description Eddie Murphy: Raw Overview
Eddie Murphy: Raw is a 1987 stand-up concert film that places Murphy's energetic stage presence at the center of an extended adult comedy performance. His observational material develops through storytelling and impersonation, with changes in voice and posture turning reported conversations into acted-out scenes. Relationships and the behavior of people around him provide recurring subjects, while his delivery alternates between direct argument and exaggerated character performance. The explicit language and confrontational sexual material make it a work for adult audiences.
Its place in Murphy's career and its connection to later styles of character-driven stand-up give it interest beyond the individual routines. Fans of classic comedy can compare its longer arguments and stories with the earlier Delirious performance. Viewers drawn to sharply performed social observations and theatrical delivery are likely to find more here than those seeking restrained or family-oriented humor.
help Eddie Murphy: Raw FAQ
Where was Eddie Murphy's Raw stand-up special filmed?
The comedy special was filmed at the Felt Forum in New York City, which is a theater located within the Madison Square Garden complex. It was released in theaters as a feature film in 1987, becoming a massive box office success for a stand-up movie.
What is the famous opening sketch of Eddie Murphy: Raw?
The special famously opens with a fictionalized flashback of a young Eddie Murphy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, performing a stand-up routine at a youth center. This skit humorously sets up the central theme of the special, which revolves around Murphy's complicated relationships with women.
What did Eddie Murphy say about Bill Cosby in the Raw special?
In the special, Murphy delivers a legendary routine about receiving a condescending phone call from Bill Cosby, who scolded him for using profanity in his act. Murphy then hilariously recounts calling Richard Pryor for advice, leading to Pryor famously telling him to tell Cosby to "have a Coke and a smile and shut the f*** up."
Who directed the film version of Eddie Murphy: Raw?
The 1987 stand-up film was directed by Robert Townsend, an accomplished comedian and filmmaker himself. Townsend captured the performance using multiple camera angles to emphasize Murphy's incredible energy and commanding stage presence during the nearly two-hour show.
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