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The King of Comedy (1982)

PG | | Comedy, Crime, Drama | 18 May 1983 (France)
The King of Comedy Poster
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Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.

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3,104 ( 200)
Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Rupert Pupkin
... Jerry Langford
... Rita Keane
... Masha
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
... Young Girl
Katherine Wallach ... Autograph Seeker
Charles Kaleina ... Autograph Seeker
Richard Baratz ... Caricaturist
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Rupert Pupkin is obsessed with becoming a comedy great. However, when he confronts his idol, talk show host Jerry Langford, with a plea to perform on the Jerry's show, he is only given the run-around. He does not give up, however, but persists in stalking Jerry until he gets what he wants. Eventually he must team up with his psychotic Langford-obsessed friend Masha to kidnap the talk show host in hopes of finally getting to perform his stand-up routine. Written by Andrew Hyatt <dres@uiuc.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

celebrity | business | basement | bartender | fan | See All (121) »

Taglines:

It's no laughing matter. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

18 May 1983 (France)  »

Also Known As:

La valse des pantins  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,500,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Mardik Martin: A friend of Martin Scorsese as Second Man at Bar, where Rupert Pupkin is watching his own performance on the the television. See more »

Goofs

Rupert is talking to Jerry in Jerry's limousine. Rupert bandages his hand with Jerry's handkerchief. In the next sequence in the car the bandage is missing. Following this Rupert's hand is again bandaged. See more »

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!
See more »

Connections

Featured in A Shot at the Top: The Making of 'The King of Comedy' (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

Swamp
Written by Talking Heads
Performed by Talking Heads
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the entire monologue that Rupert Pupkin gives on the Jerry Langford Show?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Scorsese's forgotten masterpiece
23 August 1999 | by – See all my reviews

From Jerry Lewis's subtle, deeply personal performance, to Robert DeNiro's amazing interpretation of a neurotic nerbish whose fantasy world collides with reality on late night talk TV, "The King of Comedy" is a true original that guts the glamour from showbiz and finds it cold and empty inside. Then there's the media, always ready to create another celebrity, even if he's an autograph hound and hack comic turned kidnapper who believes he's earned a shot in the spotlight. Cynical and melancholy, at times hilarious, it bombed when first released, but has been surprising video treasure hunters ever since.
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