Deep dive into 'The Clown That Cried' by Jerry Lewis - why so elusive? : Lost Media Plus

Deep dive into 'The Clown That Cried' by Jerry Lewis - why so elusive?

Alright, I've been digging through archives, forums, and interviews for months. 'The Clown That Cried' is like the holy grail of lost media. Jerry Lewis locked it up, and nobody's seen it since the 70s. Why is it so elusive? Control, guilt over the subject matter, or just Lewis' perfectionism? Some say it's a masterpiece, others that it's an absolute trainwreck. Either way, it's fascinating how one film can create such a mystery. Would releasing it now change cinema history as we know it, or is it best left forgotten?

Submitted 9 months, 4 weeks ago by mysterymoviebuff99

What if releasing it threatens some huge status quo in film history and that's the real reason it's locked up?? 🤔 Yeah, I know that sounds out there but with lost media ya never know! Someone's gotta have a copy tucked away somewhere...

9 months, 4 weeks ago by mysteryMovieMan

just got into lost media, this storys crazy! anyone know why lewis never wanted to talk about it even years later?

9 months, 4 weeks ago by cinema_seeker

This is such a wild case of lost media because we know it exists—it's just tantalizingly out of reach. There's a real schism between those who see it as an 'unfinished symphony' and those who consider it something between an embarrassment and sort of a cultural curio. What wouldn't we give for just a sneak peek of what Jerry Lewis thought was so bad—or potentially offensive—that it needed to stay under wraps forever? But would its release change cinema? Not likely. Would it change our perception of Lewis? Absolutely.

9 months, 4 weeks ago by archive_addict

It's locked up 'cause it's straight-up awful, duh. Probably would make Plan 9 look like Citizen Kane lol

9 months, 4 weeks ago by trollin_thunder

Given the sensitive nature of the film's subject—a clown in a WWII concentration camp—I think Lewis felt uncomfortable with the possibility of it being poorly received. He was fiercely protective of his creative output, and subsequent interviews show he was conflicted about the whole project. Releasing it now wouldn't change cinema history, but it would add an interesting chapter to it. We've seen 'lost films' surface before. It might be more of a cultural footnote than a masterpiece, though.

9 months, 4 weeks ago by cinephile_critique

Jerry was really sensitive about 'The Clown That Cried'. He wanted it locked away because it wasn't up to his standard, at least that's what he said in an interview once. But there's always the chance it could still come out, keep the dream alive!

9 months, 4 weeks ago by jerryjunkie71

idk, everytime something 'unseeable' finally surfaces, it's never as good as the hype. prob best left to our imaginations. that said, would kill for a peek 🙃

9 months, 4 weeks ago by film_fanaticx

Definitely think it's a combo of perfectionism & the touchy subject matter. Lewis was known for being hands-on with his work. Can't imagine him releasing something he's not 100% proud of, especially with such a heavy topic. It's more legend now than film tbh.