Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin' | Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin' | Richard Pryor | Evolution/Revolution caught on film...

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Richard Pryor - Li...

	Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin' Richard Pryor Mpi Home Video, 2001 average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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Richard Pyror is one of the most innovative standup comics of his time. After serving in the Army, Pryor began his career spewing lewd thoughts and words at audiences around the country. He was fresh and groundbreaking and his use of extreme foul language made a statement. Soon Pryor began writing for the screen (Blazing Saddles) and acting (Stir Crazy, Lady Sings the Blues). But his real genius resided onstage in the hazy smoke-filled concert hall, microphone in hand. Now you can watch his earliest stand-up days at the New York Improvisation. Live and Smokin' was taped on April 29, 1971 and captures many classic Pryor routines, including the beloved "Wino Preacher and Willie the Junkie."

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Early Genius

There is a long sequence where Pryor plays two roles: one of a wino and one of a junkie. It starts off very funny, but then Pryor gets deep into the psyches of these damaged people, and it is heartbreaking. The piece turns into a brilliant piece of theater. Yes, there are more misses than hits in this 1971 performance, but there is no mistaking what a genius Pryor is.

Evolution/Revolution caught on film...

If the CD "Evolution/Revolution" gets 5 stars, why does this film get only 3.5? Yes, it's not as polished as his late 70s-early 80s concert movies, but this was done shortly after the phase where Pryor was transforming beyond a Bill Cosby-type comedian and had spent time with Berkeley radicals after re-evaluating where his comedic heart lay. (George Carlin went through the same kind of soul searching around the same time.) This is as brilliant as the "Wattstax" monologues, and the final Wino-Junkie part shows what a great actor Pryor could be. Check out www.richardpryor.com and see if it's available...support the site, and get it new for $10! If you appreciate Pryor's work, this film is a revelation, and since there's not a ton of earlier (pre-1975) filmed stand-up/or TV shots of his released out there (see the Flip Wilson DVDs and the Merv Griffin 40 People DVDs, for example), this is a great find!

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A Genius Begins

What can I say about 'Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin''? First, a big thank you to the filmmaker who had the insight to document this amazing comic genius on film. To see the beginnings of a man who would redefine comedy forever is a joy. Sadly, there is no film of Little Richard at his zenith in concert in 1956 & '57 and precious few concert clips of early Chuck Berry. But here enshrined forever is a 1971 concert of a slightly nervous, possibly high possibly in an attempt to kill the nervousness (not that that should be an excuse) Richard Pryor trying out his then-untested material that he worked diligently to develop the previous year in Berkeley, CA when he left his Cosby-copying, highly paid jive career. This film shows him trying to find his true comedic voice. One last thing--Pryor was unafraid to 'close a room' (I believe that's the term) I think it means to not be afraid to go there; to make members of an audience walk out midway through the performance. Pryor was fearless and it showed in his later work. He had to push it. He wouldn't be Richard Pryor if he didn't.

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Early Richard Pryor

Live & Smokin' does contain some funny material but this was one of Richard's first video recordings (if not the first) and he was very nervous. He was also recording in front of the wrong audience. They barely laughed at some really funny stuff. It is at times uncomfortable to watch because you find yourself feeling embarrassed for him. He wants to do well but the audience doesn't cut him any slack. It sounds like the audience is eating (you can hear silverware clashing in the background) and they weren't giving him their undivided attention. This video was shot in the wrong place. It should have been filmed in Atlanta or Detroit. I believe the response from the audience would have been better.

This is Richard Pryor in his embryonic stage. He was performing for the audience instead of performing for himself. If this video had been filmed years later, after his act had been polished, he probably wouldn't have given a flip about the audience being a drag. He would have just done his thing. Bless his heart, he was so nervous. At one point, he even asked the audience to pretend that the cameras weren't there. And if you watch it through the ending credits he even says himself, "This ain't as funny as we thought it was gonna be." You just want to go through the TV and hug him. The material was funny, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I give it 3 stars because of the film's location and because of the horrible ending. The editor just cut him off in the middle of a wino routine. If you are a die-hard Richard Pryor fan (like myself), I would recommend this video. But if you just want to see some good-old fashioned Richie Pry at his best, polished and all, "Live In Concert," or "Live on The Sunset Strip" may be a better choice for you.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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