Lenny (film)

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Lenny
Original movie poster
Directed by	Bob Fosse
Produced by	Marvin Worth
Written by	Julian Barry (screenplay) Based on his play Lenny
Starring	Dustin Hoffman Valerie Perrine Jan Miner Stanley Beck Gary Morton
Music by	Ralph Burns
Cinematography	Bruce Surtees
Editing by	Alan Heim
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	November 10, 1974
Running time	111 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

Lenny is a 1974 film about the life of the comedian Lenny Bruce, starring Dustin Hoffman. Directed by Bob Fosse. The screenplay by Julian Barry is based on his play Lenny.

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Cast 3 Awards 4 Trivia 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Plot summary

The chronology hops, skips and jumps between Lenny Bruce 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 to great, boring length. 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 died in 1966.

[edit] Cast

• Dustin Hoffman - Lenny Bruce
• Valerie Perrine - Honey Bruce
• Jan Miner - Sally Marr
• Stanley Beck - Artie Silver
• Rashel Novikoff - Aunt Mema
• Gary Morton - Sherman Hart
• Guy Rennie - Jack Goldman

[edit] Awards

It was nominated for 6 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

Valérie Perrine won the award for Best Actress at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival.^[1]

[edit] Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (April 2009)

• It was known that Hoffman would spend days listening and watching Bruce's routines and practice mimicking in front of a mirror to get the feel of the role.
• In his memoir Private Parts (book), Howard Stern said that he saw Lenny as the first date with his now ex-wife, Alison; he called this a good sign of things to come as he would later be compared to Bruce and recognize his influence. The film adaptation of Private Parts would feature similar interview transitions.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Lenny at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e The works of Bob Fosse Films Sweet Charity (1968) • Cabaret (1972) • Lenny (1974) • All That Jazz (1979) • Star 80 (1983) Television Liza with a Z (1972) Theatre The Pajama Game (1954) • Damn Yankees (1955) • Bells Are Ringing (1956) • New Girl in Town (1958) • Redhead (1959) • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961) • Little Me (1962) • Pleasures and Palaces (1965) • Sweet Charity (1966) • Pippin (1972) • Liza (1974) • Chicago (1975) • Dancin' (1978) • Big Deal (1986)