Lenny Bruce: Without Tears (1972)

"Lenny Bruce: Without Tears" is a heart-rending documentary that charts the tumultuous journey of Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), a comedy prodigy who became a pariah to the establishment. The film paints a poignant picture of Bruce, a man whose life descended into poverty and despair, crushed under the weight of relentless arrests and prosecutions in the turbulent 1960s. The narrative is punctuated by captivating clips of Bruce's performances, his "bits" as he fondly referred to them, from the pithy punchlines on Steve Allen's TV show to the raw reflections in his later nightclub appearances, where he ingeniously turned his legal ordeals into comedic content. Esteemed commentator Malcolm Muggeridge dubs Bruce a moralist, while a contrite former assistant district attorney from New York expresses regret for his role in Bruce's persecution. The film masterfully captures Bruce's evolution from the dynamic and vivacious comedian of the 50s to a wry social commentator, illuminating the ironic transformation that his life and career underwent.

Lenny Bruce: Without Tears is a comedy movie featuring Steve Allen.

Lenny Bruce: Without Tears is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on FlixFling.

It is also possible to buy Lenny Bruce: Without Tears on FlixFling.