"When you rule by fear, laughter is the
most frightening sound in the world."

The infamous "lost" film of Jerry Lewis, which was buried due to a
legal dispute between him and the writers of the original screenplay.

It tells the story of a self-centered circus clown, Helmut Doork, who is
sent to a concentration camp after a drunken impersonation of Hitler.
There, he befriends the Jewish children of the camp, and performs
for them, angering the camp Commandant.  He is accidentally sent
with the children on a train to Auschwitz, and there, he is expected
to lead the children, like a Pied Piper, to the gas chambers.

OF JERRY ON THE "CLOWN" SET!

NOW PLAYING

THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED
THE FINAL DRAFT

In 2002, I bought an ORIGINAL script of THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED on Ebay,
which had belonged to FRED SKIDMORE, Jerry Lewis' publicist at the time.

" In February 1972 he and his new publicist, Fred Skidmore,
flew to Stockholm to see to pre-productions chores.
They went to Germany and Poland to visit the sites
of concentration camps.  And they went to Paris,
where Jerry shot some material for the film while
performing with the Bouglione Cirque d'Hiver
and saw to his theatre business. (France's first
Jerry Lewis Cinema opened in March 1972)."
(from "King of Comedy" by Shawn Levy)

The script was dated MARCH 1972, was signed by Skidmore,
and contained his notations of the actors playing
the various roles and other production details.
It was his personal script as he travelled with Lewis!

Not only that, it was the FINAL DRAFT !!!!

Many of the scenes were seriously modified or even eliminated,
and the poorly written elements of the earlier rough draft were now gone.
In addition (believe it or not), the ending was MUCH more horrific and blunt!!
No clowning this time, just the truth ... and told not through image, but SOUND.

The final draft is brilliant.

NOW, YOU CAN READ IT FOR YOURSELF!

- PLUS -
the earlier, longer rough cut version of the screenplay

TWO DIFFERENT DRAFTS!

 THE FINAL DRAFT

 THE ROUGH DRAFT

HISTORY, REVIEWS, AND MORE!

 SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN AUSCHWITZ
The story behind the making of the film
(from THE KING OF COMEDY by Shawn Levy)

 JERRY GOES TO DEATH CAMP
An extensive history of the film from SPY magazine
(many thanks to Philip Sondericker for providing it)

 THE WORST MOVIE YOU NEVER SAW
(from THE GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS by the Medveds)

 CLOWN CRIED REVEALED!
(screenplay review from FILM THREAT)

 ASKEW REVIEW
(screenplay review)

 MIDNIGHT MATINEE'S "THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED"
(a radio parody available for your Real Player!!)

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 SUBTERRANEAN CINEMA