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Post by denise on Apr 27, 2020 17:31:54 GMT
In 1972, the French journalist Robert Benayoun published a mammoth book about Jerry, Bonjour, Monsieur Lewis. In all, it runs to some 360 pages. I finally broke down and got a copy. Of course, it is entirely in French. I do not know French. So I broke down again and, with nothing better to do during the corona lockdown, started to translate the book via Google Translator. At first I did so just for my own pleasure, but then I thought some of you might like to read what the critic wrote who was largely responsible for Jerry's fame and popularity in France and the rest of Europe. There are things in this book that I have never read elsewhere, and I believe Jerry was very open with Benayoun, more so than with e.g. Richard Gehman or fan mag writers. So, with Classickat's blessing, I will be posting each chapter here in installments as a PDF file. Part 1 consists of 16 chapters about Jerry and Benayoun's interaction with him, Part 2 consists of descriptions and critiques of the films, incl. the M&L films (I'm working on that) and Part 3 is an Appendix with a French-language bibliography, a discography and other stuff (don't know yet whether I'll do that). Please do NOT re-post these texts anywhere else! This was a LOT of work to painstakingly type each sentence into Google Translator and then in many cases doctor up the results into readable English. I am not a translator, so the texts are sometimes a bit stiff and unwieldy. Happy reading! Comments are very welcome!
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 1.pdf (54.39 KB) Bonjour M Lewis Ch 2.pdf (75.61 KB) |
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Post by denise on May 1, 2020 9:38:31 GMT
Here are Chapters 3 and 4. You will notice that here and there I have corrected Benayoun's errors in brackets [ ]. I'm picky, I can't let mistakes be perpetuated. Anything in parentheses ( ) was originally in Benayoun's book.
I'd appreciate some feedback so that I know if anyone is reading this! If there is no audience, I'll stop.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 3.pdf (96.82 KB) Bonjour M Lewis Ch 4.pdf (89.36 KB)
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Post by aajjgg on May 4, 2020 22:32:17 GMT
Wow-that is allot of work. Thanks for doing it.
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Post by denise on May 5, 2020 10:46:33 GMT
Here are two more chapters. I included the page numbers from the book, so that those who have it can follow along. Did you know that Buddy Love's nose was different than Prof. Kelp's, did you catch that? I sure didn't.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 5.pdf (98.6 KB) |
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Post by denise on May 9, 2020 13:24:07 GMT
A new chapter for weekend reading. Benayoun visits Frank Tashlin, Jerry's "teacher".
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 7.pdf (68.92 KB) |
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Post by denise on May 13, 2020 18:57:20 GMT
It's January 1965 and Jerry has invited Benayoun to visit the set of The Family Jewels.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 8.pdf (68.46 KB)
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Post by denise on May 17, 2020 7:53:14 GMT
Some weekend reading: Robert Benayoun is still in Hollywood. Jerry has invited him to dinner at the home that is open to "sunshine, friends, guests and God".
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 9.pdf (79.03 KB)
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Post by Dinobaby123 on May 17, 2020 21:26:21 GMT
Thank you so much for doing this for us!
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Post by denise on May 21, 2020 8:15:48 GMT
It's August 1965, and Jerry is in Paris to film the location scenes of Boeing-Boeing, his last film for Hal Wallis. It is here that he meets a soul brother - the French clown-comic Pierre Etaix. Neither speaks the other's language, so their communication is ..... unique, as is Benayoun's description of it.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 10.pdf (53.7 KB)
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Post by denise on May 24, 2020 13:32:51 GMT
A month later, in September 1965, Benayoun is back in Hollywood and visits Jerry on the set of Three On a Couch. Benayoun writes of Jerry's chronic need to record everything he experiences, says and does. Jerry strikes fear into Benayoun's heart when he announces he wants Benayoun to assume a small acting role in the film.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 11.pdf (67.03 KB) |
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Post by denise on May 27, 2020 17:59:27 GMT
It is now autumn 1966. Jerry is in London for his Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II. He calls Benayoun to London, fulfilling a dream Benayoun had had. After the performance Jerry and his entire retinue go to a popular restaurant and a reunion with George Raft.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 12.pdf (73.43 KB)
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Post by denise on May 31, 2020 10:48:52 GMT
We jump to May 1967. Jerry is attending the Cannes Film Festival. His press conference turns into a never-to-be-forgotten moment for all who were privileged to be there.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 13.pdf (98.74 KB)
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Post by Jessica on May 31, 2020 18:04:36 GMT
Wow! That's a lot of work to translate it all. Well done!
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Post by denise on Jun 5, 2020 17:50:41 GMT
July 1967: Benayoun and two French colleagues travel to London to interview Jerry, who is filming Don't Raise The Bridge. For once, Jerry is taking and not giving direction in a film. In several interviews Jerry imparts his views and techniques of directing.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 14.pdf (116.02 KB) |
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Post by denise on Jun 12, 2020 10:13:29 GMT
In the summer of 1969, Jerry, between projects, did a tremendous favor for his friends Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford and on very short notice went to England to take over the director's chair for One More Time. Benayoun was again on hand to witness some of the shooting. It marked the first time that Jerry directed without also appearing in front of the camera.
Bonjour M Lewis Ch 15.pdf (86.75 KB) |
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