Dolemite Is My Name: 5 Interesting Facts About Eddie Murphy’s Movie

Quick Facts

Dolemite Is My Name is a 2019 movie written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski whereas Craig Brewer directed it. It starred actors like Keegan-Michael Key, Eddie Murphy, Mike Epps, and so many others. Prior to the film’s release, it was so much talked about to such extent that Eddie Murphy’s fans who saw the trailer predicted that it would probably win the veteran actor an Oscar. Find out all there is to know about the film below.

Dolemite Is My Name – What Is The Film All About?

The film was adapted after Rudy Ray Moore, the late American musician, singer, actor, comedian, and film producer whose character was portrayed by . Rudy was born in March 17, 1927, and he lived till October 19, 2008, when he died as a result of complications from diabetes. While he lived, however, Rudy was best known as Dolemite, a name which was derived from the mineral dolomite. Meanwhile, there was a “uniquely articulate pimp” at the time who also went by the same name.

As portrayed in the film Dolemite Is My Name, Eddie’s character Rudy had a hard time getting things right in his entertainment career. As he persevered, he later stumbled upon an epiphany that turns him into a stage sensation everyone wanted to listen and dance to. In addition, Rudy assumes the character of a man who went by the name Dolemite; many obscene stories were told about this Dolemite. With his new persona, Rudy Ray Moore as portrayed in Dolemite Is My Name became that star he had always wanted to be and even began attaining more than what he thought was ordinarily possible in his career.

As Rudy progressed in his music career, he got more and more confident and at a time convinced Jerry Jones, a social justice-minded dramatist played by to write a film for his alter ego. He requested that car chases and kung fu scenes get incorporated in the film. To add to this, Rudy also requested that the character of Lady Reed played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph who will turn out to be his comedic foil be written into the film.

In the course of making the film, Rudy had several clashes with the film director D’Urville Martin which was played by . In addition to the clashes, the production crew also had to surmount many hurdles as they had difficulties working on the project in their studio located in the dilapidated Dunbar Hotel. However, after the film was finished, it became a huge Box office success which also defined the Blaxploitation era.

Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a genre of films which became quite popular in the United States of America in the 70s. Such films tend to portray black characters as the heroes rather than the stereotypical villains, criminals, victims of brutality, or just sidekicks. An example of such a film as you already know is Dolemite Is My Name. Other examples include Coffy (1973), I’Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), Black Shampoo (1976), Jackie Brown (1997), Black Dynamite (2009), etc.

5 Interesting Facts About This Eddie Murphy’s Movie

1. It Features A-list cast

When you have an ensemble of some of the industry’s best coming together in one work, you can be assured they will portray the very best of their characters. The list of actors and actresses in Dolemite Is My Name include Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, as Jerry Jones, Mike Epps as Jimmy Lynch, Craig Robinson as Ben Taylor, Tituss Burgess as Theodore Toney, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Lady Reed, Wesley Snipes as D’Urville Martin, Aleksandar Filimonović as Joseph Bihari, Tip “T.I.” Harris, as Daddy Fatts, Ron Cephas Jones, Luenell as an aunt, Gerald Downey as Bob Brooks, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nick, Tommie Earl Jenkins, , and Sadè E. Moore.

2. Eddie Murphy’s Return

Eddie Murphy is one actor who has a huge fan following for his comedic attributes. His exploits on-screen dates back to 1980 when he made his first screen appearance on Saturday Night Live. As the years went by, the star actor was seen in several other films and television series which were mainly successful.

However, he has been scarce on-screen recently and his fans do miss him. The last we saw Eddie in a television series was in Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special (2015) while in a film, it was in Mr. Church (2016). Thus, his starring in Dolemite Is My Name has drawn lots of attention to the film.

3. The Costume

If you love the costumes used in Blank Panther, then be rest assured that you won’t be disappointed in the costumes used in Dolemite Is My Name as it is the same costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, that took care of the wardrobe in both films.

4. The Oldest and Youngest Actor in the Film

The oldest actor in the film is Ron Cephas Jones (born January 8, 1957) while the youngest actor in the film is Kodi Smit-McPhee (born 13 June 1996), he played the character of Nick.

5. Release Date

The wait for Dolemite Is My Name will soon be over. The film will first premiere on September 7, 2019, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Afterward, it will be released first to a few theatres in major metropolitan markets on October 4, 2019, before its digital streaming will begin on October 25, 2019.

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