The King of Comedy (1982)

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who just craves his privacy.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Paul D. Zimmerman

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Rupert Pupkin
Jerry Lewis	...	Jerry Langford
Diahnne Abbott	...	Rita Keane
Sandra Bernhard	...	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
Marta Heflin	...	Young Girl
Katherine Wallach	...	Autograph Seeker
Charles Kaleina	...	Autograph Seeker
Richard Baratz	...	Caricaturist

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

narcissism | reference to tina turner | singing | sexy woman | celebrity | 

---

Taglines:

Nobody knows Rupert Pupkin, but after 11:30 tonight no one will ever forget him.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1982 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

King of Comedy

Filming Locations:

Paramount Building, 1633 Broadway, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy International Pictures,Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jerry Lewis improvised his "I'm just a human being" monologue to Rupert. Lewis and Sandra Bernhard mostly improvised the scene in which they are alone together.

---

Goofs

When Rupert shows Jerry a picture of his pride and joy he holds it with his index finger over the top, but in the next shot it is his thumb over the top. This is repeated when Rupert then tells Jerry to take the card.

---

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!

---

Connections

Referenced in Leaving D.C. (2012)

---

Soundtracks

Come Rain or Come Shine
Written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer
Performed by Ray Charles
Also performed by Sandra Bernhard (uncredited) to Jerry Langford during dinner

User Reviews

Scorsese's forgotten masterpiece

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.