Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin'

Description

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."

Customer Reviews:

A star is born.......2007-08-19

The birth of a baby is a wonderful event, but it is something that I would rather not witness firsthand. Live & Smoking is the birth of Richard Pryor. I'm the first to argue that Pryor is the greatest, but this early performance is very hard to watch. Pryor is obviously drunk or high, very nervous, and not funny at all. The footage is ugly and between the low sound quality and Pryor's occasional incoherent rambling, thank heaven for subtitles. This DVD is of interest to diehard Richard Pryor fans only. It is amazing that he could take this seemingly terrible act and somehow refine it and polish it to grow into the star that we love. To casual comedy fans Pryor says after the credits, "I guess the [show] wasn't as funny as we hoped." Heed his warning and check out his other shows.

Early Richard Pryor.......2006-12-03

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.

A Genius Begins.......2006-09-25

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.

Early Genius.......2005-10-29

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.

just not really funny.......2005-10-28

If you aren't really into jokes about the difference between black/white, sex, drugs and how bad gays are this is not for you.

I had seen other stuff by Pryor I always liked but this time I never once really laughed out loud. It was dissapointing, good thing he has so many other good stuff

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