As a cinephile and admirer of the enigmatic world of Hollywood, I find myself captivated by the long-lost tale of Jerry Lewis’ controversial dark comedy “The Day the Clown Cried.” The film, which was shot in 1972 but never saw the light of day, has been shrouded in mystery for over half a century. The documentary “From Darkness to Light,” premiering at the Venice Film Festival, promises to unveil sections of this elusive film to audiences for the first time while chronicling its making and downfall.
For more than 50 years, the enigma surrounding Jerry Lewis’ elusive dark comedy “The Day the Clown Cried” has baffled Hollywood: where is this movie? Filmed in Sweden in 1972, the story revolves around a clown who ends up in a concentration camp, forced to lead children towards gas chambers. The production was marred by disagreements on set, and as a result, the film remained unseen by the public, with only a select few catching glimpses of the footage. But now, this mystery may finally be solved.
Eric Friedler and Michael Lurie’s documentary titled “From Darkness to Light,” making its world debut at the Venice Film Festival, reveals previously unseen parts of the 1972 film alongside narrating the creation and eventual collapse of this legendary movie. As Eric said in an interview with EbMaster, “Many people interested in cinema have come across this tale before. It’s always been intriguing to us. I was brought up with Jerry Lewis, so I felt it was important to delve a bit deeper into the story.”
“I learned that Eric had spoken with Jerry Lewis for an interview, and it sparked my interest to collaborate on a documentary. The conversation, filmed with Lewis in 2017 before his passing, is pivotal for our project as it offers a unique insight into Lewis’s emotions. It forms the core of our story, and without it, we wouldn’t have such a deep narrative to share,” commented Lurie. The interview captures Lewis in a rare moment of emotional openness as he discusses the distress of not completing and releasing the film. Apart from Lewis, other participants include the initial cast and crew, along with Martin Scorsese – a lifelong friend and admirer of Lewis, who was interviewed for the documentary by its executive producer, Wim Wenders.”
Producer Thore Vollert was intrigued when he found out that Lewis shared his true story, as he typically kept a tight lid on information. Lewis, notorious for being tough with journalists, often chose to keep quiet about certain matters.
When questioned about how he convinced Lewis to reveal one of his most difficult moments in his illustrious career, Friedler admitted they simply “took a risk.” He attributed their success to a good deal of luck that allowed Lewis to trust them. During the interview, Friedler felt it was like a confession, and afterward, he believed it seemed more like a testament. It’s possible that for Lewis, it was the perfect setting at the optimal time with the ideal individuals gathered together. Friedler hadn’t anticipated Lewis would be so candid and forthcoming in his responses.
“From Darkness to Light” incorporates clips from the original movie, interviews, as well as archival footage of ’70s talk shows and excerpts from Netflix’s “The Last Laugh,” to narrate the tale of how “The Day the Clown Cried” transformed into a film industry legend. Discussing the intricacies of rights and permissions, Vollert describes the project as an “elaborate puzzle.” He explains that they never intended to release the unfinished movie; instead, what they found was raw footage, daily takes, and scattered scenes. There were people in the background, cars on the highway dating back to the ’70s… They stumbled upon a Pandora’s box of untouched material related to this enigmatic film.
Regardless of its production spanning nearly a decade, the plan has always been to debut the film when “The Day the Clown Cried” is accessible at the Library of Congress, one of Lewis’s final requests. The movie is set for release in 2025. In the meantime, viewers can familiarize themselves with the story through a documentary, which Vollert refers to as “a tale about artistic redemption and the bravery to put aside something deeply personal if it doesn’t meet your aspirations.”
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2024-08-30 20:46