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The Day the Clown Cried (1972)
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Overview
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Plot:
A circus clown is imprisoned by the Nazis and goes with Jewish children to their deaths. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Clown
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Nazi
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Unreleased Film
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Holocaust
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Based On Novel
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Jean-Jacques Beineix: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 4:20 PM, PDT)
Adam Resurrected
(From The AV Club. 11 December 2008, 1:04 PM, PST)
(From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 4:20 PM, PDT)
Adam Resurrected
(From The AV Club. 11 December 2008, 1:04 PM, PST)
User Comments:
I WISH I could see this one!
more (11 total)
Cast
(Credited cast)| Jerry Lewis | ... | Helmut Doork | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Peter Ahlm | ... | 1st New Prisoner | |
| Lars Amble | ... | Guard | |
| Harriet Andersson | ... | Ada Doork | |
| Jonas Bergström | ... | Franz | |
| Claude Bolling | |||
| Tomas Bolme | ... | Adolf | |
| Curt Broberg | ... | Galt | |
| Bo Brundin | ... | Ludwig | |
| Johnny Cacao | |||
| Anton Diffring | ... | Captain Curt Runkel | |
| Pierre Étaix | |||
| Victor Fratellini | |||
| Serge Gainsbourg | |||
| Michel Garland | |||
| Ronald F. Hoiseck | ... | Uhlmann | |
| Sven Lindberg | |||
| Lars Lind | ... | 2nd New Prisoner | |
| Åke Lindman | ... | Stout Prisoner | |
| Michael Mansson | ... | Prisoner | |
| Sandy Mansson | ... | Prisoner | |
| Armand Mestral | |||
| Fredrik Ohlsson | ... | Herman | |
| Ulf Palme | ... | Johann Keltner | |
| Roberto | |||
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Jerry Lewis has the only copy locked in a private vault where he vows to keep it from ever being viewed again.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in My Brother's Light (2002)
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (11 total)
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| IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |

I am fascinated by this film and the story behind it.
Allegedly Lewis has the only copy (or copies) in existence.
It is unknown who is truly keeping the film under raps. Some believe Lewis hides the film because of the reaction he received to it. Some believer O'Brien will not accept payment in any way to sign over the rights. What's certain is that neither will discuss it publicly.
Either way it is likely we will never be fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to see it like Harry Shearer and other noted exceptions.
For Joan O'Brien, it must have been a nightmare. She supposedly was horrified to the point of tears upon seeing one screening of the film.
I suppose it could never live up to the hype of how truly awful it is.
It's probably better that the tastelessness remains in our imaginations.