Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7339 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 98 minutes

DVD Description
Live and Smokin’ is possibly the greatest example of Richard Pryor’s savage, pioneering comedy. Young, fierce and funny as hell – this is genuinely astonishing material.

Years before the cocaine abuse and movie roles tampered with his mettle, this is the full fire of the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. Filmed in a small, hip New York stand-up club in 1971 before a shocked crowd, this is one of modern comedy’s true defining moments.

Special Features
50 minute documentary - ‘Pryor Knowledge’ ‘The Richard Pryor Show’ Preview Extract: Aired on NBC in 1977, Pryor’s cutting-edge comedy sketch show dared to challenge censor’s restrictions like no other TV show before it.

Synopsis
Features footage from one of the comedian's early stand up performances.

Customer Reviews

From a Richard Pryor fan.
I’m here to share my perspective on this without beating round a bush. I’m a huge fan of Richard Pryor, I know he’s the greatest to ever do it, I’ve heard most if not all his material (Audio albums/ DVD imports) the lot… now this DVD I hadn’t seen and lord knows why it is only one of two DVD stand ups of Rich released in the UK… Coz even I can tell you… It was a huge disappointment… I laughed once… ‘Richard Pryor live on the sunset strip’ (His other UK Release) is close to being the greatest stand up of all time, by any comedian… Rich’s jokes are more or less ripped off by everyone from Eddie Murphy to Eddie Griffin, Chris Rock to Cedric the entertainer.. Unbelievable how much Richard Pryor material is bitten in ‘The original Kings of comedy’ yet so many remain ignorant of the mans impact on modern comedy… and even black people in show business… He broke down many barriers in Hollywood in the 70’s… anyway… Please do not let this disastrous, poor excuse for a quick buck determine your opinion on Rich… Even ‘Here and Now’ is much better.

Pryor
Have a coke and a smile :) this DVD is showing us Pryor at his early stages with his new raw humour! its like Pryor doing a live sketch pad show in a pub! the people there are his test drive audience, didn't anyone pay attention to the dvd contents?? this was filmed but it wasn't a big stand up show! or planned for a release at the time! its for Richard Pryor fans who want a glimpse into his delevopment/new direction from his 60's era! its hit and miss but great to see this guy have the guts to push/explore what he could do with comedy, he had to go through this to become the greatest comic of all time :) and what a job he did :) eventhough its not his best dvd, you will respect this release after seeing live in concert (later stuff)

Man, the guy who gave this 1 star! you should have bought Richard Pryor Live in Concert, this is pryor at his best

Sadly, terrible
Being a fan of early 70s black music, having grown up enjoying the more mainstream Pryor's appearances in films, heard of his influence on Eddie Murphy and heard legendary tales (and newspaper reviews) of RP's live performances, I was really looking forward to this DVD. Sheesh.
It barely raised a titter (scrub that; I didn't laugh once, and I even gave up 10 minutes before the end. Even alcohol didn't help). It's an ambarrassing watch. The whole routine is painfully unfunny. You can see the template for Eddie Murphy there, especially in the 'difference between white and black folks' material, but it's woefully badly done. Pryor raises laughs from what I suspect is a post-nightclub middle-class white crowd just by swearing and mocking tight-ass honky voices. Nothing wrong with swearing, if it's inventive but here the only possible reason people can be laughing is because 'he's being so street'. The only authentic thing is an underlying anger.
Pryor looks hellishly nervous and out of it: the whole thing gives the appearance of a sixth-form review's impression of some famous comic. Watching this, I'm mystified about how Pryor's reputation developed. Maybe the other DVDs are better, but I'm damned if I'm gonna shell out to find out.