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The King Of Comedy on DVD (1982)

The King Of Comedy cover art
Average rating: (71%)
1113312132067
3.5
 
Starring: Robert De Niro | Jerry Lewis | Diahnne Abbott | Tony Randall | Sandra Bernhard
Director: Martin Scorsese
Studio: 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 104 mins
Certificate: PG
User collections: The Best of Black Comedy and Satire | The Greatest Films of the 80's... | killer comedies- pure fun | Cut the crap/don't believe the hype - the real best films. | The films I like are better than the films you like
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 16/04/2004

Brief synopsis of The King Of Comedy

Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY is a brutally funny depiction of the dangers of celebrity fandom. Robert De Niro plays the ridiculously inept Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comic who idolises talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Still living at home with his mother, Rupert spends his days trying to arrange a meeting with his hero. When he isn't doing that, he's at home talking to cardboard cutouts in his makeshift television studio. After Rupert convinces Rita (Diahnne Abbot), a pretty bartender, that Langford has invited them to his house outside the city, the reality of the situation makes itself painfully apparent upon arriving at the star's front door. Trouble is, Rupert's too delusional to take the hint. He eventually hatches a plan with an equally obsessed fan, Masha (a scene-stealing Sandra Bernhard), to kidnap Langford in exchange for a chance to let him deliver his routine on the air. De Niro and Lewis deliver scorching performances that are at once tragic and hysterical, making for an unsettling yet highly stimulating viewing experience. Paul D. Zimmerman's script takes the time to truly crawl inside the mind of a lunatic, exposing celebrity worship as the ludicrous problem that it is. THE KING OF COMEDY stands firmly as one of Scorsese's most terrifying films.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 5 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Though a box-office failure, this black comedy is now considered by many to be Martin Scorsese's unsung masterpiece. Of all the director's outings with sparring partner Robert De Niro, it's the strangest. He plays Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring stand-up comedian and stalker-in-waiting who dreams of fronting his own TV show, rehearses for this moment of glory in his mother's basement and spends half his life waiting, symbolically, in reception. It's a powerful, complex performance, one that carries the story from farce into tragedy with ease, and keeps us on his side. Jerry Lewis is magnificent as the chilly old pro and chat-show king Jerry Langford, and Scorsese gives us another New York, the cruel but bewitching network TV capital of America. Pupkin's catch phrase remains immortal: “Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.”

Rating of 4 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Amusing, underplayed farce with a tragic lining: a very convincing picture of the media today.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsAn undervalued gem from Martin Scorsese

Philip Concannon from London , 01/06/2004

A flop on it's original release and often described as a Scorsese misfire 'The King of Comedy' is in fact one of this great director's finest films.

Robert De Niro gives one of his best performances as Rupert Pupkin, a pathetic character who believes he has what it takes to be a major star as a stand-up comedian. Just like his idol Jerry Langford(Jerry Lewis) in fact. One night Rupert corners Jerry and tries to persuade him to give him a spot on the show. Jerry fobs him off with some words of encouragement, anything to get rid of this pest. But Rupert sees this as an invite and when Jerry fails to return his frequent phone calls, he decides kidnapping is his only option.

'The King of Comedy' is a remarkable film which is both hilarious and unsettling(often at the same time). Martin Scorsese directs this unusual black comedy with panache, handling the frequent shifts in tone expertly. De Niro is on wonderful form in one of his most memorable roles but the real stand-out is Jerry Lewis who plays it dead straight and gives a suprisingly effective performance as the jaded chat-show host. Sandra Bernhard is also excellent as Pupkin's seriously unbalanced partner-in-crime.

'The King of Comedy' is probably more relevant now than ever and stands as a film ahead of it's time. With it's incisive analysis of the public's obsession with the cult of celebrity it's a lost masterpiece that deserves to be rediscovered.

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 stars..the god father of the awkward comedy..

Mike Conyard from Gosport, Hampshire [Highly rated reviewer] , 09/06/2005

Put it this way, I personally don't think 'The Office' wouldn't have been created without this... I think people sometimes get confused with the period this film comes from (early eighties) and the contemporary style of it's comedy.. the first time I saw this I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it's like you don't even want to be in the same room and this poor bloke.. DeNero has never been a comedy hero of mine (no, not even 'Midnight Run') but his persona suits this perfectly.. excellent..

  8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsThe king, pure and simple

johnnyfraudster from greater london , 07/07/2004

The king of comedy is the most overlooked film in history. It is a true classic that deserves to be in everyone's top ten. It completley bombed on its release and is known only by a very small percentage of the cinema going public. This is a travesty. I find it mind-boggling that something of this calibre can fail to be hailed as anything less than phenomenal.

Scorcese and De Niro took Paul Zimmerman's script and transformed it into the ultimate comment on the media, celebrity and the public's total obsession with fame and the famous. It is frighteningly prophetic as it predicts what has now consumed our society; the sales of heat magazine are enough of an indication to prove how accurate the king of comedy's slant was. De Niro, Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhardt all turn in mesmeric performances, fueled by playing such highly detailed and believable characters. Rupert Pupkin is one of the great cinematic creations of all time but like the character in the film, sadly overlooked by an ambivalent society.

"The King.." deserves its rightful place on the throne. Long live the king!

  8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsaaaagh!

Tom Wellings from Yorkshire , 17/08/2004

De Niro and Scorsese, you can't go wrong. The only way it didn't get 5 stars is because it's so damn uncomfortable to watch. De Niro is thoroughly convincing as a looney and Jerry Lewis is outstanding as (so I'm told) a pretty similar role to his actual persona, particularly the bit where he get's up out of the chair he's been tied to and slaps masha. I liked this film an awful lot

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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