Dolemite

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Dolemite
Original one-sheet poster for Dolemite
Directed by	D'Urville Martin
Produced by	Rudy Ray Moore
Written by	Rudy Ray Moore (story) Jerry Jones (screenplay)
Starring	Rudy Ray Moore D'Urville Martin Jerry Jones Lady Reed Hy Pyke West Gale William Bryant Vainus Rackstraw
Music by	Arthur Wright
Cinematography	Nicholas Josef von Sternberg
Editing by	Rex Lipton
Distributed by	Dimension Pictures Inc.
Release date(s)	July 1, 1975 (U.S.)
Running time	90 min.
Language	English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

For the mineral, see Dolomite.

Dolemite is a 1975 blaxploitation feature film, and is also the name of its principal character, played by Rudy Ray Moore, who co-wrote the film. Moore had developed the alter-ego as a stand-up comedian and released several comedy albums using this persona. The film was directed by D'Urville Martin, who appears as the villain Willie Green. The film has attained something of a cult status, earning it a following and making it more well known than many of its counterparts. A sequel, The Human Tornado, was released in 1976, and a second sequel, The Dolemite Explosion, is due to be released sometime in 2008.

1 Characters of Dolemite
2 Proposed Remake
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Characters of Dolemite

Dolemite is the protagonist of the movie. Dolemite is seen jailed in the beginning of the movie, followed by a flashback of detectives examining the trunk of his Cadillac Sedan DeVille in which stolen fur coats and drugs were found. It is obvious Dolemite was framed, but he spends time in jail regardless. Dolemite is later pardoned and released. Throughout the movie, as Dolemite attempts to rekindle his reputation on the streets and reclaim his pride and joy (the club referred to as "The Total Experience") from Willie Green, he is constantly having run-ins with a pair of bumbling detectives, Mitchell and White, who framed Dolemite before (as seen in the flashback), and who are hell-bent on getting Dolemite back into the slammer.

Queen Bee (often called Queenie) runs a whorehouse that references Dolemite as the owner on several occasions throughout the movie. Queen Bee is the only woman in Dolemite's household who speaks to Dolemite as an equal, rather than a pimp. While Queen Bee is very emotional about having Dolemite return home after time in jail, no reference of an intimate relationship is ever made during the film.

Willie Green is the antagonist, and is played by D'Urville Martin (who also directed the film). Willie Green is seen in the initial flashback as having a leading part in the framing of Dolemite. Willie Green takes over Dolemite's club "The Total Experience" while Dolemite is serving hard time. Willie Green and the city's mayor have a peculiar partnership. The mayor will abuse his office in helping Willie Green avoid problems with the law, while Willie Green promises black votes for the mayor's upcoming re-election.

Reverend Gibbs is played by actor West Gale who also appeared in Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Death Curse. Gibbs is a black separatist with many connections and leads a fraudulent church. He tips off Dolemite regarding matters at the club and later is seen there with the Dolemite Girls karate-chopping one of Willie Green's thugs.

Blakely is an FBI man who, when the time is ripe, apprehends corrupt detectives Mitchell and White and the the corrupt Mayor.

Creeper is better known as the Hamburger Pimp, recognized by his dingy "white-T", characteristic pimp stroll (as he pulls up his pants), and constant begging for spare change and free food.

[edit] Proposed Remake

In 2001, Dimension Films announced that there was a remake of Dolemite in production, starring LL Cool J in the lead role. However, details released about it signaled major differences that would severely tone down the adult (and possibly politically incorrect) nature of the original film, such as making Dolemite not a pimp, but rather an individual framed for a crime he had not committed.

Due to massive delays, LL Cool J is no longer attached to the project, and Dimension Films has since given the rights to the project to Fallout Entertainment. There has been no word as to who will end up taking over the lead role (assuming the film is actually made).^[1]