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Lenny (1974)
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Synopsis
Adapted by Julian Barry from his own Broadway play, Lenny manages to be both brutally frank and highly romanticized in detailing the short life and career of influential, controversial stand-up comedian
Lenny Bruce
. The chronology hops, skips and jumps between Lenny (
Dustin Hoffman
) in his prime and the burned-out, strung-out performer who, in the twilight of his life, used his nightclub act to pour out his personal frustrations at great, boring length. We watch as up-and-coming comic Bruce courts his "Shiksa goddess," a stripper named Honey (
Valerie Perrine
). With family responsibilities, Lenny is encouraged to do a "safe," conformist act, but he can't do it. Constantly in trouble for flouting obscenity laws, Lenny develops a near-messianic complex, which fuels both his comedy genius and his talent for self-destruction. Worn out by a lifetime of tilting at Establishment windmills,
Lenny Bruce
died of a drug overdose in 1966. Director
Bob Fosse
chose to film Lenny in black-and-white, giving the film the texture of a documentary. Though a film as verbally graphic as Lenny could not have been made when the real
Lenny Bruce
was alive, audiences in 1974 responded, to the tune of an $11 million gross. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
Stanley Beck
Artie Silver
Jan Miner
Sally Marr
Gary Morton
Sherman Hart
Rashel Novikoff
Aunt Mema
Valerie Perrine
Honey Bruce
Dustin Hoffman
Lenny Bruce
Production Crew
Roland "Ozzie" Smith
Camera Operator
Bruce Surtees
Cinematographer
Ralph Burns
Composer (Music Score)
Albert Wolsky
Costume Designer
Bob Fosse
Director
Alan Heim
Editor
David V. Picker
Executive Producer
Douglas Green
First Assistant Director
Ted Zachary
First Assistant Director
Ralph Burns
Musical Direction/Supervision
Marvin Worth
Producer
Robert Greenhut
Producer
Joel Schiller
Production Designer
Julian Barry
Screenwriter
Nicholas Romanac
Set Designer
Dennis L. Maitland
Sound/Sound Designer
Richard Vorisek
Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1974
Runtime: 111
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: R
Category: Feature
Genre
Drama
Produced by
United Artists
Awards
1974 - Best Picture - Academy
1974 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1974 - Best Picture - Academy
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