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Lenny
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02:44
Lenny
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- 1974
- Bob Fosse
- 106 mins
- X
Summary
Dustin Hoffman stars in an uncompromising account of the life of Lenny Bruce, the controversial comedian who shocked audiences in the 1960s with his brilliant and fearless performances.
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Review
A star rating of 3 out of 5.
Andrew Collins
Whether you consider controversial American stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce a lost comic genius or a self-destructive chancer who caught the countercultural mood of the late 1950s and early 60s will dictate how much you enjoy this mockumentary-styled biopic of the man who died of an overdose in 1966. Dustin Hoffman inhabits the main part and really comes alive during Bruce's improvised, convention-baiting routines (so much so that more people will have seen Hoffman than pre-video-age Bruce himself). Valerie Perrine is convincing, too, as his stripper wife. Choreographer-turned-director Bob Fosse brilliantly captures Bruce's jazz-inflected style, and if the film, told in interlocking flashbacks, lacks a strong narrative arc, it compensates in style.
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7.5/10
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Credits
Cast
rolenameLenny BruceDustin HoffmanHoney BruceValerie PerrineSally MarrJan MinerArtie SilverStanley BeckSherman HartGary Morton
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Crew
rolenameDirectorBob Fosse
Details
Theatrical distributor
United Artists Corp. Ltd
Released on
1975-11-27
Languages
English
Guidance
Contains swearing and nudity.
Available on
video and DVD
Formats
Black and white
News & features about Lenny
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Marshals season 1 finale tribute explained as Yellowstone spin-off shares dedication to Lenny Hancock
Season 1 came to its conclusion on Monday night with a sweet tribute to a fallen member of the team.
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Every Brilliant Thing review: Lenny Henry brings laughs and lows
Every Brilliant Thing is now showing at @sohoplace with a rotating cast of stars.
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Am I Being Unreasonable? favourites talk BAFTA nominations, Slow Horses, and creating comedy
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Doctor Who and Am I Being Unreasonable's Lenny Rush confirms next role – new comedy The Reluctant Vampire
Sink your teeth into this!
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Rush is back for the second season of Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli's comedy-thriller.
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The BAFTA winner was cut from Space Babies – but for a very good reason.
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Doctor Who's Lenny Rush remembers his terrified first reaction to Sutekh
"I was acting, then this deep voice came on and I was like, 'OH MY GOD, THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!'"
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Harlan Coben's next Netflix series adds Richard Armitage and Lenny Henry
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Lenny Henry explains Comic Relief's progress after "white saviour" criticism
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Lenny Henry on Three Little Birds: "It’s not my magnum opus, it’s theirs"
"Our forefathers came here and walked the streets when it was really cold... So I think it's a testament to those people."
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Doctor Who boss wants UNIT to appear “every year” with returns for Lenny Rush, Ruth Madeley
"It's nice to give the Doctor friends. It's important."
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First look at Lenny Henry's post-Windrush drama Three Little Birds
We have an exclusive first-look clip from Henry's upcoming ITV show.
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Doctor Who casts BAFTA winner Lenny Rush as new character Morris
Morris will appear as part of a storyline exploring "the Doctor's greatest nightmare".
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Casualty boss Jon Sen on leaving medical drama, teaming up with Lenny Henry
Casualty executive producer Jon Sen talks leaving behind the show and what he has planned next with Sir Lenny Henry.
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First look at Lenny Henry's ITV drama Three Little Birds
The series follows three women moving from Jamaica to the UK in the 1950s.
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Doctor Who star Lenny Rush joins Children in Need presenting line-up
“It’s an honour and a thrill to be the first child presenter for Children in Need."
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Sir Lenny Henry reveals the inspiration behind his new series Three Little Birds
Sir Lenny Henry spoke to RadioTimes.com about his new series at this year's National Television Awards.
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