The King of Comedy (film)
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==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
- | Rupert Pupkin ([[Robert De Niro]]), a stage-door autograph hound, is an aspiring, mentally-deranged [[stand-up comedian]] unsuccessfully trying to launch his career. After meeting Jerry Langford ([[Jerry Lewis]]), a successful comedian and talk show host, Rupert believes his "big break" has finally come. He attempts to book a spot on the show but is continually rebuffed by Langford's staff and finally by Langford himself. Along the way, Rupert indulges in elaborate and obsessive fantasies in which he and Langford are colleagues and friends. Hoping to impress, Rupert invites a date, Rita, to accompany him when he decides to show up uninvited at Langford's country home. When Langford returns to his house from a golfing round, he finds Rupert and Rita settling in. Angered, he launches into a furious tirade against Rupert, telling him that his act is mediocre and that he's a lunatic who'll never amount to anything. While Jerry yells at him, Rupert continues trying to stay on his good graces, until an embarrassed Rita gets Rupert to finally leave. | + | Rupert Pupkin ([[Robert De Niro]]), a stage-door [[autograph]] hound, is an aspiring, mentally-deranged [[stand-up comedian]] unsuccessfully trying to launch his career. After meeting Jerry Langford ([[Jerry Lewis]]), a successful comedian and talk show host, Rupert believes his "big break" has finally come. He attempts to book a spot on the show but is continually rebuffed by Langford's staff and finally by Langford himself. Along the way, Rupert indulges in elaborate and obsessive fantasies in which he and Langford are colleagues and friends. Hoping to impress, Rupert invites a date, Rita, to accompany him when he decides to show up uninvited at Langford's country home. When Langford returns to his house from a golfing round, he finds Rupert and Rita settling in. Angered, he launches into a furious tirade against Rupert, telling him that his act is mediocre and that he's a lunatic who'll never amount to anything. While Jerry yells at him, Rupert continues trying to stay on his good graces, until an embarrassed Rita gets Rupert to finally leave. |
When the straight approach does not work, Rupert hatches a kidnapping plot with the help of Masha ([[Sandra Bernhard]]), a fellow [[stalking|stalker]] similarly obsessed with Langford. As ransom, Rupert demands that he be given the opening spot on that evening's ''Jerry Langford Show'' (guest hosted by [[Tony Randall]]), and that the show be broadcast in normal fashion. The network brass, lawyers, and the [[FBI]] agree to his demands, with the understanding that Langford will be released once the show airs. Between the taping of the show and the broadcast, Masha has her "dream date" with Langford, who is duct-taped to a chair in her parents' [[Manhattan]] townhouse. Jerry convinces her to untie him and he manages to escape. | When the straight approach does not work, Rupert hatches a kidnapping plot with the help of Masha ([[Sandra Bernhard]]), a fellow [[stalking|stalker]] similarly obsessed with Langford. As ransom, Rupert demands that he be given the opening spot on that evening's ''Jerry Langford Show'' (guest hosted by [[Tony Randall]]), and that the show be broadcast in normal fashion. The network brass, lawyers, and the [[FBI]] agree to his demands, with the understanding that Langford will be released once the show airs. Between the taping of the show and the broadcast, Masha has her "dream date" with Langford, who is duct-taped to a chair in her parents' [[Manhattan]] townhouse. Jerry convinces her to untie him and he manages to escape. |
Revision as of 11:50, 21 August 2017
Film scholar David Bordwell, writing in Film Viewer's Guide, has mentioned the (un)reality of the ending as a topic for debate. At least one other scene in the film -- Rupert and Jerry in the restaurant -- exists solely in Rupert's deluded imagination, and Bordwell suggests that viewers may want to contemplate if the end sequence is just another fantasy. |
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The King of Comedy is a 1982 American satirical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. Written by Paul D. Zimmerman, the film focuses on themes including celebrity worship and American media culture. 20th Century Fox released the film on February 18, 1983, in the United States, though the film was released two months earlier in Iceland. The film began shooting in New York on June 1, 1981, to avoid clashing with a forthcoming writers' strike, and opened the Cannes Film Festival in 1983.
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Plot
Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), a stage-door autograph hound, is an aspiring, mentally-deranged stand-up comedian unsuccessfully trying to launch his career. After meeting Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), a successful comedian and talk show host, Rupert believes his "big break" has finally come. He attempts to book a spot on the show but is continually rebuffed by Langford's staff and finally by Langford himself. Along the way, Rupert indulges in elaborate and obsessive fantasies in which he and Langford are colleagues and friends. Hoping to impress, Rupert invites a date, Rita, to accompany him when he decides to show up uninvited at Langford's country home. When Langford returns to his house from a golfing round, he finds Rupert and Rita settling in. Angered, he launches into a furious tirade against Rupert, telling him that his act is mediocre and that he's a lunatic who'll never amount to anything. While Jerry yells at him, Rupert continues trying to stay on his good graces, until an embarrassed Rita gets Rupert to finally leave.
When the straight approach does not work, Rupert hatches a kidnapping plot with the help of Masha (Sandra Bernhard), a fellow stalker similarly obsessed with Langford. As ransom, Rupert demands that he be given the opening spot on that evening's Jerry Langford Show (guest hosted by Tony Randall), and that the show be broadcast in normal fashion. The network brass, lawyers, and the FBI agree to his demands, with the understanding that Langford will be released once the show airs. Between the taping of the show and the broadcast, Masha has her "dream date" with Langford, who is duct-taped to a chair in her parents' Manhattan townhouse. Jerry convinces her to untie him and he manages to escape.
Rupert's stand-up routine is well received by the audience. In his act, he describes his troubled life (from growing up in a poor neighborhood with neglectful, alcoholic parents; to getting regularly bullied and beaten up during his adolescence) while simultaneously laughing at his circumstances. Rupert closes by confessing to the studio audience that he kidnapped Jerry Langford in order to break into show business. The audience laughs, believing it to be part of his act. Rupert responds by saying, "Tomorrow you'll know I wasn't kidding and you'll all think I'm crazy. But I figure it this way: better to be king for a night, than a schmuck for a lifetime."
The movie closes with a news report of Rupert's release from prison, set to a montage of storefronts stocking his "long awaited" autobiography, King For a Night. The report informs that Rupert still considers Jerry Langford his mentor and friend and that he and his agent are currently weighing several "attractive offers", including comedy tours and a film adaptation of his memoirs. The final scene shows Rupert taking the stage for an apparent TV special with a live audience and an announcer enthusiastically introducing and praising him, leaving the viewer to decide whether it is reality or Rupert's fantasy.
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin
- Jerry Lewis as Jerry Langford
- Diahnne Abbott as Rita Keane
- Sandra Bernhard as Masha
- Tony Randall as himself
- Shelley Hack as Cathy Long
- Ed Herlihy as himself
- Frederick de Cordova as Bert Thomas
- Margo Winkler as the receptionist
- Kim Chan as Jonno
Cameos
- Scorsese has a cameo as "Man in Van." He later appears as The Jerry Langford Show director, assuring Tony Randall that his cue cards are funny.
- Scorsese's mother Catherine Scorsese plays Pupkin's (unseen) mother.
- Real-life film and television producers Edgar Scherick and Frederick de Cordova have cameo roles as a network president and producer of the Langford show, respectively.
- A gang of punks is seen on a street corner in the film. Billed in the credits as "Street Scum," they are played by Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, and Paul Simonon of The Clash, actress-singer Ellen Foley ("Paradise by the Dashboard Light", Night Court), Don Letts, Kosmo Vinyl, and singer Pearl Harbour.
- Tony Randall as emergency guest host of The Jerry Langford Show.
- Victor Borge and Dr. Joyce Brothers as guests on The Jerry Langford Show.
- Lou Brown and Ed Herlihy as band leader and announcer, respectively, of The Jerry Langford Show.
- Scorsese's father, Charles Scorsese, plays one of the men at the bar where Pupkin is watching his own performance on TV.
- Scorsese's friend, Mardik Martin, plays a second man at the bar.
- Scorsese's daughter, Cathy Scorsese, plays Dolores.
- Scorsese's lawyer at the time, Jay Julien, plays Jerry Langford's lawyer.
See also
- Cecil B. Demented—a 2000 film directed by John Waters with a similar plot