Vividly bringing to light the tradition of physical comedy in the French cabaret, cafe-concert, and early French film comedy, this book answers the perplexing question, "Why do the French love Jerry Lewis?" It shows how Lewis touches a nerve in the French cultural memory because, more than any other film comic, he incarnates a distinctively French tradition of performance style.
"Gordon's tome offers insights into German Expressionism, French eccentricity, and why large American audiences were thrilled with the late Marty Feldman, Sam Kinison, and Andy Kaufman."
