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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 10 months, 1 week ago by mysterymoviebuff99
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.