Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1971 TV Special) User Reviews

As funny as Pryor can be

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 16 June 2000]

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

still, it's not quite his best

[lee_eisenberg · 6/10 · 7 October 2007]

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.

Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' is a worthy look at his stand-up from the early '70s

[tavm · 6/10 · 7 February 2012]

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.

Concert movie, not that smokin'

[videorama-759-859391 · 4/10 · 17 May 2017]

The weakest of the four, as we watch the birth of a comedy genius unfold. This is a more raw type of concert, as we're not in the usual, vast, lively and favorable surroundings. Instead we're in a dark smoking atmosphere, where the daily lunch and dinner specials read in the b.g, as for forty five minutes, it's the usual Pryor comedic routine, but to a litter duller and a bit halted extent. Richard, doing those voices, especially that familiar women's voice, that I love so much, while delivering those fictional stories, Pryor, a really good actor, don't forget, putting voices to em'. There were a few intermittent chuckles, as this was Pryor in his prime, before Hollywood came knocking, and he went onto much bigger success as a comic, so it's good to see him here in his early and humble beginnings. This is a more personal concert one, too, Pryor reflecting, home truth and life experiences, whether drugs, whatever. He also brings up the clap, and potters around with it, exorcising it in classic Pryor style, even taking it up a notch, by adding 'black' to it. He doesn't get the most receptive audience as to his later concerts, where of course, this was early days. Laughs are scattered, some of his material patchy, a lot of his jokes to me, kept falling on deaf or unamused ears. But still it's worth a watch, where we witness a comedy great, and the funniest black man in America. RIP, Richard.

Brilliant

[marc-151 · 10/10 · 29 March 2002]

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...

This Was The King At His Earliest and Rawest

[zulubeat · 10/10 · 18 July 2008]

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.

Richard Pryor

[ryanlhobson · 9/10 · 1 October 2010]

This was his first and probably darkest comedy he ever did. He talked about the real deal. How he felt about life and how he saw life. He may have been joking but there was a lot of "his" truth in his words. Especially in the end when plays a drunk person who is down on his luck. Its like he has for sure either been there or knows someone who has. He portrays a black alcoholic with a huge chip on his shoulder and it is very sad indeed. Pryor was the first of his kind and many people have tried to follow in his footsteps and have gotten lost along the way, such as Murphy. Thank you for all you did to make me life and thank you for all the memories!