Roundtree's Choice: Film

Saturday, October 4, 2008
Richard Roundtree, right, star of Gordon Parks' 1971 film "Shaft," accepts the fourth annual Choice of Weapons Award from the 2006 winner Howard Bingham a world-renowned photographer at Friday night's Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity's Choice of Weapons Award ceremony in Fort Scott, Kan.

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- "This man meant a lot to me," said Richard Roundtree as he looked at the photo of Gordon Parks, which decorated his Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons award Friday night. "Next to my dad, this is singularly the most important, pleasurable ... person."

The award presentation was in honor of Roundtree's roles of strength in the black community throughout his life.

Roundtree, maybe best known for his starring role in the 1971 Gordon Parks-directed film "Shaft," was born July 9, 1942 in New Rochelle, N.Y. He began what looked to be a promising athletic carrier in college, but left the field to pursue acting.

Joining the Negro Ensemble Company's Acting Workshop in 1967, Roundtree, despite some stage acting experience, was virtually unknown -- that is, of course, until he was selected to portray private detective John Shaft in a film that would quickly prove to be a powerful step forward for the black community.

"It put me on the map," said Roundtree. "For quite a while I looked at it as a negative, because everyone wanted me to do variations of Shaft and it took me a while to come to the realization that, hey, that's not a bad thing."

Richard Roundtree, star of Gordon Parks' 1971 film "Shaft," offers Parks' daughter, Tonie a hug after a question and answer session Friday afternoon at the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity in the Fort Scott Community College The forum preceded a special screening of "Shaft." Roundtree became the fourth person honored with the Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award Friday night at an awards ceremony in Fort Scott, Kan. --Michael Pommier/Herald-Tribune

The Shaft portrayed by Roundtree would come to define "cool" for nearly a decade after its release and began a film movement known commonly as "blaxploitation." Both Parks and Roundtree have been named as the founders of this movement.

"The success of Shaft was really the fact that, here's a (black) guy that makes his own moves and he didn't answer to anyone. He was his own man and that was unique in that point in time," said Roundtree. "You didn't see any of that with the rare exception of Sidney's (Poitier) films." In fact, "Shaft" might have been a Sidney Poitier film; but he didn't test for the part.

"Sydney Poitier wanted the role but he wouldn't do the test. If he had done the test Sidney Poitier would probably been Shaft… A lot of things happened on that film … but the uniqueness of that character was a huge turnaround in that industry."

"It's very interesting what happened you started seeing a lot more mustaches and jackets in leading men. especially in television."

Following his success as Shaft, Roundtree has appeared in hundreds of roles.

Friday afternoon, prior to the awards ceremony, local residents filled the Gordon Parks Center at Fort Scott Community College to hear the star reminisce about his experiences both in film and with the local legend, Parks.

Roundtree, alongside Parks' son, David, made an appearance at the center to field questions about his life and how it was affected by Gordon just before a special screening of the film.

"He's (Parks) always been a mentor to me," said Roundtree as the special forum. "I mean, he is obviously a very huge hero to me and an incredible human being; probably the most important male figure in my life."

In addition, Roundtree held a question and answer session with another star born of Gordon, Karole Graham, just prior to the award presentation Friday night. Graham, a star of the 1969 film "The Learning Tree," asked Roundtree about his experiences with Gordon.

Roundtree described Gordon as a "beautiful man," explaining that "he always ruled with such quiet authority."

The lively event did hit a somber note, when Graham mentioned Roundtree's ongoing involvement in male breast cancer awareness efforts.

As a breast cancer survivor, Roundtree first offered a quick anecdote telling of how he thought his doctor was "Insulting my manhood," when he was diagnosed; but he quickly showed his respect to the subject calling it a "backhanded blessing."

Roundtree said he has been approached by many individuals, crediting his promotion of early detection with saving their lives.

Roundtree is a member of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and has offered his story to several publications in the hope of supporting the early detection of breast cancer in men.

In addition to his infamous roles in "Shaft" and Gordon Parks' 1972 sequel to the film "Shaft's Big Score!," Roundtree spoke of another role he accepted and the special reason it became one of his favorites.

Roundtree's father, John -- a Pentecostal minister -- would not view his son's films; but his father did agree to see "Once Upon a Time ... When We Were Colored." According to Roundtree, after watching the movie, his father "didn't look at me. He just said 'well done.'"

The ceremony was ended with world-famous photographer and 2006 Choice of Weapons Award winner, Howard Bingham presenting Richard with the 2008 award.

"Anything that has Gordon's name on it, that I'm associated with is incredible," said Richard. "So, this is very big."

The late Gordon Parks is a Fort Scott native who dedicated his life to inspiration through the arts. His resume includes the authoring of numerous books, poems and screenplays, as well as, directing 10 feature films and photographing picture known around the world. Gordon was the first black man to direct a feature film, "Shaft" and the first black photographer for Life magazine.

"We are very pleased that Richard Roundtree will receive this award," said Gordon Parks Center Executive Director Jill Warford.

"He was the star of the Shaft films directed by Gordon Parks, has worked on stage and in film consistently and has done much to promote male breast cancer awareness. Most importantly, he had a long and close relationship with Gordon."