Robert De Niro

Jerry Lewis

Sandra Bernhard

Diahnne Abbott

Shelley Hack

Frederick de Cordova

Kim Chan

Ed Herlihy

Lou Brown

Margo Winkler

Ralph Monaco

Catherine Scorsese

Cathy Scorsese

Loretta Tupper

Peter Potulski

Vinnie Gonzales

Whitey Ryan

Doc Lawless

Marta Heflin

Chuck Low

Katherine Wallach

Charles Kaleina

Richard Baratz

Leslie Levinson

Alan Potashnick

Michael Kolba

Robert Colston

Ramon Rodriguez

Chuck Coop

Sel Vitella

Tony Boschetti

Tony Randall

Jay Julien

Joe Strummer

Paul Simonon

Kosmo Vinyl

Ellen Foley

Pearl Harbour

Gaby Salter

Jerry Baxter-Worman

Don Letts

Matt Russo

Thelma Lee

Joyce Brothers

Bill Minkin

George Kapp

Victor Borge

Rob-Jamere Wess

Audrey Dummett

June Prud'Homme

Edgar J. Scherick

Thomas M. Tolan

Ray Dittrich

Richard Dioguardi

Harry J. Ufland

Scotty Bloch

Jim Lyness

Diane Rachell

Dennis Mulligan

Tony Devon

Peter Fain

Michael F. Stodden

Gerard Murphy

Jimmy Raitt

Martin Scorsese

Charles Scorsese

Mardik Martin

William Jorgensen

Marvin Scott

Chuck Stevens

William Littauer

Jeff David

Mick Jones

Liza Minnelli

Arnon Milchan

Fred Schuler

Thelma Schoonmaker

Cis Corman

Boris Leven

Robbie Robertson

Richard Bruno

Edward Pisoni

Lawrence Miller

Scott Maitland

Robert F. Colesberry

Robert Greenhut

Paul D. Zimmerman

Lewis Gould

Frank E. Warner

Tom Fleischman

Dan Perri

Vito L. Ilardi

Donah Bassett

William Ward

James Fitzpatrick

Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy

Les Lazarowitz

Edward Garzero

Norman Buck

George DeTitta Sr.

Daniel Robert

Roberta Hodes

Dick Mingalone

Sandy Brooke

Ricki-Ellen Brooke

Lorey Sebastian

Garrett Brown

Ted Churchill

Carlos Quiles

Joe Williams Sr.

Mary Ellen Winston

William Loger

Philip Goldblat

Richard Candib

Dick Vorisek

Amy Sayres

Barbara De Fina

Sylvia Fay

Robert Raring

Lyndell Quiyou

Shelley Houis

Drama

Comedy

The King of Comedy

Embassy International Pictures

20th Century Fox

United States of America

English

prison

new york city

blackmail

show business

entertainer

studio

receptionist

Ian Beale

**De Niro as yet another deluded psycho**

De Niro is Rupert Pitkin, a comedian who seeks to be as famous as his hero, Jerry Lewis. Pupkin could be Travis Bickle's equally disturbed brother - both of them living in New York and both of them losing their minds in unison.

After much rejection, the crazed Pupkin decides to kidnap his hero and hold him for ransom until a studio gives him a big break. Jerry Lewis is impressive as the total bastard that Pupkin so admires.

A disturbing movie that is more relevant nowadays than ever since the advent of the Big Brother tv show which places national attention on people with no talent.

- Ian Beale

Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY was the lowest-grossing major studio film of 1982. It isn't difficult to see why: It's loaded with uncomfortable situations; there is no obvious protagonist; no sympathetic characters (the one that could potentially get our sympathy turns out to be a thief); and everyone is grating and/or unpleasant (even Tony Randall plays 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 as a demanding prick). This lack of popularity was the audience's loss, as Paul Zimmerman graced Scorsese with a screenplay which was just as prescient on the topic of fame as Paddy Chayefsky's NETWORK (1976) was on the future of television. In a day and age where television reality shows and online video platforms allow talent-bereft fame-seekers to offer their wares to an anesthetized public, De Niro's Rupert Pupkin displays an uncanny ambition just by leaving his mother's basement, much less his willingness to use crime as a means to his end.

CinemaSerf

Robert De Niro is great in this enjoyable comedy about the aspiring comedian "Pupkin" who is prepared to go to great lengths to get his moment in the sun. To that end he doorsteps acclaimed chat-show host "Jerry" (the entirely convincing Jerry Lewis) and, not exactly lacking in self-confidence, convinces him to listen to his material. Anything for a peaceable life thinks the star and agrees clearly just to be rid of the man. "Pupkin", though, isn't so easily deterred and what ensues now are a rather darkly comedic series of escapades as the little man determines to get that spotlight - even if he has to turn to lying, housebreaking - even kidnapping. The writing here is taut and entertaining; the characters - especially that of the rather pompous "Jerry" are well crafted by the actors who really seem to be enjoying their roles. Martin Scorsese manages to skilfully keep this on the right side of what could easily have become far-fetched farce. It's the ultimate speculate to accumulate film poking fun at the whole television "opportunity" system, and with the odd sight of an almost unrecognisable Ed Herlihy it all adds up to a fun film to watch and I challenge anyone not have a laugh here.

A bit long-winded, but undoubtedly a very good movie.

'The King of Comedy' has a sturdy Robert De Niro lead performance, as well as solid support from Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. I enjoyed seeing the split from what actually happens and how De Niro's Rupert Pupkin views things via his dreams; especially with how merged they become by the end.

Absolutely zero surprise to now learn that Todd Phillips and Scott Silver used this and 'Taxi Driver' as inspiration when writing 'Joker'. Quite cool though!

"The King of Comedy" (1982 - Martin Scorsese)

Josh Olson on THE KING OF COMEDY

'The King of Comedy' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

THE KING OF COMEDY -  Trailer ( 1982 )

The King of Comedy( 1982)

It's no laughing matter.

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A review by Ian Beale

Written by Ian Beale on Sat Feb 18 2017

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