| Dynamite Chicken | |
|---|---|
The cover for the film |
|
| Directed by | Ernest Pintoff |
| Produced by | Ernest Pintoff |
| Written by | Ernest Pintoff |
| Starring | Richard Pryor |
| Distributed by | Tango Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | January 3, 1972 |
| Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Dynamite Chicken is American comedy film from 1972, starring Richard Pryor.
“A contemporary probe and commentary of the mores and maladies of our age... With shtick, bits, pieces, girls, some hamburger, a little hair, a lady, some fellas, some religious stuff, and a lot of other things” boasts the films opening titles. An American film from 1972 involving Richard Pryor, and partly funded by and featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It is a collection of subversive comedy sketches and routines relating to the peace movement. Many famous figures appear as themselves in the film, including Joan Baez, Lenny Bruce, Leonard Cohen, Allen Ginsberg, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Malcolm X (from archival footage), Andy Warhol, Al Capp, Muddy Waters, Sha-Na-Na, Al Goldstein and Yoko herself. The making of the film coincided with a period of excess and chaos in Pryor's life, and he appears noticeably strung out throughout.
"Not to be confused with blunt comedies like The Kentucky Fried Movie or Tunnel Vision, the film is comprised of archival footage, comedy sketches, spoken word recordings, candid in-the-street interviews, live performances, Hollywood movies, and vintage educational films. In fact 'Dynamite Chicken' could easily be called a De-Educating film. Its tag-line paints the perfect picture: 'Let’s hear it for sex, drugs, and rock’n roll!' You’ll find conflicting politics, racism, sexism, religious taboo, a lot of nudity, homophobia, cultural injustice, privilege, poverty, facts, bullshit, and a nun doing a striptease act. Something to offend everyone." writes Jon Dambacher from four-frames.com