Richard Pryor Live

Known for his observational humor, he takes on his family with respect, like the bit with his grandmother's funeral. In his act, he seems to show little more respect for women than some comedians do. Pryor pokes a lot of fun at himself, his wife and the law. While he has a huge stage to himself, he uses it for some very funny physical routines that warrant its use.

He brilliantly takes on the voices of many characters and furthermore, he interjects the voice and thoughts of his dogs, and monkeys and he even takes on the voice of internal pain if you are not in shape. He also becomes the voice of body parts, such as the hilarious words from his heart (the organ while experiencing a heart attack.) It is funny to hear him when, vocally, he imitates the "white person."

He doesn't display the angst many of black comedians do, that is why his humor works for many! Yes, there is profanity, but he is NOT as disgusting or crude as so many others. Like most comedians of his type, there are always the sex routines.

To say this is funny is an understatement. It is hysterical with nonstop laughter throughout. Some routines are his fear of swimming, running to be in shape, the Chinese stutterer, in the woods, boxing, and his role as a parent, that classic bit when he finds his kid in a lie.

This 1979 90-minute performance is a classic! It's easy to see why Pryor is a major influence on the best comedians around....(...)


Pryor is great, DVD sucks   January 14, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This DVD is a travesty. This is one of the great stand up comic shows of the last 50 years and yet the DVD sound track is off by so much that it is distracting. Stay away. Perhaps the VHS tape is better.


DO NOT BUY!!!!!   January 3, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is the funniest 90 minutes of my life!

However, the audio syncing on the DVD is SO BAD that it is extremely distracting. Buy the VHS version.


Funniest thing I've ever seen...i couldn't breathe....   December 3, 2003
Richard Pryor is the king of comedy, now and forever...broke all the rules...set the scale for Murphy, Rock, Williams, everybody.....amazing, so original...timeless...funniest sh*t i have ever seen....


unbeatable!   November 12, 2003
D. Cerundolo (Australia)
All that can be said is that Richard Pryor is pure comedic genius! It is certainly obvious who Eddie Murphy was influenced by. The sound could have been re-worked for this DVD, but it's still a classic to own.