Jerry Lewis' Son on a 30-Year Quest for the Lost Holocaust Film

Chris Lewis, son of the legendary comedian Jerry Lewis, has been on a decades-long search for his late father’s most enigmatic and controversial project, a film that has remained in the shadows for over half a century.

Back in 1972, Jerry Lewis left behind the glitz of Hollywood to create "The Day the Clown Cried," a film he wrote, directed, and starred in. The plot? A circus performer, captured by the Nazis, finds himself in a concentration camp where he bonds with children before leading them into the gas chambers. Yes, it’s as devastating as it sounds.

Despite its heavy subject matter, the film was never released, and only brief clips have trickled into the public eye. The chaotic production and behind-the-scenes drama were explored in the 2024 documentary, "From Darkness to Light."

"I’ve been searching for the film for 30 years," Chris told Fox News Digital. "We’ve found bits and pieces—a rough cut that’s about 30 minutes shy of the final version. It’s become my personal mission to track down the remaining elements and figure out the rights situation."

Jerry Lewis, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, reportedly handed over all production materials to Chris, giving him his blessing to pursue the quest. "I’ve been archiving my dad’s life since the ’70s," Chris said. "I’m basically the keeper of the flame. But as the years go by, it feels like the film might be lost forever. Still, I’m determined to find it."

The film’s troubles began early. Originally scripted by Joan O’Brien and Charles Denton, the production hit a roadblock when it was revealed that O’Brien had not been paid for the story rights. Jerry himself admitted in his memoir that his producer "skipped town" without paying critical expenses, leaving Lewis to pick up the pieces. He ultimately lost $2 million on the project. The lawsuits and financial chaos spanned three continents, making it impossible to complete the film.

"It was a mess from day one," Chris explained. "The producer vanished with the money, and my dad couldn’t get any major studios to support the film. By 1974, he gave up and sent the footage back to Sweden." Partial negatives were found in France and Sweden, with one 30-minute segment leaked online in 2016. The Library of Congress also acquired some of the film’s materials in 2015, but they remain incomplete and unreleased.

Jerry Lewis himself had conflicting feelings about the project. In 2013, he described it as "all bad" at the Cannes Film Festival, expressing embarrassment over the work. Yet, in his final years, he opened up about the heartbreak of not finishing the film, as documented in "From Darkness to Light."

Chris believes the story still holds value. "The film’s themes were deeply personal to my dad," he shared. "He grew up in a vaudevillian family and used comedy as a way to cope with loneliness. The clown wasn’t just a character—it was a reflection of his own life."

Despite the challenges, Chris remains optimistic. "If we can locate the footage from France, we might be able to piece together something. But when Europa Films went out of business, they tossed old reels into dumpsters. My dad’s final cut might have ended up in one of those."

Jerry’s legacy as a groundbreaking comedian and filmmaker lives on, and Chris is determined to honor it. "Laughter is healing," he said. "My dad’s humor helped people through dark times. He knew he was loved, and he was proud of what he achieved. But this unfinished film—it’s the one loose end."