After Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song hit theaters in 1971, a new film genre began to take shape called “Blaxploitation.” Despite protests from the NAACP, movies like Shaft, Super Fly, and Blacula were raking in the money. Around this time, Rudy Ray Moore released his comedy albums Eat Out More Often and This Pussy Belongs To Me. Both found huge success, but sales declined in 1973, so Moore decided to take his material to the next level. Moore decided to make a film about his pimp character Dolemite, raising $100,000 of his own money to finance it. He met writer/actor Jerry Jones through a mutual acquaintance, who agreed to work with Moore on the script. Jones recommended actor D’Urville Martin to direct, though Martin fully admitted he was only in it for the credit. Following an arduous production, Dolemite made its way onto the big screen in 1975.
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Synopsis
Dolemite (Rudy Ray Moore) is a pimp serving time after being set up by his rival Willie Green (D’Urville Martin). With help from his friend Queen Bee (Lady Reed), the warden lets Dolemite walk free to take down Willie Green. Along the way, detectives Mitchell (John Kerry) and White, who helped Green, hassle Dolemite at every opportunity. Joined by his squad of kung-fu killer prostitutes, Dolemite takes back his club and rebuilds his reputation. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Blakely (Jerry Jones) monitors the situation and keeps tabs on what Dolemite is up to. However, it turns out that Willie Green is working alongside Mayor Daley (Monte ‘Hy’ Pike), who’s pushing for reelection. With the corrupt cops and rival gangs coming in on all sides, Dolemite is in the ride of his life. He’s going to let them know that Dolemite is his name, and f***in up motherf***ers is his game!
Review
Dolemite is a film that shouldn’t work, but it rises above its shortcomings to become extraordinary. It has a very homegrown feel where you can tell everyone involved tried their best, even with their inexperience. Jerry Jones is arguably the best actor out of the entire cast, only going over the top when necessary. While he does at times look sleepy, Rudy Ray Moore is firing on all cylinders as the titular hero. Moore has a way with words and delivers some of the most quotable dialogue you’ll ever hear in a movie. Vainus Rackstraw, who plays the small role of Creeper, is memorable for just how weird and drugged out he is. Plus, he has a catchy theme song which, like the rest of the music by Arthur Wright, is fantastic. Of course, there’s the theme song by Ben Taylor, which is just the cherry atop this sundae.
Admittedly, the flaws are more than apparent here, but they don’t entirely lessen how enjoyable the film is. For one, it’s clear that D’Urville Martin didn’t care when he was directing, as most of the shots look flat. The plot has more holes than swiss cheese, scenes don’t flow together, and there are several dead spots. Also, even in the correct aspect ratio, there are several times where filming equipment and crew members are visible. Apart from Moore and Jones, the rest of the acting ranges from mediocre to subpar to hilariously awful. However, many of these flaws add to its charm, much in the same way as The Evil Dead. The film goes by quickly at about 90 minutes long, though your enjoyment will vary based on your sensibilities. Overall, Dolemite has its fair share of problems, but it more than deserves its status as a blaxploitation classic.
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