Lenny (1974)
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine, (more)
- Director(s):
- Bob Fosse
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Lenny
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, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 111 mins
Complete Cast of Lenny
- Dustin Hoffman - Lenny Bruce
- Jan Miner - Sally Marr
- Gary Morton - Sherman Hart
- Phil Philbin - New York Cop
- Clarence Thomas - New York Attorney
- Mark Harris - Defense Attorney
- Allison Goldstein - Kitty at Age 1
- John DiSanti - John Santi
- Lee Sandman - Judge
- Ric O'Feldman - Court Clerk
- George de Witt - Comic
- Mike Murphy - District Attorney
- Don Newsome - Connection
- Ted Sorrell - Defense Attorney
- Valerie Perrine - Honey Bruce
- Stanley Beck - Artie Silver
- Rashel Novikoff - Aunt Mema
- Bruce McLaughlin - Judge
- Frank Orsatti - Hunter
- Bob Collins - New York Assistant DA
- Bridghid Glass - Kitty at Age 2
- Monroe Myers - Judge
- Martin Begley - San Francisco Judge
- Guy Rennie - Jack Goldstein
- Robert Parsons - Chicago Plainclothesman
- Jack Nagle - Rev. Mooney
- Susan Malnick - Kitty Bruce at Age 11
- Director(s):
- Bob Fosse
- Writer(s):
- Julian Barry
- Producer(s):
- Robert Greenhut, Marvin Worth
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Not For Children, Sexual Situations, Profanity, Adult Situations, Nudity)
- 1975 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Most Promising Newcomer
- 1975 - Cannes Film Festival - Best Actress
- 1974 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actress
- 1974 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Supporting Actress
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