Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jeff Margolis

Cast: Richard Pryor

Running time: 78 minutes

By the end of the 1970’s, comic Richard Pryor had been through many issues with the law due to his drug consumption and his usage of his gun collection, and he had been through some health scares, because of a heart attack, but, when he got on stage in Long Beach, California, in December 1978, the man was in top form.

For more than an hour, Pryor discussed the differences between white people and black people, drugs, guns, dogs, family and many other topics.

If you are offended by the n-word, even when used by an African American, steer away from this show. Pryor uses it so frequently that is soon becomes just another word. Considering the era this show was shot in, it is not that shocking.

Many critics and comics consider Richard Pryor: Live in Concert one of the seminal pieces of the art of comedy. It is indeed a very good show. Richard Pryor was a ball of energy coming straight at the crowd, without hesitation or physical restraint. His stuff here was a little “one-note” for me, but that one note was very strong.

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