

Jerry Lewis’ Lost Holocaust Clown Movie
33 snips Feb 26, 2025
Shawn Levy, author of "King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis," dives into the controversial legacy of Lewis's infamous unrelease film, "The Day The Clown Cried." They discuss the bizarre premise of a clown in Auschwitz and its muted reception in cinema history. Levy analyzes the challenges Jerry faced in blending comedy with such a sensitive subject while reflecting on his career's rise and fall. The conversation also touches on the film's cult status and the ongoing intrigue it generates among film buffs.
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Oswalt's Bad Movie Preference
- Patton Oswalt enjoys bad movies made with a self-important attitude.
- He grew up watching Jerry Lewis films like Cinderfella and The Nutty Professor on TV.
The Clown's Unseen Legacy
- Jerry Lewis, known for comedies, made The Day the Clown Cried, a Holocaust drama, in 1972.
- It became infamous, allegedly one of the worst movies ever, and remains unseen by most.
A Missed Landmark
- In the early 1970s, Holocaust movies were rare in American cinema.
- The Day the Clown Cried could have been a landmark film but became a legendary disaster.