Comedy legend Jerry Lewis has enjoyed a long and varied film career, one that even persisted in times of great strife. At age 56, the showman overcame a painful divorce and a Percodan addiction to deliver his most celebrated performance in Martin Scorsese’s darkly funny film, The King of Comedy. After a long, health-related absence from the big screen — his last film was in 1995 — Lewis bounces back once again for the starring role in the drama Max Rose, and he’s not the only veteran actor boarding the project.
Directed and written by Daniel Noah, Max Rose follows the title character, a newly widowed jazz pianist who revisits key moments in his life after he finds out that his marriage wasn’t as it seemed. It was confirmed that Dean Stockwell was hired play the role of Rose’s best friend, Ben Tracy. The Blue Velvet and Quantum Leap actor joins a cast that also includes Kevin Pollak, Kerry Bishé, Claire Bloom, Mort Sahl, and Fred Willard. [Deadline]
Pairing Stockwell with Lewis adds an interesting spin to the film, seeing as this will mark the first time they ever worked together. It also gives audiences a chance to see two old Hollywood work horses in the spotlight once again, which is a rare treat for any cinema buff.
Max Rose is currently shooting in LA.
Does the addition of Stockwell pique your interest in the film?