Listen up, you rat soup-eating insecure motherfuckers: Dolemite is coming to Blu-ray this spring thanks to the fine purveyors of trash at Vinegar Syndrome. And luckily for you, The A.V. Club is giving away five copies of the cult classic that The New York Times called “the Citizen Kane of blaxploitation films.”
Released in 1976, Dolemite starred comedian Rudy Ray Moore as the title character, who is newly released from prison after being incarcerated on a bogus charge. He attempts to return to the streets, rebuild his reputation, and reclaim his club, The Total Experience, because Dolemite is his name and fucking up motherfuckers is his game. (He also does not like to wear cotton underwear.)
Shot on a budget of an estimated $100,000, Dolemite has gone on to become a favorite for fans of primo trash. And thanks to Vinegar Syndrome, the new Blu-ray will probably look better than it did during its run in the grindhouse cinemas of the ’70s. This release has been painstakingly restored from a long-lost 35mm negative, allowing fans to see the ever-present boom mic in glorious HD.
The Blu-ray will also feature a new documentary from American Grindhouse director Elijah Drenner, archival interviews with Moore, new interviews with the surviving cast, and an audio commentary by Rudy Ray Moore biographer Mark Murray. Vinegar Syndrome will follow Dolemite with new releases of The Human Tornado, the horror-comedy Petey Wheatstraw, and the bizarre Disco Godfather.
Dolemite will hit shelves April 26th, but The A.V. Club is going to help you get your hands on one early, you no-business, born-insecure, junkyard motherfuckers. To enter to win one for free, send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Dolemite.” Please be sure to include your full name and mailing address in the body of the email (U.S. entrants only). We’ll select our winners, at random, from eligible entries on Friday, April 15th. Winners will then be emailed directly with further instructions for claiming their prize.
Can you dig it?