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The King of Comedy

Name: The King of Comedy
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: 1982-12-18
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 7.774

★ 7,8 /10 (2,615 Votes)

1982 EN 109 min

Overview

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.

Stream

Rent

Buy

Release date

18/12/1982

Votes

2,615

Popularity

6.6

It's no laughing matter.

Genres

Drama Comedy

Status

Released

Language

Runtime

109 min

Budget

$19,000,000

Revenue

$2,536,000

Website

www.newregency.com

Robert De Niro

Rupert Pupkin

Jerry Lewis

Jerry Langford

Diahnne Abbott

Rita

Sandra Bernhard

Masha

Shelley Hack

Cathy Long

Frederick de Cordova

Bert Thomas

Ed Herlihy

No photo

Lou Brown

Band Leader

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Loretta Tupper

Stage Door Fan

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Peter Potulski

Stage Door Fan

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Vinnie Gonzales

Stage Door Fan

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Whitey Ryan

Stage Door Guard

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Doc Lawless

Chauffeur

Marta Heflin

Young Girl

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Katherine Wallach

Autograph Seeker

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Charles Kaleina

Autograph Seeker

No photo

Richard Baratz

Caricaturist

Catherine Scorsese

Rupert's Mom (voice)

Cathy Scorsese

Dolores

Chuck Low

Man in Chinese Restaurant

Liza Minnelli

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Leslie Levinson

Roberta Posner

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Alan Potashnick

Man at Telephone

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Michael Kolba

Man at Telephone

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Robert Colston

Man at Telephone

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Ramon Rodriguez

Man at Telephone

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Chuck Coop

Man at Telephone

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Sel Vitella

Man at Telephone

Margo Winkler

Receptionist

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Tony Boschetti

Mr. Gangemi

Mick Jones

Street Scum

Joe Strummer

Street Scum

Paul Simonon

Street Scum

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Kosmo Vinyl

Street Scum

Ellen Foley

Street Scum

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Pearl Harbour

Street Scum

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Gaby Salter

Street Scum

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Jerry Baxter-Worman

Street Scum

Don Letts

Street Scum

Matt Russo

Cabbie

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Thelma Lee

Woman in Telephone Booth

Joyce Brothers

Dr. Joyce Brothers

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George Kapp

Mystery Guest

Victor Borge

Ralph Monaco

Raymond Wirtz

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Rob-Jamere Wess

Security Guard

Kim Chan

Jonno

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Audrey Dummett

Cook

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June Prud'Homme

Audrey

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Edgar J. Scherick

Wilson Crockett

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Thomas M. Tolan

Gerrity

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Ray Dittrich

Giardello

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Richard Dioguardi

Captain Burke

Jay Julien

Langford's Lawyer

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Harry J. Ufland

Langford's Agent

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Scotty Bloch

Crockett's Secretary

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Jim Lyness

Ticket Taker

Bill Minkin

McCabe

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Diane Rachell

McCabe's Wife

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Dennis Mulligan

Plainclothesman

Tony Devon

Plainclothesman

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Peter Fain

Plainclothesman

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Michael F. Stodden

Plainclothesman

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Gerard Murphy

Plainclothesman

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Jimmy Raitt

Stage Manager

Martin Scorsese

TV Director

Tony Randall

Charles Scorsese

First Man at Bar

Mardik Martin

Second Man at Bar

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William Jorgensen

Newsman (voice)

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Marvin Scott

Newsman (voice)

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Chuck Stevens

Newsman (voice)

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William Littauer

Newsman (voice)

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Jeff David

Announcer (voice)

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Crowd Extra (uncredited)

Original Soundtrack

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**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 nati…

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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…

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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…

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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!

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