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Ray Milano is an extreme movie buff who knows just about anything and everything about the silver screen. Good at trivia and a reluctant self-professed geek, he does what he can in order to earn a buck. He recently came to fame after locating a rare copy of Orson Welles' movie adaptation of Booth Tarkington's industrial novel, THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. Now this movie detective is constantly being hired by movie buffs trying to locate lost memorabilia. One day he receives an anonymous e-ail from someone claiming to have a die-hard fan's ultimate holy grail -- a copy of a never-seen, serious holocaust movie done by comic Jerry Lewis. THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED was a controversial film shot in Sweden during the 1970s where Jerry Lewis was acting out of type. In the movie he portrayed a circus performer captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp. In order to survive he was forced to use his circus tricks to keep the inmates pacified. He would entertain and quiet children as they were being sent to their deaths. The movie's content was considered extremely controversial and it was plagued with many problems during filming. It has been a source of heartache for Lewis and he refuses to do any public discussion about the movie or even exhibit it. Klavan takes the story regarding the production of the film and fictionalizes it as he goes searching for that elusive film. However he is going to be mixing it up with some very bad guys and he might want to reconsider if he wants to proceed. THE SHOOTING SCRIPT is a comedic novel where the characters are a bit over the top as well as the situations the character puts himself into. There is everything from a has-been child actress beating Milano senseless with an Oscar to protecting his nemesis who is being attacked by purists who do not want him to screw up a proposed film adaptation of a beloved 12-book fantasy series. When starting this novel it helps if one goes in with an open mind to enjoy the experience. Otherwise readers are going to be bombarded with obscure movie trivia and a silly oddball caper that in the end annoys more than it entertains. If you are looking for a serious read, this is not the book for you. A sense of humor is required. Guess mine just took a vacation.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, February 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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