Richard Pryor

Just as Lenny Bruce gave a jolt to traditional stand-up comedy in the 1960s, Richard Pryor used joltingly frank language to describe his own experiences as a Black American in the 1970s. HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss this comedian's professional success and often-volatile personal life in this podcast episode. Pryor's impoverished youth provided him with a wealth of material that he turned to comic advantage in stand-up comedy routines, television shows and movies. Although Pryor enjoyed box office hits with movies including "Silver Streak" (1976) and "Stir Crazy" (1980), Marie observes that you get a better sense of his background and outlook with "Jo Jo Dancer Your Life Is Calling" (1986). And Mike says that Richard Pryor is at his absolute best in "Richard Pryor Live in Concert" (1979).