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Richard Pryor - Live & Smokin'
Price: $19.98 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786304642948
Format: Color, HiFi Sound, Live, NTSC
ISBN: 6304642946
Label: Mpi Home Video
Languages: English (Original Language), Analog
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Mpi Home Video
Release Date: September 30, 1997
Running Time: 48 minutes
Studio: Mpi Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: April 29, 1971
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Editorial Review:
Richard Pryor 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
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - 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 ... Read More
Rating:  - A star is born
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 ... Read More
Rating:  - 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 ... Read More
Rating:  - 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 ... Read More
Rating: - 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.
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