93 years ago, on this date in 1917, Rudy Ray Moore was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  From humble beginnings, Moore would grow up to become a comedian who inspires a cult-like following to this day.  Imagine Redd Foxx with even bluer material but less personal animus against the world and you might have some idea of the type of material that made Rudy Ray Moore famous.

Moore was not just a comedian.  He was also a self-proclaimed film star.  Dolemite, which he produced and starred in, remains his best-known movie.  Dolemite is a blaxploitation film but it’s a blaxploitation film unlike any other.  Moore plays Dolemite, a pimp who has been released from prison after serving 20 years.  Dolemite seeks revenge on the man who set him up, Willie Green (played by the film’s director, D’Urville Martin.)  Along the way, he proves himself to be the greatest kung fu-fighting pimp around.

Or, at least, that’s the idea.  As a movie, Dolemite is often considered to be an example of outsider art.  It’s a movie unlike any other and it is almost impossible to describe what it’s like to watch it for the first time.  In honor of Rudy Ray Moore’s birthday, here is one of the classic fight scenes from Dolemite: