Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982. 1 hr 21 min 14 sec) is a recording of Pryor’s two night sell out performance. The show was filmed at the Hollywood Palladium...

If you don’t know who Pryor is, as all stars fade over time, he was a multi-award-winning writer and comedian, known for both his stand-up routines as well as his successful pairing with Gene Wilder in several comedy films. This was not the limit of either Pryor’s accomplishments or acting range and he also took dramatic roles in films like Lady Sings the Blues (1972). In deference to his memory, we will all ignore the pile of poo that was Superman III (1983).

Unleashed and in front of an appreciative audience, Pryor is both extremely funny and extremely profane. Like Dave Chappell, who is the modern-day equivalent, no subject is off the cards. The show takes in masturbation, race, an approach to sex which may jar with a modern audience, he also includes the time he accidentally set fire to himself.

What Pryor did so well was to take aspects of his real life and experiences, wrap them up in comedy to tell a greater truth. This show is a fitting tribute to a man who was both funny and deep.

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Charles Packer