Lenny (1974)

The story of acerbic 1960s comic Lenny Bruce, whose groundbreaking, no-holds-barred style and social commentary was often deemed by the Establishment as too obscene for the public.

Director:

Bob Fosse

Writers:

Julian Barry (play), Julian Barry (screenplay)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine, Jan Miner

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Lenny Bruce
Valerie Perrine	...	Honey Bruce
Jan Miner	...	Sally Marr
Stanley Beck	...	Artie Silver
Frankie Man	...	Baltimore Comic
Rashel Novikoff	...	Aunt Mema
Gary Morton	...	Sherman Hart
Guy Rennie	...	Jack Goldstein
Michele Yonge	...	Nurse
Kathryn Witt	...	Girl (as Kathie Witt)
Monroe Myers	...	Hawaiin Judge
John DiSanti	...	John Santi
Mickey Gatlin	...	San Francisco Policeman
Martin Begley	...	San Francisco Judge
Mark Harris	...	Defense Attorney

Storyline

Interview-style biography of controversial and pioneering stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce. The film traces Bruce from his beginnings as a Catskills comic to his later underground popularity based on his anti-establishment politics and his scatological humor.

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Plot Keywords:

stand up comedian | comedian | scatological humor | death | contempt of court | 

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Taglines:

Lenny's Time Has Finally Come!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lenny Bruce

Filming Locations:

Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 1,021,233 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marvin Worth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Sherman Hart is based on Milton Berle; the real name wasn't used because Berle was still alive and there were fears he might sue for libel. But the character uses all of Berle's mannerisms and trademark shtick, including sticking the cigar under his top lip.

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Goofs

During the movie's opening monologue, Lenny says that it's 1964 and then references the MDA Telethon, which debuted in 1966.

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Quotes

Lenny Bruce: Did you know that Eleanor Roosevelt gave Lou Gehrig the clap?

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Connections

References I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955)

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Soundtracks

"It Never Entered My Mind"
by Miles Davis

User Reviews

A great performance unknown to many today

I saw this film during it's initial release in the theaters but have only seen it twice since then. It didn't get much of a TV life. Dustin Hoffman is stellar as social commentary/satirist/observationalist/blue language comic Lenny Bruce. He was nominated for Best Actor for the 1974 Academy Award for his role but lost out to Art Carney for Harry and Tonto. Veteran actor Albert Finney was also nominated that year but Carney won on sentiment and Hoffman lost out when he and fellow nominees Jack Nicholson for Chinatown and Al Pacino for Godfather II split the vote which led to Carney's win. Valerie Perrine in her only Oscar nomination of her career was up for Best Actress. Lenny was up for most of the major awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Bob Fosse. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Cinematography but came up empty in all six nominations. Hoffman had just come off playing another biographical figure of Louis Dega in Pappion and would be Carl Bernstein in his his next film All the President's Men. Lenny Bruce had only been dead for eight years when Hoffman portrayed him on the big screen so much of the audience knew Bruce fairly fresh in their memories so to portray a contemporary figure of Bruce's genius and legend was not an easy role for Hoffman to step into but his portrayal of the doomed and controversial comic is compelling. Fosse, known for his choreography which is still being used in films like Chicago years after his death only directed five theatrical films and three of those were musicals in Sweet Charity, Caberet and All That Jazz so Lenny would be the first of only two non-musicals he would direct, both biographies, Lenny and Star 80. I don't think as a film this had enough to be a best picture but Hoffman was deserved of his best actor nomination and arguably should have won the Oscar for it. I would give this an 8.5 out of 10 and recommend it.