Lenny Bruce Without Tears (1972)

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85 min - Documentary | Biography

6.1

Ratings: 6.1/10 from 59 users
Reviews: 4 user | 8 critic

Documentary on the life and death of Lenny Bruce.

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Cast

Credited cast:
	Lenny Bruce	...	Himself / Various (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Steve Allen	...	Himself / DJ (archive footage)
	Fred Baker	...	Narrator
	Martin Garbus	...	Himself (archive footage)
	William Glenesk	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Rev. William Glenesk)
	Nat Hentoff	...	Himself (archive footage)
	Frank Hogan	...	Himself (archive footage)
	Paul Krassner	...	Himself (archive footage)
	Malcolm Muggeridge	...	Himself (archive footage)
	Mort Sahl	...	Himself (archive footage)
	Jean Shepherd	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Jean Shepard)
	Kenneth Tynan	...	Himself (archive footage)

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Storyline

This documentary tells the story of the rise and fall of Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), hip comedian and bête noire to the establishment. The film makes the case that Bruce was impoverished and broken by a series of unjust arrests and prosecutions in the 1960s. Clips of Bruce performances, "bits" as he calls them, dominate the film, from Steve Allen's TV show to night-club appearances late in life when he would mine his arrests for material. Malcolm Muggeridge calls Bruce a moralist. A former assistant district attorney from New York in effect apologizes for his part in persecuting Bruce. The bounce and snap of Bruce in the 50s transform into ironic social commentary. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

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