The subtitle of Ladies and Gentlemen — Lenny Bruce (VDI, €24.99) (the godfather of modern stand-up) is no exaggeration.
Bruce was the first American comedian to tackle subjects beyond the usual, from race to politics, and even drugs. His acerbic wit and unusual style often landed him in trouble, as did his bad language and his ability to rile lawmakers and religious groups.
Add in a heady cocktail of drug-taking and you had the potential for disaster — and it duly arrived.
This release includes John Magnuson’s Lenny Bruce Performance Film (the only one to capture his act live), Without Tears, a very insightful documentary by Fred Baker which captures Lenny’s rise and fall, with some fine clips.
4/5.