Being a Telethon host for so many years obscured Lewis's colorful career. Regretfully the American audience had to wait for the comedian's late years to rediscover his work. Better late than never. I have to agree with Marty (Scorsese) when he says that the french adoration became a kind of joke in the US, but hey, I got news for you, the french were doing the right thing. Did Americans missed their rendezvous with Jerry Lewis ? Feels like they did once the end credits appears on the screen. Whether you like Lewis or not you cannot deny this film is a "Must See". From the very first minutes it grabs you until the very (moving) end "NO SPOILERS" here. You'll laugh out loud, with nostalgia you'll remember your childhood, you'll enjoy, you'll learn a great deal of the french view point. All in all you'll feel dizzy but fulfilled with so many great footage, but Gregory Monro does better in one hour than any other film has done previously. During one of his Q&A the french filmmaker said he made it with "heart and passion". That quote might just sum up "The man behind the clown", a passionate yet joyful documentary on the great Jerry Lewis. Yes our Jerry.
Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown
2016 [FRENCH]
Action / Biography / Comedy / Documentary / History
Plot summary
Since the early days, Jerry Lewis - in the line of Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel - had the masses laughing with his visual gags, pantomime sketches and signature slapstick humor. Yet Lewis was far more than just a clown. He was also a groundbreaking filmmaker whose unquenchable curiosity led him to write, produce, stage and direct many of the films he appeared in, resulting in such adored classics as The Bellboy, The Ladies Man, The Errand Boy, and The Nutty Professor. By becoming a "total filmmaker," Lewis surpassed expectations as a comic performer and emerged as a driving force in Hollywood. He broke boundaries with his technical innovations, unique voice and keen visual eye, even garnering respect and praise overseas. However, American critics and the cultural elite tended to reject his abrasive art. While they viewed Lewis as nothing more than just a clown, others like the French recognized him as a true auteur, giving rise to questions that have perplexed American pop culture for over 50 years: Why do Europeans love Jerry Lewis? What is this inexplicable aversion Americans have towards him? Is he just a brash, anything-for-yuk buffoon? Or is he a creative genius? Who is the man behind the clown?
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