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The Day The Clown Cried' is a lost film from 1972 directed and starred by Jerry Lewis. It’s known for being withheld from release by Lewis himself due to its controversial nature – a clown in a Nazi concentration camp.
Over the years, very few people have seen it, but it's rumored that a full version does exist. Some script excerpts and brief clips surfaced on the internet, but they only scratch the surface. Lewis's tragic tale about the circus performer turned reluctant entertainer for children awaiting their fate in a Nazi camp could be a misunderstood masterpiece or a rightfully shelved disaster.
I’m on a mission to track down the full version, or at least a more substantial clip than what’s currently circulating. If anyone has leads, insider info, or even just wants to discuss the implications of this film’s production and suppression, I’m all ears.
Submitted 11 months, 2 weeks ago by lostfilmfanatic
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Detailed accounts of 'The Day The Clown Cried' are hard to come by, but Harry Shearer of 'The Simpsons' fame claims he saw a rough cut in the 70s and said it was 'terribly wrong' for a myriad of reasons. Bad movie or not, from a film preservation standpoint, we owe it to history to have it available. Film, after all, reflects the times and culture in which it's made. The footage that’s surfaced has only added to the mystery, and I'd argue that’s why the intrigue around it persists.
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This film is a lost piece of history. Lewis' decision to lock it away speaks volumes about the troubled production and his own feelings about the work. It's fascinating, the idea that a significant cultural artifact exists but is willingly kept out of public eye. Would love to see it, just to get a glimpse into that era of filmmaking and what went so wrong.
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Stuff like this makes me think about how many other films are out there, locked away or forgotten. With ‘The Day The Clown Cried’, Jerry Lewis always said it was bad and he was ashamed of it. Maybe it’s best left unseen, but I can’t help wanting to see it myself. Would it change how we think about his work? I’d take any lead, but it seems like a long shot.
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The quest for 'The Day The Clown Cried' is an interesting one because it touches on the ethics of filmmaking as well as the psyche of its creator. Jerry Lewis reportedly donated a copy to the Library of Congress on the condition it wouldn't be screened before June 2024. Whether it's a masterpiece or not, the legacy of the film is already cemented in its absence. The fact that we keep talking about it decades later says something about its impact, don't you think?
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Oh man, 'The Day The Clown Cried' is like the holy grail of lost films. I've read bits of the script and seen those few clips too. As much as I'm curious, I’ve got a feeling it might never live up to the mystery it’s become. The anticipation is almost a better story at this point, but if anyone does have a lead, I’m dying to know.