For those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s the name
Richard Pryor immediately made you laugh. Pryor was a comedic genius who made
us laugh on record, in concert, on TV and in movies. While he received great
rewards for his abilities and accolades from his peers, he led a troubled life
in private. What this movie does is to attempt to tell you the story of the man
behind the laughter.
Using still photographs and narration, the movie talks about
the past of Pryor, from his early childhood to growing up living in a
whorehouse operated by his grandmother where his mother worked. It sounds like
a rough childhood and it was, leaving an impression on Pryor that he would live
with throughout his personal life. Along with the pictures there are interviews
with those who knew Pryor from early on and throughout his career.
The movie looks at Pryor and how he honed his craft starting
with comedy that was played safe for audiences to appreciate on television
shows and the clubs in Vegas. Then one night Pryor lets loose and does the kind
of comedy he wants to, using language that costs him his high paying Vegas
position and the threat that he would never play there again. But this was what
he wanted to do, this was the humor he found in the pain of his life that once
unleashed touched too many and was loved by them as well. These stories were
ones that some could relate to and others laughed at while feeling for the man.
As his career progressed Pryor was asked by Mel Brooks to
help him write the successful BLAZING SADDLES. What was interesting to me here
was that the black jokes were ones Brooks wrote while some of the more
intellectual jokes came from Pryor. But success here too came with a problem as
Brooks push to have Pryor play the lead role was shot down by Warner Brothers
who wanted a name actor, Cleavon Little, for the part. Without clout at the
time Brooks lost the battle and Pryor the part.
But it didn’t set him back near as far as it would some. Instead
Pryor began releasing comedy albums of his live performances that sold higher
than any comedy album in years. Through those albums he became a name to be
reckoned with and Hollywood came knocking at his door. His live performances on
film took in astronomical amounts at the box office. He soon began a string of
films alongside Gene Wilder that brought both of them fame and fortune. He was
riding the crest of the wave until his personal demons brought him down to
earth once again.
Pryor’s private life had numerous ups and downs. Married
seven times to five women, Pryor lived a lifestyle that couldn’t be contained.
Various bouts of drug addiction had him in a tailspin more than once. Then one
night while freebasing cocaine, Pryor lit himself on fire, resulting in third
degree burns over more than half of his body. The consensus was that he
wouldn’t make it through the night but he survived and came out stronger than
before.
Most of this is well known. Most of what I’ve written so far
as I go back over it are things that many of you know. There can be no spoiler
alert to a biographical documentary where we know the beginning, middle and end
of the story. So let me stop telling the story that is so well done in this
film. Instead let me talk about the quality of the documentary itself rather
than its subject matter for a bit.
The film does a great job of bringing the story of Pryor to
life for those who don’t know him or know of him. Unfortunately there is a
generation out there that falls into this category. With this film perhaps it
will give them the impetus to seek out his films, CDs and live performances to
discover how funny he could be and how funny he remains. At the same time I
hope they realize that there was more to his humor than his language. Far too
many comedians think that’s what made him funny when the truth is it was the
life that he brought to his characters as well as his being able to turn his
tragic early existence into humor that made him hilarious. Knowing more about
his life from this film should help to make that clear.
The combination of stills and live footage alongside
comments made by those who knew him works well in this case. From various wives
who lived with him to managers he kept or quit, all loved the man and speak
well of him here. Those who worked with him or who got to know him speak highly
of him as well. All show the deepest concern that they had for him when he went
down those dark roads of the soul. And each of them displays the loss they have
felt with his death.
If you don’t know Pryor I would highly recommend this movie
as a jumping on point. Then go find a copy of SILVER STREAK. Then WHICH WAY IS
UP? followed by STIR CRAZY. Add in BUSTIN’ LOOSE and RICHARD PRYOR: LIVE IN
CONCERT and my guess is you’ll wind up a fan.
Click here to order.
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