Report of Jerry Lewis’ death is greatly exaggerated
July 1st, 2008 by Scott Marks
No one loses…except maybe a Goddamn National Treasure!!!
It’s a big, wide, wonderful world we live in.
In Big Olly’s Homeric tribute to the “long traditions” of clowns, the topic turns, as it must in all meditations on Punchinellos, to Jerry Lewis.
“I suppose I am drawn more to the maudlin and tedious clownish stylings of the late, great Jerry Lewis.”
Big Olly’s a Clown killer, by golly! When last I looked, Jerry was alive and touring and looking better than he has in years. Where does this heartless galvantz get off planting a beloved actor, producer, director, conductor, mime, singer, dancer, writer…what am I forgetting…author, recording artist, nightclub performer, Broadway sensation, recipient of a little red French thingy you wear on your lapel, humanitarian and National Chairman and Spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Organization? (Emulsion Compulsion is gonna’ have to dig a lot of holes when Jerry eventually checks out, God forbid.)
After B.O. buries Jerry, he gets to the topic at hand: Three Ring Circus. It’s probably the worst of the Martin and Lewis vehicles. For the first time their personal acrimony is visible on screen. The boys barely spend any time together leaving vast, unfunny patches of circus humor and Dean singing solo to the animals.
There is one scene in the film that has continued to give me douchechills since the first day I saw it. Here is Olly’s take:
“Allow me to indulge myself. In “3 Ring Circus” or something, Jerry (along with Dean Martin) is working in a circus, mainly manning those sideshows with maximum hilarious potential for going messily wrong. Jerry falls foul of the traditional drunken, angry clown Puffo who is, for some reason, sacked. On that basis Jerry steps in as “Jericho” the clown and is an instant hit.
The poignant height of his career is when, performing for a group of handicapped children, Jericho realises that his antics have failed to touch one little girl (conveniently seated in the front row). He goes over to her and speaks to her in what I think is a breach of one of the fundamental rules of clowing (sic). He says something along the lines of ‘Come on honey. I know you don’t think I’m funny, but won’t you laugh for me?’
Now I have seen lame begging for laughs at many levels of comedy but that must be the worst. When it predictably fails, Jericho starts to weep, which strikes the child as the funniest thing she has seen in a ‘coon’s age and she laughs up a storm.
I mean to say. Funny or maudlin? I leave the decision to you. Actually, no I don’t. It is maudlin and appalling.”
He’s right about the maudlin and appalling one-two punch. The film was Paramount’s big 1954 Christmas picture. The first Telethon was held in June 1955 at Carnegie Hall in New York. Having not had the privilege of watching hours of Jerry’s private videos, to the best of my knowledge this was his first public reference to dystrophic children and it’s quite a calling card. At no time has it ever been acceptable to paint physically disabled children as monsters, especially by someone like Jerry Lewis who is known to rely on sentiment and pathos. Suddenly this sympathetic, forlorn little urchin is transformed into Rhoda Penmark with leg braces, laughing uncontrollably at the day the clown cried.
The film is a must for Martin & Lewis mavens. Paramount Home Video insists on keeping it from me. Just part of my daily struggle, I guess.
As for you, Olly, I ask that you control your urge to kill. Don’t you want Jerry to live long enough to see The Nutty Professor: The Musical make it to Broadway? And what about Adam Sandler’s remake of Cinderfella?
Links:
Three Ring Circus photos
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Boy, have I ever been put in my place in re the matter of Jerry’s continued existence.
My unreserved apologies. I stand by the rest of the gibberish until further inaccuracies are pointed out to me and I resile.
There are actually many people who think that resiling is what I do best.
Love
Big Olly
It takes a big man to admit he’s wrong and you have more than lived up to you handle, B.O. Apology accepted, but your penance is three screenings of “Hardly Working.”
My best to your brother Muhammad Olly.
“Hardly Working”?
But…
Isn’t cruel and unusual punishment illegal? How about the opening ten minutes of “Which Way to the Front” and a quick listen to “The Land of La La La”?
Love
Big Olly
Put “Following the Leader” on a loop and watch the heads of labratory mice literally explode. (Thanks! Now I’m not going to be able to get that goddamned song out of my head for days! “We’re following the leader, the leader, the leader, We’re following the leader…” TURN IT OFF!!!))
Honestly, I love both HW and WWTTF? Who else but a visionary would have given Joe Besser work in the 1970s? And a Yiddeshe kup Sid Miller as Hitler in slow-mo!?!? I’M KVELLING FROM THE MARVELOUS!!!
The Dunkin’ Donuts scene in HW is funnier than Will Ferrell’s entire career.
Don’t knock, Jer. After all, he brought us together.
Love,
Probably just as Big Scotty
Gentleman! Gentleman!
Have we forgotten Slapstick of Another Kind? If not, we should. And as soon as possible.
Incidentally, if you think Jerrico’s clowning in 3RC leaves much to be desired - have a look at the shtick at the end of The Patsy. Or The Errand Boy for that matter (Joe Besser’s there again and he thinks it’s funny - but what does he know).
SM
Call me a pussy, but I love the stuff with Jerry and Bobo in “The Errand Boy” and “The Patsy” is right behind “The Ladies’ Man” & “The Nutty Professor” as one of Jerry’s masterpieces. These two films are beyond criticism for me.
“Slapstick” is Jerry’s nadir, but in all fairness he was a comic for hire on that one. He had zero hand in the production and/or direction (and it shows).
Hey, how ’bout that episode of “Superforce?”
Yikes! The mere mention of “Slapstick From Another Kind” sent shivers down my spine. The horror, the horror…
I’ve always loved “Hardly Working”. Will always hold a special place in my heart. Speaking of “Hardly Working”, when is the DVD with Jerry commentary? When? And what about “Cracking Up”? That film played ad infinitum on The Movie Channel in the 80s. The last film Jerry directed, if I am correct.