The film is an extremely personal film for its writer and director, Daniel Noah.
Growing up, I really idolized that relationship as the paragon of what romance and marriage could be.
When my grandmother passed away in 2001, I was very close to his process of grieving.
Credit: Lightstream Entertainment
What happens to the person whos left behind?
Lewis was officially retired and hadnt appeared in a film since 1995sFunny Bones.
He had no agent, there was no way of reaching him, says Noah.
We tried a million ways to get through to him and we were shut down in every one.
We finally discovered that he had an office in Las Vegas.
So, we kind of cold-called and his secretary said, He doesnt make pictures any more.
it’s possible for you to send the script, but he wont read it.
We sent it and and expected never to hear from him again.
While we were waiting he was given his honorary Oscar (in 2009).
About a week later, we get a call from him.
He had read the script and he committed on the phone.
He said, Lets make a movie, and we were off and running.
But running towards a dream or a nightmare?
But his sole directing credit prior toMax Rosewas 2001s tiny-budgeted, sci-fi thrillerTwelve.
What I kept telling myself was, Itll be worth it!
Just suck it up!
From the first moment, he was incredibly lovely, and kind, and warm, and supportive.
In themanyyears that it took to put the film together, I got to know him really well.
So, we built that love, we built that relationship.
You know, Im sitting at his kitchen table with him and hes serving me lox and bagels.
It really started to feel like I was with my grandfather again in some ways.
I thought, Is everything going to change when we get on set?
Lewis is not the films only notable cast member.
One of my all-time greatest movie star crushes is Claire Bloom, chuckles Noah.
I was just completely beside myself that I was going to get work with her.
Mort Sahl, talking to him is a little like talking to Forrest Gump.
Its bucket list-stuff to get to work with people like this.
No one wanted to speak because we were all waiting for him to say something.
What he meant was, hes never seen the Jerry Lewis character that way before.
Im so proud of his performance and in many ways thereisno performance.
And there really isnt.
He truly let his guard down and let us film the real him.
It was really powerful stuff.
it’s possible for you to exclusively see the films new poster above.
