King of Comedy
The Life and Art Of Jerry Lewis
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Shawn Levy's fascinating biography King of Comedy - the product of vast research and interviews with contemporaries, admirers, foes, and even, briefly, Lewis himself - traces the story of a man who defines High American Show Biz. At points along the time line of his career, Lewis has been the highest-paid performer in history in film, on television, and (in 1995!) on Broadway. With partner Dean Martin, he was half of the most successful comedy duo of all time. He was the first director who debuted in talkies to direct himself. He was a direct, acknowledged influence on giants from Woody Allen to Lenny Bruce to David Letterman to Jim Carrey. He is a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor, has raised over $1 billion in charity, and was once nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. And, since the 1950s, he has been one of the most recognized faces on earth. For almost that long, though, people have argued over what Jerry Lewis means. Is he a talented comedian or a grotesque mimic? A startlingly original director or a pretender to Chaplin's throne? A multifaceted entertainer or a megalomaniacal egoist? A tireless champion of the disabled or a tireless self-promoter who has confused America's charitable impulses with affection for him as a performer?
Customer Reviews
Definitive JL Bio
Considering the hoops the author had to jump through to write this book, it’s a well written and a very in depth account of the amazing Jerry Lewis.
For those who lived through the early years it will bring back memories, and for younger readers it will set the stage for learning about a golden age of entertainment.
For those who just want a fluff filled account of Jerry, this isn’t that kind of read. It’s painfully honest ( from the perspective of the author and his research ) and can be at times cringeworthy to get through.
But overall I learned more than I ever knew about this one in a billion superstar of comedy and film. And what book about JL wouldn’t include his years as the face of raising awareness and money for MDA and the Telethon which was part of our lives for so many years ? This one surely does.
Recommended.