The King of Comedy (1982)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Paul D. Zimmerman (written by)

Release Date:

18 February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

. . and when it's all over one of them won't be laughing

Plot:

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin wants to achieve success in showbiz, by resorting to stalking his idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy.

Plot Keywords:

Black Comedy | Female Stripping | Golf Club | Broken Glass | Arrest

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Rupert Pupkin
Jerry Lewis	...	Jerry Langford
Diahnne Abbott	...	Rita Keane
Sandra Bernhard	...	Masha
Shelley Hack	...	Cathy Long
Ed Herlihy	...	Ed Herlihy
Lou Brown	...	Band leader
Loretta Tupper	...	Stage Door Fan
Peter Potulski	...	Stage Door Fan
Vinnie Gonzales	...	Stage Door Fan
Whitey Ryan	...	Stage Door Guard
Doc Lawless	...	Chauffeur
Marta Heflin	...	Young Girl
Katherine Wallach	...	Autograph Seeker
Charles Kaleina	...	Autograph Seeker

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Embassy International Pictures

Trivia:

George Kapp ("Mystery Guest") was an actual NYC high school chemistry teacher in the 1960s-1970s.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rupert and Rita are in the bar, the level of beer in Rupert's glass varies about half an inch between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ed Herlihy: And now, from New York, The Jerry Langford Show! With Jerry's guests Tony Randall, Richard Dreyfuss, Rodney Dangerfield, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Lou Brown and the orchestra, and little old me Ed Herlihy. And now say hello to Jerry!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fight Club (1999)

Soundtrack:

Jerry Langford Theme

Pupkin: A Name I Can't Forget!

For some reason, I rarely count any movie in the past 30 years "a classic" but I think of this one as such, and that's a compliment. It has stayed with me since the first time I saw it almost 20 years ago.

In fact, I've never forgotten the name, "Rupert Pupkin," a strange name made famous by Robert De Niro as the leading actor in this unique drama/comedy/ crime film. De Niro was just outstanding, one of his best efforts in an illustrious career.

Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard also were really good here, in supporting roles. Comedians sometimes make great dramatic actors as Lewis has demonstrated in several films. I don't know, frankly, if Bernard has ever done anything remotely as good as this.

Biographies of eccentric people usually are interesting and this one more than fits the bill. This movie was not popular with audiences and a number of critics but I think it was superbly done with laugh-out-loud lines as well as subtle humor and great acting. It is a wonderful character study of obsessed fans of celebrities, a pitiful condition that exists even more today.

I am not particularly a fan of director Martin Scorcese. Almost all of his films are ultra profane, but not here. There has very little profanity, and none, ironically, by De Niro. The only negative I found was making a hero out of his character, who executes a kidnapping and is richly rewarded for his efforts. Puh-leeze!! I wish Hollywood would stop making heroes out of criminals.

If you have a warped sense humor, however, which I do, you'll love this film. I think it is perhaps the best-ever from Scorcese and De Niro.