Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

While I like pretty much all of Richard Pryor's work, I suspect that "Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'" probably embarrassed him a little bit. The humor is very dated, and Pryor looks somewhat uncomfortable here.

But even so, he certainly tells some funny stuff. I think that my favorite of his material here is the stuff about the Nixons (this was filmed in 1971); I get the feeling that Pryor's assertion about their sex life was an accurate one.

So anyway, hard-core Pryor fans won't want to miss this one, but others might not feel so enthused. OK in a pinch.

Though this Pryor comedy was released in 1985, the stand-up was filmed in 1971 (suprised). This is some of Pryor's best comedy to date, mainly because this is the stuff that came before Pryor became more mainstream (if he ever had a mainstream). Hilarious, if you don't mind being offended (I don't, In expect it). A

How could anyone call this material dated? It is priceless, timeless and unmatched. It was also his first performance recorded for an album. I love it.

The skits are masterpieces! I learned about politics, religion, relationships, etc., all from Richard Pryor. He brought it to you real....and real funny.

He and Carlin set the standard for comedy. They were unafraid to delve into any area. This DVD is 20th century history and should be placed in a time capsule along with other significant items like the Rubix cube, The Watergate Tapes, and the Ford Pinto, etc. to ensure an accurate portrayal of the 1970s in America.

The King is dead but not forgotten.

This guy was so far ahead of his time that a NY audience doesn't even come close to getting it. Prior improvises, switches gears, does serious monologues and character pieces.

It's a shame there isn't more material with this guy doing what made him famous...

With it being Black History Month and all, I've been going through various movies featuring people of color in chronological order since the first day of February. So now I'm at 1971, April 29th in fact, at New York Improvisation where Richard Pryor has his stand-up act being filmed for the first time. Lots of stuff about getting' some especially with white women, a few digs at the Nixon White House, the contrast between his people and the white people he knew, before he finishes with a rambling monologue about an elderly and drunk man he portrays thinking back to when he was young. The last one seems more serious in intent so not much laughs there. In summary, most of what I heard wasn't great but since this was when he was truly exploring his background for material, there were still some genuine laughs coming from me when he touched on subjects like Dracula with black people or someone's reaction when the ice cream man's music is heard in the 'hood as well as some of the above. So on that note, Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' is worth a look.