U.K. Suggested Avails
BLAXPLOITATION!
ABAR: Black Superman
Tobar Mayo, J. Walter Smith, Roxie Young, Gladys Lum, Tony Rumford
Directed by: Frank Packard
A black scientist moves his family into an affluent neighborhood, only to be greeted with threats and vandalism by their new white neighbors. When the bigotry turns murderous, the good doctor works to transform his militant bodyguard into a black superman with fantastic physical strength and mental powers that set the stage for a remarkable climax!
“Strike fear into the hearts of intolerant racists everywhere.” Rovi
The Black Godfather
Rod Perry, Jimmy Witherspoon
Directed by: John Evans
A small-time numbers runner takes on the drug king pin that murdered his best friend.
Blackenstein
Referenced in Eddie Murphy's "Dolemite is My Name"!Joseph De Sue, Ivory Stone, Roosevelt Jackson, Liz Renay, Cardella Di Milo
Directed by: William A. Levey
Eddie, a Vietnam vet who has lost his arms and legs, is restored by DNA expert Dr. Stein. But the results turn monstrous when a rival for Eddie’s fiancée gives him the wrong medication.
Coonskin
Barry White, Scatman Crothers, Philip Michael Thomas, Charles Gordone
Directed by: Ralph Bakshi
“The most incendiary work of the entire genre” – Quentin Tarantino
Starring Scatman Crothers, Phillip Michael Thomas, and soul legend Barry White. Originally reviled by activists (who had not seen the film), Coonskin has now been acknowledged by critics as the important masterpiece that it is. Rap superstars The Wu Tang Clan have expressed their love for the film, and want to produce a remake.
“Coonskin could be RALPH BAKSHI’S MASTERPIECE.”-New York Times
Death Force
Remastered from Original Elements!James Iglehart, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy, Carmen Argenziano
Directed by: Cirio H. Santiago
After being betrayed by his friends, an American soldier on his way home from Vietnam is left for dead and is saved by a pair of Japanese stragglers from WWII, who train him in the way of the samurai.
The Muthers
Remastered from Original Elements! Brand New Acquisition! JAYNE KENNEDY BLAXPLOITATION CLASSIC! Out of the steaming slave markets come the ravaging sea-savages...THE MUTHERS!Jeannie Bell Jayne Kennedy Rosanne Katon Trina Parks
Climb aboard THE MUTHERS, the meanest, toughest and most action packed pirate ship in the pacific. Join Jayne Kennedy, Rosanne Katon, Jeannie Bell and their all female crew on a daring rescue mission to save one of their own from the clutches of vicious white slavers. Directed by the master of Filipino sleaze, Cirio Santiago. Newly restored from its 35mm negative
Lord Shango
A Battle Between Gospel Glory and Shango SACRIFICE! Remastered from Original Elements! 1974 lost blaxploitation/horror classic!Marlene Clarke Lawrence Cook Wally Taylor
Directed by: Ray Marsh
In this horror film, black African Christians confront the traditional religion of their peers when a Yoruban priest is drowned after attempting to stop the Christian baptism of a young girl and her mother. Trouble ensues when the priest comes back to life.
“Rife with powerful allegory … A film of style and deep substance that ranks among the best independent works of 1970s Black cinema.” – Screen Slate
This came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks…. extremely well constructed …. I can’t recommend it enough! – Chris Kirby, Letterboxd
Rudy Ray Moore is DOLEMITE (and more!)
Dolemite
Eddie Murphy stars as Rudy Ray Moore in 2019's "Dolemite is My Name"Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jerry Jones
Directed by: D'urville Martin
The legendary classic…the pillar of the ‘blaxploitation’ genre….Rudy Ray Moore is DOLEMITE!
Dolemite and his beautiful All-Girl-Army of Kung Fu Killers take on the corrupt city in this groundbreaking film whose influence is still being felt today. The basis for Eddie Murphy’s “Dolemite is My Name”!
“The Citizen Kane of kung-fu pimpin’ films”—New York Times
The Human Tornado
(Dolemite II)Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Ernie Hudson
Directed by: Cliff Roquemore
In this sequel to the smash hit Dolemite, Dolemite is on the run from a redneck sheriff who has caught him with his woman. Dolemite and his posse (including a young Ernie Hudson) dodge the sheriff and his bullets in a high-speed chase that takes them to LA. Upon Dolemite’s arrival, he learns that Queen Bee (Lady Reed) and her Kung Fu Girls have been pushed out of the night-club business by a ruthless competitor who ... Read more
“The most essential Dolemite movie…”-ColeSmithey.com
Disco Godfather
Remastered from Original Elements!Rudy Ray Moore, Carol Speed, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Jerry Jones
Directed by: D'urville Martin
Rudy Ray Moore’s fourth in a series of cult favorites finds him playing an ex-cop called back into action to stop an angel dust producer.
“Rudy Ray Moore is a comic genius.” –ColeSmithey.com
Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil’s Son-In-Law
Remastered from Original Elements!Rudy Ray Moore, Jimmy Lynch, Leroy & Skillet, Eboni Wryte, Wildman Steve
Directed by: Cliff Roquemore
One of the classic films from Dolemite himself – Rudy Ray Moore! Gunned down by the mob, a comedian is given a second chance at life if he will marry the Devil’s hideous daughter.
“…[Moore] delivers his particular brand of humor forcefully…” – Variety
The Legend of Dolemite
Bigger & BadderRudy Ray Moore, Mike D. (Beastie Boys), Ice T, Eddie Griffin, LaWanda Paige
Directed by: Ross Guidici
Rudy Ray Moore tells all as only he can in this all-new retrospective legendary career. From his humble beginnings to his crowning as “King of the Party Records,” Rudy Ray guides us through his struggles and triumphs in the film and music industries.
Rude: Rudy Ray Moore LIVE
Rudy Ray Moore, Leroy & Skillet
Directed by: Cliff Roquemore
Rudy Ray Moore brings his infamous original rap-comedy to the screen, featuring the routines that earned him the title “The Godfather of Rap”.
Rudy Ray Moore: Live at Wetlands
Rudy Ray Moore
Directed by: Donald H. Randell
Rudy Ray Moore returns to his R&B roots in this incredible September, 2000 live performance at Wetlands, N.Y.C. The man who taught America how to rap is back to show us how to sing the Blues.
“…he wisecracked his way through a world of uncontrollable lusts and endless battles: men challenging men for dominance, and women demanding that men perform.”—The New York Times
The groundbreaking classics of JAMAA FANAKA
Penitentiary
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Donovan Womack, Badja Djola
Directed by: Jamaa Fanaka
“Too Sweet”, a hardened but pragmatic inmate, joins the prison boxing team to secure an early parole. A highly acclaimed film directed by Jamaa Fanaka.
“Comparisons to ‘Rocky’ are inevitable, but ‘Penitentiary’ is too vital and personal to be a copy of anything.”—Los Angeles Times
Penitentiary 2
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ernie Hudson, Mr. T, Stephanie Mills, Rudy Ray Moore
Directed by: Jamaa Fanaka
An ex-con is forced back into the boxing ring as a condition of his parole. This big-budget sequel gave Mr. T his first major screen appearance.
Black Sister’s Revenge
Original Title: Emma MaeJerri Hayes, Ernest Williams II
Directed by: Jamaa Fanaka
COMPTON 1976: Emma Mae, a young woman from rural Mississippi, goes to live with her aunt and cousins in Compton, CA, following the death of her mother. Green as grass and far from beautiful, Emma Mae still manages to earn the respect of her peers with her positive attitude and her remarkable ability to kick ass!
“Watching Emma Mae kick the s#!t out of Jesse is certainly worth the cost of admission.”—Darius James, That’s Blaxploitation
Soul Vengeance
Marlo Monte, Reatha Grey
Directed by: Jamaa Fanaka
Convicted of a crime he did not commit, Charlie is bent on getting revenge on the cop who not only framed him, but mutilated his manhood. In his restored state, he can destroy his enemies and mesmerize their women!
“Blaxploitaiton made legendary!”
– rottentomatos
Street Wars
JAMAA FANAKAAlan Wone, Curtis Bush, Maria de Aragon, Eric Kohner
Directed by: Jamaa Fanaka
Jamaa Fanaka’s lost classic. A young man takes over as the head of a crack dealing outfit after his brother, the gang’s leader, is murdered…and creates a lethal ghetto air force using ultralights.
DOCUMENTARIES
What Killed Michael Brown?
Written and presented by Shelby SteeleShelby Steele
Directed by: Eli Steele
Shelby Steele has long argued that systemic racism is more a strategy than a truth, and that the universal oppression of black Americans is largely over with. But the 2014 shooting of a black teen, Michael Brown, by a white cop shocked the nation. In 2020, America was once again rocked by the brutal killing of George Floyd. Didn’t these killings, and others, put the lie to Steele’s argument?
This eye-opening documentary that examines the facts that ... Read more
Anyone who pretends to want to repair race relations in America, anyone who pretends to repair the world, anyone who wants justice needs to see this movie. – Times of San Diego
ABOUT FACE: Jewish Refugees in the Allied Forces
Peter Coyote (narrator), Henry Kissinger
Directed by: Steven Karras
Documents the as-yet-untold WWII story of young Jewish men and women who escaped certain death at the hands of the Nazis…and returned to fight them in Europe and North Africa. Told via the recollections of these brave men and women, the film chronicles the journey from Nazi victim, to refugee and finally, to Allied soldiers and spies.
“For all those who have not heard this story at their father’s or grandfather’s knee, and for anyone who has considered the question, ‘Why didn’t the Jews fight back?’ this is essential.” The Jewish News
Slippin’: 10 Years with The Bloods
a film by TOMMY SOWARDS and JOACHIM SCHROEDERThe Bloods street-gang
Directed by: Tommy Sowards and Joachim Schroeder
Over a period of 10 years, filmmakers Joachim Schroeder and Tommy Sowards hit the streets to follow a group of teenagers from L.A.’s Rollin’ 20s Bloods documenting the violent and troubled lives of one of the toughest gangs in the country.
“No preaching or moralizing…JUST STRAIGHT FORWARD TRUTH.”
-New York Times