Lenny Bruce Without Tears

Jul 5 1972 Not Rated 1h 25m
Biography, Documentary

The outrageous, groundbreaking comic Lenny Bruce, whose iconoclastic material in a conservative era got him into tragic trouble, is profiled by a close friend, Fred Baker, who prefers to remember the laughs Lenny Bruce's memory evokes instead of the tears. By presenting Bruce's landmark skits on the Steve Allen Show, his failed TV pilot episode and a candid interview with Nat Hentoff, Bruce's genius and anguish show through the dramatic and tragic trajectory of his career from aspiring artist to hunted "lawbreaker".

Plot

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

Barbara Baker, Fred Baker, John Parson

Directed by

Fred Baker

Cast

Lenny Bruce, Steve Allen, Fred Baker

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
157
Average Rating
6.2 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA