208330
208330

Bonjour Mr Lewis

1983-07-03 fr
Documentary
Robert Benayoun’s reverence for the uncrowned king of slapstick and unfettered silliness has maybe something to do with his own affinity to surrealism, which he joined in the forties and encouraged him to deal with the great masters of the absurd comedy like the Marx Brothers and Buster Keaton. In six episodes Benayoun, who worked for many years as a film critic in Paris, immerses himself in the various aspects of the personality and comedian. He was allowed to use the inexhaustible supply of unused or private films, since Lewis was known for not throwing away one inch of celluloid and hoarding it in his basement. In addition to the interviews, in which renowned colleagues of Mel Brooks from Scorsese to John Landis and Lewis himself speak, there are especially these rare and sometimes startling images, that give a new sharper view on Lewis as a filmmaker and as a person.

Director of Photography

Edmond Richard

Original Music Composer

Gérard Calvi

Editor

Tim Robin

Producer

Pierre Kalfon

Status

Ended

Countries

  • France
  • United States of America

Companies

  • Les Films Number One
  • Jerry Lewis Productions
  • Antenne 2