March 4, 1999 -- "Lenny Bruce: Swear To Tell The Truth" is a 1999 Oscar nominee in the Feature Documentary category. Despite our current tabloid era romance with the unseemly, sexually intimate affairs of celebrities and politicians, "Lenny" may be too provocative, too open and honest. A HBO Studio Productions film, directed by Robert Weide, and softly narrated by Robert De Niro, this 94-minute biography story would be too controversial even for A&E. It just has too many "nasty" words. But this documentary is not just about dirty words. Although Lenny Bruce performed primarily in dinghy nightclubs, his "acts" were labeled "obscene and blasphemy." He used the "n" word, "f" words, and those "c" words. People, powerful people, became outraged.

"Lenny" is the story of a Long Island, N.Y. Comedian who became the nation's most unconventional social commentator and sharpest satirist during the early 1960's. He would "take on anyone, anything." His targets were sexual hypocrisy, race discrimination, and the Catholic Church. The latter would contribute greatly to his downfall.

With tender care and keen timing, Weide presents both a chronological personal life story and, indirectly, an investigative report on a constitutional issue of obscenity involving conspiracy. He uses no gimmicks. With sensuous musical scores, such as classic striptease music and the lonely jazz horn, he weaves precious old home movies and family snapshots with stark archival news footage of cheesy dives and police station arrest proceedings. More stunning video clips include several rare Lenny Bruce TV comedy performances on The Steve Allen Show, Playboy Penthouse with Hugh Hefner. These and more film clips are intertwined with his major storytellers. They include Lenny's mother, Sally Marr, his wife, Honey Bruce, his daughter, Kitty Bruce, and several of Lenny's fellow comedians and friends. There are others, including the lawyers who defended and prosecuted him. Together, their memories are frank, vivid, admiring, and respectful.

Weide suggests there was a national conspiracy by Catholic policemen and politicians to beat down and get rid of Lenny Bruce. Basically, they did. His use of sexual terms and acts, as well as lively descriptions of bodily functions, eventually landed him in several courtrooms In 1964 a NY court found him guilty for using obscene terms during a performance. His case was overturned 18-months after his death in 1966 at the age of 40.

Lenny Bruce came before George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and the Free Speech student movement at UC Berkley. Bruce was out in the front of an uncomfortable battle with social mores, behavior, and expression. He literally was a man ahead of his time. Times were changing and he was helping make it so.

Adored and loved by his family and friends, he was no saint. He used drugs and womanized. But Bruce's honesty endures. He knew he was within his rights. When performing on camera his burning eyes gaze past the screen right at you, looking hot with both the pain of loneliness and the need to speak his guts. Whether you do or don't understand, appreciate, and support the First Amendment, you should watch this film.

We need to not forget what Lenny Bruce did. Although just a comedian who liked to tell jokes, he pushed the envelope of freedom expression in unfriendly times. Bruce fought his First Amendment battles alone. While viewing this film, I asked myself, where were the reporters, broadcasters, and news executives, the traditional defenders of the First Amendment during this period of time? Shamefully, they were nowhere to be found.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Mike McElreath can be reached via e-mail as MikeM@uwyo.edu