LOS ANGELES, California – In the annals of cursed films, there are stories that range from the haunting tales of “Apocalypse Now” and “Poltergeist” to the ill-fated production of “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.” However, none of these can compare to the most infamous of them all – “The Day the Clown Cried.”
Filmed 52 years ago, this movie, written, directed, and starring Jerry Lewis, has never seen the light of day until now. In an unprecedented turn of events, it is set to be released in 2024. The reasons behind its shelving at the time are peculiar and intriguing.
“The Day the Clown Cried” revolves around a German clown who finds himself imprisoned in a concentration camp after mocking Adolf Hitler. Within the confines of the camp, he is assigned a ghastly task that he cannot refuse – deceiving Jewish children into their tragic demise, all while disguised as a clown and concealing his true emotions.
The film’s controversial premise garnered attention and speculation, with its potential to secure awards for Lewis if executed well. However, the project did not unfold as anticipated. Surprisingly, the movie’s demise was not solely due to its dark narrative, but rather a combination of the director and actor’s lackluster work.
Jerry Lewis himself expressed dissatisfaction, admitting, “She was bad, and she was bad because I lost the magic. No one will ever see it because I am ashamed of my poor work.” Furthermore, actor Harry Shearer, who was able to view the final product, criticized the film’s misplaced tone, asserting, “It is so drastically wrong, its pathos and comedy are so wildly out of place, that you couldn’t, in your fantasy of how it could be, improve on what it really is.”
Financial problems exacerbated the situation, with producer Nat Wachsberger incurring losses of $2 million, making the film an overall catastrophe and leading to its decision not to be released. Nevertheless, in 2014, Lewis had a change of heart and entrusted a copy of the movie to the United States’ Library of Congress. One stipulation accompanied this gesture – no one was to view it until a decade had passed. Now, in 2024, as curiosity peaks and Lewis is no longer with us, the time has finally come to witness this cursed masterpiece.
In conclusion, after decades of obscurity, “The Day the Clown Cried” is poised to captivate audiences with its dark and enigmatic storyline. With its controversial history, including a troubled production and subsequent shelving, the film embodies a unique cinematic chapter. As the year 2024 unveils the long-awaited release, viewers will finally have the opportunity to witness the fabled curse that for so long shrouded this ill-fated masterpiece.