That multi-talented Rudy Ray Moore first introduced the Dolemite persona as part of his stand-up comedy act serves as a signifier that the Dolemite movie franchise is set squarely in the "camp" camp. As the producer, co-writer, and star of Dolemite, Moore created an over-the-top caricature of blaxploitation films, hiring friends and fellow comics to work as both cast and crew.

Whether audiences "got" the joke or not, the film proved a cultural phenomenon, inspiring a few sequels, including The Human Tornado (aka Dolemite II), each more outrageous and preposterous than its predecessor.

Here's the NSFW trailer, complete with ass-kicking, bare breasts, simulated coitus, and more "n-bombs" than a Geto Boys single:



SWEET! The Blaxploitation Film Series invites folks to watch blaxploitation films in a raucous, interactive setting, where laughter can offset that icky feeling elicited by so many racial stereotypes, anachronistic slurs, fashion faux pas, and hyperbolic comic book violence.

While it is notable that the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the National Urban League formed the Coalition Against Blaxploitation, effectively petitioning against the "genre" throughout the 1970s, blaxploitation films enjoyed a popular, if somewhat ironic, resurgence in the 1990s thanks to Quentin Tarantino, hipster video store clerks, and the rise of hip-hop in pop culture.

In this latest revival, put together by CL contributor and former CL Charlotte editor Carlton Hargro, The Human Tornado is slated to strike this Saturday, December 8 at 3 p.m. at the Apache Café.

We're offering 2 pairs of passes to the show to the first two people to name their favorite film by the father of the cinematographer of the original Dolemite. Leave your answer in the comments below (or send an email to arts@cln.com).

(Winners will be notified by email.)

Complete information on the program follows: