Disco Godfather

Disco Godfather (1979)

Runtime: 98 minutes

Directed by: J. Robert Wagoner

Starring: Rudy Ray Moore, Julius Carry, Hawthorne James, Jimmy Lynch, Jerry Jones

From: Generation International

Due to time reasons, I'll copy and paste what I wrote about the movie on Letterboxd, along with some additional info.

This is a film I had seen before, but that was back like 11 or 12 years ago and I only remembered small bits and pieces of it. When I saw that TCM Underground would be showing it late at night Saturday night, I figured it was the perfect time to revisit that film.

To copy and paste part of the plot description from the IMDb: "A retired cop becomes a DJ/celebrity at the Blueberry Hill disco-- he's the "Disco Godfather!" All is well until his nephew flips out on a strange new drug that's sweeping the streets, called "angel dust," or PCP. Disco Godfather vows "to personally come down on the suckers that's producing this shit!" He takes to the streets, slaps drug dealers and even exposes a crooked cop that is covering for the dealers. In between, he still finds time to manage the Blueberry Hill and perform. "Put a little slide in yo' glide," he pleads to the patrons, "Put some weight on it!" (a phrase he says at least 2 dozen times).

It's a typical Rudy Ray Moore movie, both good and bad. The production was pretty low-rent and had plenty of mistakes. The acting can be pretty putrid. Yet, it is also fun to laugh at and with and enjoy the wacky things Moore said or marvel at his over the top outfits... or guffaw at the awfulness of the "martial arts" skills of Rudy.

While there are some slow moments, some things stand out, that being most loud and clear the disco theme; heck, Moore's character owns a disco club so you see people dancing, even on roller skates in one scene. What groovy music it has. There's also them trying to present a genuine warning about the dangers of PCP, which at the time was seen as a big threat. Sure, this movie ended up being goofy with a lot of unintentional humor, but at least they tried. How can you hate a movie with characters named SWEETMEAT and STINGER RAY? Stinger Ray is the villain, at that.

The real highlight is when you get to see the visions that invade the minds of those who are trippin' balls on PCP. They are wacky surreal and tickled me pink. Wait until you see Rudy Ray Moore trippin' balls, to give out a spoiler.

I know that not everyone can tolerate Rudy Ray Moore being loud and crazy Rudy Ray Moore. But, if you can and you laugh at how bad and yet how funny Dolemite is, then you definitely should see this out and enjoy its unique aspects... and put your weight on it.

I'll be back tomorrow night.