The Day The Clown Cried

[smudgersmissingleg]

Seems like a complete version has turned up after 45 years. I hope it eventually gets released as the idea for the movie always sounded like an interesting one, to me. I know Jerry hated it but i'd love to judge for myself.

Full cut of Jerry Lewis' The Day The Clown Cried found after 45 years lost

Full cut of Jerry Lewis' The Day The Clown Cried found after 45 years lost

www.avclub.com

​

 

[ThermionicScott]

I know Jerry hated it but i'd love to judge for myself.

Same here. I've been morbidly curious about this thing ever since I first heard of it.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Same here. I've been morbidly curious about this thing ever since I first heard of it.

Yeah, it's one of the great unanswered questions in movie history. Is it really as terrible as Jerry thought or is it actually a good/great film?

I knew he'd given some of the footage to The Library Of Congress but it's very restricted who can view it. I honestly thought we'd never ever see a complete cut available to the general public, but now that seems a possibility. The dude who owns the copy is looking to sell and i'm hoping some company steps in and buys it, cleans it up using modern technology and then releases it as a blu ray.

Still a long way before anything like that happens but fingers crossed

 

[anotherbob]

Seems like a complete version has turned up after 45 years. I hope it eventually gets released as the idea for the movie always sounded like an interesting one, to me. I know Jerry hated it but i'd love to judge for myself.

Full cut of Jerry Lewis' The Day The Clown Cried found after 45 years lost

Full cut of Jerry Lewis' The Day The Clown Cried found after 45 years lost

www.avclub.com

​

It's terrible. And it's not just the tone deaf subject matter. I can think of actually quite a few directors that could have made it work. But the most interesting thing is the blatant display of well Jerry and his ego at that point. He just isn't empathic or humble enough to make it work and man it doesn't. And really it's just bad all around.
Ever watch a band that is three sheets to the wind and on enough cocaine to kill all the horses at the track? It's a lot like that. You will feel second hand embarrassment and think man he really thought he was doing something ground break.
I feel like it was him trying to show that he's a genuine artist and not just the funny man. And he thought it would be deep and boundary pushing. And it's just gross but really in more of a self congratulatory way.
The best thing anyone said that I've heard was at least he tried something and took a risk.
Also remember he was the one that shelfed it after seeing the final product. Although he also had showings for it at his home. And I could have left that as the full warning.

 

[anotherbob]

Same here. I've been morbidly curious about this thing ever since I first heard of it.

How can you not be. If you enjoy the Mondo genre of movies or so bad it's bad and I just have to see it exists then you need to watch it.

The dude who owns the copy is looking to sell and i'm hoping some company steps in and buys it, cleans it up using modern technology and then releases it as a blu ray.

Still a long way before anything like that happens but fingers crossed

If it does happen it will either be a company that's formed just for this or it will be a fringe company. Like Brazzers (trying to think of one company that a British person would know) trying to expand their portfolio.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

It's terrible. And it's not just the tone deaf subject matter. I can think of actually quite a few directors that could have made it work. But the most interesting thing is the blatant display of well Jerry and his ego at that point. He just isn't empathic or humble enough to make it work and man it doesn't. And really it's just bad all around.
Ever watch a band that is three sheets to the wind and on enough cocaine to kill all the horses at the track? It's a lot like that. You will feel second hand embarrassment and think man he really thought he was doing something ground break.
I feel like it was him trying to show that he's a genuine artist and not just the funny man. And he thought it would be deep and boundary pushing. And it's just gross but really in more of a self congratulatory way.
The best thing anyone said that I've heard was at least he tried something and took a risk.
Also remember he was the one that shelfed it after seeing the final product. Although he also had showings for it at his home. And I could have left that as the full warning.

Where did you see it?

 

[anotherbob]

Where did you see it?

online. And only got part way through. It didn't take long to know there wouldn't be anything worth the cost in time. I mean I could do something more useful like watch paint drying.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

online. And only got part way through. It didn't take long to know there wouldn't be anything worth the cost in time. I mean I could do something more useful like watch paint drying.

That's fair enough. I'd like to see the complete film and make my own mind up.

 

[anotherbob]

That's fair enough. I'd like to see the complete film and make my own mind up.

Totally I did the same thing until I changed my mind. It was really just boring mostly. I think the best scene I saw was the scene of the clown before in the circus being really bad at clown stuff but being cheered. It's like that scene in a movie where a very amateur band is doing a show and people are acting like it's the best music ever. And I feel like that's the scene that would in a way make or break the movie. And it breaks it.

 

[warren]

I'll just trust to Mr. Lewis and his opinion of his movie.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I'll just trust to Mr. Lewis and his opinion of his movie.

Good for you Warren. Some of the rest of us would like to see the film to make our own minds up.

 

[warren]

I observed Mr. Lewis's work over many years (Yes, I was a fan.). A noted impresario, well respected/revered actor/director and world renown comedian, I've no need to question his impression of his own creation. Plus, most of the criticism of the movie here, appears to agree with his opinion. It would be presumptuous of me to ignore such august opinions as those appearing above.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I observed Mr. Lewis's work over many years (Yes, I was a fan.). A noted impresario, well respected/revered actor/director and world renown comedian, I've no need to question his impression of his own creation. Plus, most of the criticism of the movie here, appears to agree with his opinion. It would be presumptuous of me to ignore such august opinions as those appearing above.

Jerry obviously hated the movie but that doesn't stop me being curious about it. I like to make my own mind up about things.

Same thing happened with Salò and A Serbian Film. I'd read quite a bit about peoples' opinions on them and then watched to see what I thought. I loved Salò but hated A Serbian Film. Until you watch you'll never know.

 

[warren]

Until you watch you'll never know.

That's very true. But, my curiosity lies in other areas. I watch movies to be entertained only. I rarely look to movies to stimulate my mind, only for amusement, a momentary diversion. I simply cannot watch a movie, TV, Hollywood or otherwise except for... well, to be amused/diverted. I, fortunately?, unfortunately?, find myself unable to suspend belief long enough to become immersed in some director's take on some author's musings through the prism of actors/actresses. Obviously I'm deficient when it comes to taking movies as something other than for light entertainment.

I can think of only a small handful of films which captured, wholly, my imagination. I will not mention titles as I don't want to risk sidetracking this thread as I find all things "Lewis" fascinating. He was a giant!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

That's very true. But, my curiosity lies in other areas. I watch movies to be entertained only. I rarely look to movies to stimulate my mind, only for amusement, a momentary diversion. I simply cannot watch a movie, TV, Hollywood or otherwise except for... well, to be amused/diverted. I, fortunately?, unfortunately?, find myself unable to suspend belief long enough to become immersed in some director's take on some author's musings through the prism of actors/actresses. Obviously I'm deficient when it comes to taking movies as something other than for light entertainment.

I can think of only a small handful of films which captured, wholly, my imagination. I will not mention titles as I don't want to risk sidetracking this thread as I find all things "Lewis" fascinating. He was a giant!

Fair enough, mate. I loved Jerry in The King Of Comedy.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

LOL I thought that was him for a second

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I’ve been intrigued and curious about this trainwreck for many years; it seemed wrong headed and misguided from the things I remember reading about it and some of its scenes. But, it would be better to see the actual finished film before passing judgment.

 

[anotherbob]

Jerry obviously hated the movie but that doesn't stop me being curious about it. I like to make my own mind up about things.

Same thing happened with Salò and A Serbian Film. I'd read quite a bit about peoples' opinions on them and then watched to see what I thought. I loved Salò but hated A Serbian Film. Until you watch you'll never know.

Salo is my go to example of the difference between something being gratuitous or not. Yes it's shocking but all the horrible stuff isn't there just to shock but to express an idea and a point.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Salo is my go to example of the difference between something being gratuitous or not. Yes it's shocking but all the horrible stuff isn't there just to shock but to express an idea and a point.

My favourite exchange from Salò:

“What is the difference between the number eight, a gate and a family? (pause) An eight is always closed, a gate is sometimes open.”

“And the family?”

“They’re fine, thanks.”