The archetypal image of the clown or buffoon is one that has been with us through the ages, since at least the days of the medieval court jester. Fittingly, his history in cinema has been a rich and vital one, clowns being referenced by filmmakers as diverse as
Fellini,
Lynch, and
Jean Rollins. On television, shows like
The Simpsons and
Garfield have clowns as popular recurring characters.
Over the last 20 years os so, it's become
de rigueur to detest or fear clowns, this concept perhaps realizing it's ultimate incarnation in Stephen King's insipid
It, and the painfully pedestrian mini-series that was based on the novel. In this age of post-modern, hipster irony, it seems the painted funny man has no place other than one of derision and mockery.
But if we're talking clowns, the granddaddy of them all would have to be
Bozo, that nostalgic breath of Americana that ruled children's programming from 1949 to the 80s. Physically imposing and in complete control, he was nonetheless a clown we felt was on our side, and who understood what kids really liked. Originally played by
Pinto Colvig, the character would go on to huge success Stateside and internationally, thanks mostly to
Larry Harmon, perhaps the best-known Bozo. An actor with a a flair for marketing, he was savvy enough to buy the rights to the character and expand the popular local TV broadcasts to foreign markets.
Infinity Entertainment's brand new DVD,
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown ($39.98), is a four-disc set that brings us a wealth of Bozo goodness, from prime vintage episodes to bonus animated shorts. As kids' entertainment, it still works. For adults, it's a fascinating, almost surreal look at an innocent time when a clown was still a child's best friend.
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# posted by André Salas @ 7/14/2007 12:02:00 PM
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