New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 5

By Ore gory Mim Courier Drama Music Critic It's a curious thing, this "Shaft" phenomenon. Fact it, I'm sure that not even M.G.M., the studio from uhich "Shaft" came, expected its soul detective wics to capture the Black public's imagination to the extent that soon after the initial "Shaft" release, other major film companies were brandishing their own versions of super slick, Black private eye types. Of course, the name of the game is money, and uhen Hollywood discovered the booming Black market, it promptly saturated us with Shaft tvpe characters. All of which were designed, not particularly with our best interests In mind, but to cash in on the "newly discovered" Black money. (Hey! I didn't know you people had money to spend on It's an arbitrary point perhaps, but In some circles, the original Shaft" movie Is credited as being the pivot film which unleashed the current Black movie boom, for better or worse.

However, the truth Is. that many of these films have been so very similar, In terms of content that the Intelligent Black film goer Is suffering from what must amount to cinematic overkill. All of which is directly related to the reasons why the latest M.G.M. John Shaft thriller is about as effective as yesterday's bowl of oatmeal. By no means does "Shaft In Africa" classify as what one would call a bad movie.

Certainly, in terms of what we've come to expect from adventure thrillers, "Shaft In Africa" is both superior and inferior to many past films of its kind. In truth, the newest Shaft adventure merely ranks as an average detective thriller which is not significantly special or better than any other run of the mill adventure films. (Yawn.) It's hard to determine whether or not Richard Roundtree is growing as an actor, or just become accustomed, despite two non Shaft roles, to portraying the character. Whatever the case, and I suspect it is the latter, he handles the part with his usual cool. Surprisingly enough, the film's African aspect is not blatantly exploited, as one might expect; it merely provides a different if not highly interesting context for portions of the film's action.

While the plausibility of an uptown dude like John Shaft, passing as a native African is somewhat strained, the low key acting and direction works to the extent that the film's very real lack of culture shock is not a glaring innaccuracy. Also, the sense of straight ahead, across the boards adventure, which pervades much of the film, does not give the viewer enough time to' ponder that particular rought spot. The recent under rated, though misguided "Superfly TNT" handled its frbe Dork Dotf I ft HlNlM tK W. Yj J.l i if 9. I I (i 'J I I I v.V ...4 1 A John Shaft The Third Forsaking his cuitomary leather coat and caliber pistol.

Rkhard Roundtree as detective John Shaft, takes off on the trail of African slave traders In the newest Shaft thriller. "Shaft In Now playing at the Stanley Theatre. African return to the mother country aspect with considerably more social comment, if not a self conscious awareness which I thought worked rather well. "Shaft In Africa," however, does not aim for such complexities, instead it seeks to provide basic entertainment without taking into consideration the thinking capacity of the audience. "Shaft In Africa" it seems, is just that, the John Shaft character in Africa.

There's nothing behind that, mind you. In the world of the intrepid Black detective, stalkin rats in Harlem, is the same as stalkin 'em in Addis Ababa. I would say however, that in the area of real dramatic content, "Shaft In Africa" outpoints the current smash "Cleopatra Jones" tOf course, at the tame limp, iht newest Shaft epic mut bend to "Cleo" in mearea or style and flash) Going further "Shaft In Africa" fmm viewpoint, perhaps ranks a the best film in mr enure "bhair series. Tnc films actual story line offers nothing particularly new to standard adventure film plotting. Essentially, it's about Shaft's infiltration nd destruction of a Kuropean crime syndicate uhich operates a slavery ring.

John Shaft, after receiving a crash course in tnba language, culture and folkways, as laugh by the lovely daughter of an African diplomat Vonetta McGee is sent to raise Hell vith the slave traders. (A tide note: Miss though not at yet an actress of the Cicely Tyson iiotnind aih caliber. Is certainly a hot bet i or rising stardom she Improves significantly with each performance and handles her throw away role In this film nun a certain articulate skill.) Needless to say, our intrepid hero trades in his leather coat Dlus .38 for a functional African garment and fighting stick, and proceeds to work his way through the siavers. wen, us not exactly gonna raise anybody's consciousness or anything, but us got a good beat, and you can eat popcorn to it. The almost obligatory, tasteless sexuality that is prevalent in manv con temporary Black and white escapist films is provided dv a young (age 19) foreign actress named Neda Arneric.

She Dortravs a nymphomaniac with a special interest in tsiacK males, or as she is referred to in the film, a woman who "sees the entire world in sexual terms." Part of her "thin" i being turned on, to the point of orgasm, at we signi oi oare chested, hard working Black men. Sterling Silliphant. the scriptwriter, would have us respond to her as an example of whit 3 decadence and corruption, but the role with which she's been provided is written in everyday kind of trashy terms, severely lacking the aristocratic facade necessary to carry it out. As mentioned previously, perhaps the main reason that "Shaft In Africa" comes across as just an everyday adventure thriller, lies not with the film itself, but with the cinematic overkill that currently exists. As viewer, we.

for the past ten years or so, have been assaulted with an overabundance of violent action, ranging from the humorous morbidities of the James Bond series, through the gut level gritty attack of the Clint Eastwood "spaghetti" westerns, down to the stylizations of Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange" and Peckinpah's "The Wild As a viewing audience then, perhaps we have become jaded to the extent that a film like "Shaft In Africa" seems merely a routine exercise in competent filmmaking. Fort Worth's experiment in rehabilitation By EDWARD A. FULTON FORT WORTH, Tex. James, red haired, lean, tough looking the conventional hood, leaned against the iron" bars of his prison door and talked about compassion. James was a heroin addict who turned to robbery and pushing drugs to support his habit.

He served time in Leavenworth, the Federal penitentiary in Kansas, and last year was transferred to the Fort Worth Correctional Institution (FCI). "You can't know the bitterness, the hate, that grows in a man at a place like Leavenworth," he said. "You walk a line. You keep your mask on. Maybe you find a group.

You know. You got to protect yourself. Maybe to run drugs inside. The rackets. Extortion.

"You talk about how to make a score when you get out. You plan your first job; who you're going to hit when you get on the street again. FEELING OF LOVE "I've never heard that here. I've never seen a place like Fort Worth. There's a warmth between the residents (inmates) here.

I mean Jiat. "You care about each other: We talk about how we're going to make it on the outside. There's a feeling of love here." The Fort Worth Correctional Institution spreads across the crest of a slow, grassy hill on the southern limits of Fort Worth in Central Texas. The grounds cover 200 acres, within the patchwork of chain link fences. Until Oct.

19, 1971, the complex was a narcotics treatment center. Then the experiment by the United States Bureau of Prisons called the "Spirit of Fort Worth" by the 531 inmates began. FCI is coeducational, which creates some controversy. Make and female convicts mixing not intimately, usually is what Warden Charles Campbell mush explain to visitors first. SEX NOTHING NEW "Sex is nothing new to most of the women we have here.

They've used sex all their lives. There are women here who never had much respect for themselves. They never thought of themselves as anything more than tramps, criminals and prostitutes. "They're troubled, unstable incomplete men and women. Maybe the road back for a woman who has prostituted is to have a healthy relationship with a man on a nonsexual basis.

Maybe a man here has never known a woman as just another human being, rather than somebody to go to bed with." Campbell said there have been five confirmed pregnancies in the two years of FCI. One involved a husband and wife. Campbell said sexual misconduct at FCI does occur, but happens far less often than at all male or all female prisons. And, he situations that flourish said, there is none of the elsewhere, "predatory" kind of sex, Last July 27,800 in the homosexual rape or mates of the Oklahoma the "walking partners" State Prison in 7 rut tx I i IK jiij w. FORT WORTH, TEX: Hand in hand, Dolores and Antonio stroll in the courtyard of the Fort Worth Correctional Institution (FCI).

Dolores was released on Aug. 30, and Antonio hopes to gain his freedom in December. In October, of '71 an experiment by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons called the "spirit of Fort Worth" by the 531 inmates began here. FCI Is coeducational, with male and female convicts mixing not intimately, usually in what Warden Charles Campbell must explain to visitors first.

McAlester rioted in what they called "a revolution in the name of Allah." Inmates died of stab wounds. Guards were beaten. The prison grounds glowed through two nights from the light of buildings ignited by firebombs. BOREDOM The next week a guard was knifed to death at Leavenworth. Michael, a silent, blond young man in his 20's, arrested for marijuana trafficking, was transferred into FCI from Leavenworth.

He knew the place, and he had an idea what caused the spark. "Boredom," he said. "That's all. Think about it. You get 2,000 men and put them in a cage and don't give them anything to John, who transferred into FCI from La Tuna in West Texas, agreed.

"You don't see any of that stuff here, do you?" he said. "You're not going to either. We got too much to lose here." tut: in in vtr i Nome, leisure, mis DhTKotT whrthrr )ou'r bu)in( a nr IV7I auto or Uintf iih )aur old cr, II U1 wrvt you brltrr and kmtfrr if au Uk cart of IL llcrr art MTit lip on car cart Irom auto indutry exprrU Turn off all acrrMortr and hratUiitliU briort kUrting a car. Tnry add lo the hravy currrnt drain of thr aUrtcr, rrduring the po rr in Uw butlrry nrcdrd (or thr hot part to ftlart thr engine. Turn on the courtny light uide your car hrn uing hradhtihu en route to work on a foggy or overcat morning.

Thry will trrve as a rrmindrr to turn off headlights when parking the car. Cars with automatic transmissions should never be shifted into the "Park" position until completely stopped. Shifting into "park" rule the car is in motion could snap off the lock pin, causing a costly transmission repair bill. Car air conditioners should be operated at least 10 minutes every week, even in the winter. prr rmt pin in engine rf ftrtmry and furl erutumy.

Heavy stapandgo driving tends to foul spark plug qutckly, rnjusrtng cleaning or replacement more oflrn than the recommended lo.ooo miles. A roughnru or break in the engine'srhythmgrnerally indicate a niufutng spark plug Shu abkorbm should be inspected periodically for example, whrn a car is placed on a lift for lubncatiun to louk for leaks and wear. Unlike a bad muffler or worn tire, they generally are overlooked during normal maintenance. The most noticeable characteristics of bad auto shock absorbers are severe body sway, a bouncing ride and front end dipping when braking. Shock absorbers normally need replacing after 20.000 to 23.0fo miles.

Never drive a station wagon with only the rear window opea The airflow can cause exhaust fumes to be sucked into the vehicle. Open a to keep the system lubricated f.ont window as well, or the and in good condition. Most air intake vents in the heater factory installed units can be used as heaters by simply moving the temperature control to the desired heat position. A slipping power steering belt can be detected by a pulsing feeling in the steering wheel when turning. All fan belts should be kept tight and in good condition.

If a car's steering wheel turns more than two inches in either direction before moving the front wheels, the wheel alignment should be checked. Loose steering often is accompanied by "wandering" or difficulty in keeping the car traveling in a straight line. When a steering wheel starts vibrating, especially at speeds above 45 to 50 miles per hour, it is a good indication that front wheels need balancing. The vibration or "shimmy" also can be caused by front end misalignment. The leading edges of hood and fenders of a car take a beating from grit and bugs at turnpike speeds.

To avoid rust, watch out for and touch up these areas and keep a good coat of paste wax on these surfaces. Vinyl car tops can be restored to like new condition with special color matching waxes available at most auto supply stores. Black shoe polish can be used to brighten and waterproof black vinyl tops. Inexpensive chrome or plastic molding available at auto, supply stores will help prevent chipped paint on door edges. The molding slips over the door edges and stops paint from chipping when the doors are opened against a garage wall or adjacent cars.

Voltage regulators on new cars are set for the average driver who puts about 12,000 miles a year on his car. Drivers who average substantially more miles should have the regulator adjusted to the annual mileage to avoid overcharging the battery. Vapor lock in the fuel line on a hot day can prevent a car engine from starting by blocking the flow of gasoline to the carburetor. Raise the hood to permit the engine to cool and the fuel blocking vapor bubbles in the fuel line to condense. Keep the fluid level in an automatic transmission at the proper level but never above it.

Overfilling causes foaming, resulting in slippage and the fluid spattering out through the vent. A car badly in need of a tuneup can waste up to 20 per cent of a tankful of gasoline. Most cars should be tuned once a year, or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. Spark plugs are considered the most important item in an engine tuneup. New, properly gapped plugs result in a 7 to 10 system, to break the suction effect.

Gasoline consumption increases substantially when driving on snow covered roads. Scientific driving tests show a car's gasoline consumption can increase as much as 50 per cent on snow covered roads. For faster engine warmup in cold weather, avoid turning on the heater for several minutes, after starting the car. The heater's cold air intake will prolong the time required to heat up the engine. Check air pressure in car tires only when they are cold or after the vehicle has been parked for at least two hours.

Hot Ures will show as much as six pounds higher than recommended pressure. Car owners should always see that valve stems are replaced when buying new tires. Old valve stems could be weakened with age and leak, or they could fail on the road with results similar to a blowout. Fan belts should be examined occasionally when checking oil, battery and radiator. If the belts appear frayed, glazed on inner surfaces, or stretched so thin they ride on the bottom of pulleys, replace them.

Noise created when a car's steering wheel is turned as far as it will go frequently can be eliminated with a drop of oil on the pressure relief valve of the power steering system. If a car's engine stalls when shifting to "drive" immediately after starting, it is probably starved for fuel. The choke butterfly may be stuck in the open position. If it is not stuck, the choke controls should be checked by a qualified mechanic. A hesitation in an engine when stepping on the gas pedal usually can be traced directly to the accelerator pump in the carburetor.

The stroke may need adjustment to insure the proper amount of fuel is entering the carburetor. A light ticking noise when accelerating a cold car engine usually indicates a worn or loose manifold heat control valve in the "at rest" or "cold" position. The ticking should disappear when the engine warms up and the thermal spring expands to rotate the butterfly. Black smoke when racing a car's engine indicates an excessively rich air fuel mixture. Remove the air cleaner and check for a sticking choke butterfly.

Motorists should never mix radial tires with any other type tires. Mixing radials with other types can adversely affect handling and performance to a degree that is unacceptable from a safety standpoint.