Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)

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Director: Jeff Margolis

Writer/Star: Richard Pryor



The first standup comedy motion picture was a staple of midnight movie showings for years back when that was a thing.

 


Like many of my generation, I grew up listening to Pryor’s comedy albums.

 


As funny as they were, this film revealed to audiences that had not had the pleasure of seeing him in person that there was a whole dimension of performance of which they had been ignorant. 



In Pryor’s comedic universe, everything has a voice and a personality, and he embodies all of it. 



His act was devoid of jokes; rather, the humor emerged naturally from his topics.

 


Some of those topics, such as police brutality against black people, sadly remain shockingly relevant today. 



Pryor continues to speak to modern audiences.



















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