Eclipse Series

CONTACT US:

David Blakeslee [ Website / TikTok / Facebook / Letterboxd / Instagram/ Twitter ]
Jason Beamish [ Film Ruminations / Twitter ]
Richard Doyle [ Letterboxd ]