i somehow doubt the real lenny bruce and shock comedian of the early 1960s who quickly pass into legend after his self inflict death and be so romantically melancholic . director bob fosse take on bruce be self enamored and creepily voyeuristic and with lot of quick cut and cinematic trick . yet on it own show biz term and with grubby and sordid underpinnings and rampant self pity and lenny be a masterful visceral experience . it shoot up on it own sadness . the controversial comedian rise to the top and his marriage to a sexy stripper and and his eventual downfall into drug and court hearing be fascinate to watch and however dustin hoffman be arguably too genial and soft a bruce ( hoffman give the character a sympathetic center and and some may say this work for the picture ) . valerie perrine be a natural a wife honey and her blasé and almost indifferent manner and unconscious sexiness be both decadent and appeal . the black and white cinematography be terrific and and fosse really lay on the edit razzle dazzle and also make good usage of mile davis it never enter my mind . from .