1974. D-D'Urville Martin. P-T. Toney and Rudy Ray Moore. S/P-Jerry Jones. 90 min.

   Dolemite (Moore) is released from prison (after being framed) in order to help the police catch Willie Green (Martin) and stop the drug trafficking in town. Dolemite's club has been taken over by Green and with the help of Queen Bee (Lady Reed) and her kung fu fighting girls, he gets his club back. We learn the mayor is the backbone to Green's organization and undercover officer Pete Blakely (Jerry Jones) helps Dolemite put an end to their operations.

    DOLEMITE features some of the greatest dialogue in film history. When confronted by crooked FBI agent, Mitchell and White, Dolemite warns, "Man, move over and let me pass. Or you'll hada be pullin' these Hush Puppies out yo muthafuckin' ass!!" When Dolemite approaches Creeper, known as the "Hamburger Pimp" he is warned "You better get on before you get jumped on! I'm so bad I kick my own ass twice a day!" Not to mention numerous other trademark lines you'll catch yourself repeating.

    Moore even has time to deliver some of his stand-up. "Shine and the Great Titanic" is done for some men in a parking lot that need proof he is Dolemite, and "The Signifying Monkey" is performed on the re-opening night of his club. Other points I found interesting is the fact that the boom microphone is visible in a large number of shots and it seems I discover a new scene each time I watch the film. Moore paraphernalia is seen adorning walls and in his dressing room as well as a "Dolemite for President" album seen in Creeper's room. While in the hospital, a "Dr. Feelgood" is called to Inhalation Therapy.

    DOLEMITE was Moore's first film as well as his best. The character is excellent, out kicking ass and leaving a foot print, but for a good reason. DOLEMITE has remained a classic in the genre.

    A soundtrack was released on LP and 8-track by Moore's own label, Generation, featuring an alternate title track (the film version has narration by Moore), and omits the film's closing track (Moore narrating again), but includes a track of Moore doing a bit from his Dolemite routine.

    The film's trailer is great and is a virtual non-stop barrage of fight scenes while Moore rants and raves ("I put my finger in the ground and turn the whole world around!") claiming that "If you crave satisfaction, this is the place to find that action!"

    Though filmed on a terribly low budget and looking very amateur, the film has a certain fun charm that makes this like one of Moore's party albums come to life. Everything is over-the-top, from the dialogue to the clothing. Some may think that the film is overly stereotypical of the black community of that time, but in essence it is more reality than fantasy. Shot in and around Moore's home and neighborhood, this was his reality, of course spiced up considerably by his imagination and comedic routines.