荒凉的美国西部，一条铁路正在修建中。由于铁路将穿过石脊镇，预感当地地价将大幅上涨的政客海德利（哈维·科曼 饰）计划将镇上居民尽数驱逐。居民方面担忧遭袭，寄希望于州政府为他们派遣一位强力的警长，岂料海德利背后运作，使州长任命史上首位黑人警长巴特（克力文·李托 饰）保卫石脊镇。巴特原是一名筑路工人，因殴打工程监工被处以死刑，谁知在被行刑前夕命运居然全然逆转，逃过一命的巴特并不能轻松，他还要面对石脊镇居民的白眼和海德利一方的匪徒，在镇上的昔日神枪手吉姆（吉恩·怀尔德 饰）帮助下，巴特连续挫败海德利的人手，但是真正的硬仗还在等待着他……

在他经典的 1979 年演唱会纪录片中，理查德·普莱尔广泛探讨了包括种族、警察在内的诸多话题，当然也少不了谈论他最爱的主题- 他自己。

Part live stand-up performance, part documentary, this film is one of comedian Richard Pryor's later stand-up performances. As foul-mouthed as ever, Pryor touches on most of the same topics as in his previous live shows.

Although Jo Jo Dancer has achieved success as a stand-up comedian, he hasn't found happiness. After receiving severe burns in a narcotics-related incident, Jo Jo remains in a coma, and, while in this state, he looks back on his life. Drifting off into memories of his troubled childhood, Jo Jo revisits his youth, recalling his eventual rise to fame and the decadence that followed. As he considers his existence, he must decide if he wants to go on living or not.