Story of movie Lenny Film : Lenny is a 1974 American biographical drama film about the comedian Lenny Bruce, starring Dustin Hoffman and directed by Bob Fosse. The screenplay by Julian Barry is based on his play of the same name.
| Lenny | |
|---|---|
Original film poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Fosse |
| Produced by | Marvin Worth |
| Written by | Julian Barry |
| Starring | Dustin Hoffman Valerie Perrine |
| Music by | Ralph Burns |
| Cinematography | Bruce Surtees |
| Edited by | Alan Heim |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $11,622,000 (rentals) |
Screenplay
The film jumps between various sections of Bruce's life, including scenes of when he was 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. We watch as up-and-coming Bruce courts his "Shiksa goddess", a stripper named Honey. With family responsibilities, Lenny is encouraged to do a "safe" act, but he cannot 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 dies of a morphine overdose in 1966.
- Dustin Hoffman as Lenny Bruce
- Valerie Perrine as Honey Bruce
- Jan Miner as Sally Marr
- Stanley Beck as Artie Silver
- Rashel Novikoff as Aunt Mema
- Gary Morton as Sherman Hart
- Guy Rennie as Jack Goldman
Director Fosse decided to cast a real life Broward County Bailiff in the role of the Dade County Bailiff who would drag Dustin Hoffman (Lenny) out of the Courtroom. Aldo DeMeo, the President of the Bailiff's Association at the time, was offered the role. Though DeMeo was uncredited, the scene when Lenny is removed from the courtroom was chosen as the clip screened at the Academy Awards to represent the film as a candidate for Best Picture. Casting was completed by Florida-based casting director, Beverly McDermott.
Lenny was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
Valerie Perrine won the award for Best Actress at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2012, British film critic Mark Kermode put Hoffman's performance as Lenny Bruce at number eight in a top-ten video of Hoffman's best performances.
Lenny has received a 95% "Fresh" score on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews.
One of the less enthusiastic reviews came from Roger Ebert stating "Unless we go in convinced that Lenny Bruce was an important performer, the movie doesn't convince us."
Lenny was released to DVD by MGM Home Video on April 1, 2003 as a Region 1 widescreen DVD and by Twilight Time (under license from MGM) as a Region 1 widescreen Blu-ray Disc on February 10, 2015.
- List of American films of 1974
- List of black-and-white films produced since 1970
- George Carlin-the 70s equivalent of Lenny Bruce
