Slow Burn

Decoder Ring | Jerry Lewis’ Lost Holocaust Clown Movie

Feb 26, 2025
Shawn Levy, author of 'King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis,' dives into Jerry Lewis’s infamous unproduced film, 'The Day The Clown Cried.' He discusses the film’s audacious premise of a clown in Auschwitz and its status as a cult curiosity. Levy reveals the challenges Lewis faced in tackling such a sensitive subject and explores the film's mixed legacy, questioning the appropriateness of combining humor with tragedy. The conversation sheds light on Lewis's controversial career and the cinematic balance between comedy and serious themes.
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ANECDOTE

Jerry Lewis's Rise to Fame

  • Jerry Lewis, despite lacking conventional leading-man qualities, achieved immense fame.
  • He transitioned from nightclubs with Dean Martin to radio, movies, and television stardom.
INSIGHT

The Clown Cried's Notoriety

  • Jerry Lewis's "The Day the Clown Cried" involves a clown in Auschwitz entertaining Jewish children before their deaths.
  • The film's premise alone has made it notorious, despite being unreleased and largely unseen.
ANECDOTE

Martin and Lewis Dynamic

  • Martin and Lewis's act contrasted Dean Martin's suave persona with Jerry Lewis's man-child character, "The Kid."
  • Lewis's performance involved a distinctive voice and exaggerated physical comedy.
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