Footage of Controversial, Unreleased 1970s Jerry Lewis Film Turns Up on YouTube

The Blaze ^ | 08.12.13

[Perdogg]

The 1972 film “The Day the Clown Cried” was apparently such a disaster that it never saw the light of day, except for among a few people. Even decades later, actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, who directed and starred in it, said at the Cannes film festival this year “no-one will ever see it” because he is “embarrassed” by it.

But then over the weekend, rare scenes from the making of the film seem to have cropped up on YouTube.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I would consider it a greater compliment to be found funny in the U.K.

Never known a Brit who was not absolutely off his rocker at some level.

[Darksheare]

It’s the wrong Jerry Lewis, but still..
The film itself is listed out there with such rare bad cinema as the Star Wars Christmas Special.

[Resolute Conservative]

Careful it is only Tuesday, too early to start zoning out :)

[Buckeye McFrog]

Maybe if you are a Jewish comic there is some sort of catharsis you experience when using Hitler as your subject matter. Mel Brooks, Seinfeld, Lewis, they all seem to do it. Have to say, I just don’t get it.

[dead]

[KarlInOhio]

Just reading the description makes it sound like the most depressing movie since On The Beach.

[TexasRepublic]

“Maybe if you are a Jewish comic there is some sort of catharsis you experience when using Hitler as your subject matter. Mel Brooks, Seinfeld, Lewis, they all seem to do it. Have to say, I just don’t get it.”

Derision to the point of irrelevance is one form of revenge.

[Borges]

Lewis was a brilliant physical comedian and gifted and innovative film director. The cheap jokes at his expense are baffling.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Hey, if a thread about a guy who began his career as a Borscht Belt comic don’t give us license to let the cheap jokes fly.....

[packrat35]

Sophies Choice was a bigger downer to me.

[Oztrich Boy]

The cheap jokes at his expense are baffling.

So, not necessary to have a sense of humour to appreciate Jerry Lewis

[Impy]

Perhaps this a secret plot by Lewis to drum up interest for an eventual release?

[GOPsterinMA]

“Perhaps this a secret plot by Lewis to drum up interest for an eventual release?”

My first thought, actually. The guy’s 87...what’s he got to lose?

[lonestar]

Spare me! I can’t stand Jerry Lewis!!!

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

If you are unfamiliar with it....the details of this film are mind-blowingly surreal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Clown_Cried

Wow! Thanks for the link.

Talk about inappropriate casting...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Perdogg. “The Day the Clown Died” would make a good title for a documentary about the eventual death of Jimmy Carter.

[SunkenCiv]

Some of these related vids are from two years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/results?q=The+Day+the+Clown+Cried&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

[P.O.E.]

Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiwmnfp4MIo

“Je t’aime”

[kevkrom]

Maybe if you are a Jewish comic there is some sort of catharsis you experience when using Hitler as your subject matter. Mel Brooks, Seinfeld, Lewis, they all seem to do it. Have to say, I just don’t get it.

Saw an interviw with Brooks where he talks about that - you make your enemies less scary/break any power they have over you by mocking them. Hitler was the biggest single enemy the Jewish people have ever had, and so he's a natural target for them to tear down.