Lenny Bruce Without Tears [1972]

Lenny Bruce Without Tears (1972)


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151327/

Directed by
Fred Baker

Writing credits

Barbara Baker
Fred Baker
John Parson

Lenny Bruce ... Himself / Various (archive footage)
Steve Allen ... Himself / DJ (archive footage)
Fred Baker ... Narrator
Martin Garbus ... Himself (archive footage)
Reverend 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)
Lyndon Johnson ... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

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.