Movies / The King of Comedy (1982)
Runtime: 109 min
Languages: English
Countries: USA
Martin Scorsese's satirical comedy/drama caustically explores the lengths to which a nobody will go to be as famous as his idol. Practicing his patter in his basement with cardboard cut-outs of his favorite celebrities, mediocre aspiring comedian Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) believes that one appearance on the evening talk show of the Johnny Carson-esque Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) will be his ticket to stardom. After he helps Jerry escape the advances of amorous fan Masha (Sandra Bernhard), Rupert takes Jerry's patronizing brush-off as a true promise for an audition and begins haunting Jerry's office. Provoked by Masha's needling and a rejection from Jerry's smooth production exec Cathy Long (Shelley Hack), Rupert makes a disastrous trip to Jerry's country house with embarrassed date Rita (Diahnne Abbott), then hatches an even more outlandish scheme to get ahead. With Masha's help, Rupert kidnaps Jerry and demands as ransom the TV appearance that he believes will turn his fantasy into reality.~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
Keywords (85) |
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Directors (1) | Credit |
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Martin Scorsese | ... |
Writers (1) | Credit |
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Paul D. Zimmerman | (written by) |
Editors (1) | Credit |
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Thelma Schoonmaker | ... |
Cinematographers (1) | Credit |
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Fred Schuler | ... |
Actors (77) | Credit |
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Alan Potashnick | Man at Telephone |
Allan Baker | Audience Member (uncredited) |
Audrey Dummett | Cook |
Bill Jorgensen | Voice of Newsman (voice) (as William Jorgensen) |
Bill Minkin | Clarence McCabe |
Catherine Scorsese | Rupert's Mom |
Cathy Scorsese | Dolores |
Charles Kaleina | Autograph Seeker |
Charles Scorsese | First Man at Bar |
Chuck Coop | Man at Telephone |
Chuck Low | Man in Chinese Restaurant (as Chuck L. Low) |
Chuck Stevens | Voice of Newsman (voice) |
Dennis Mulligan | Plainclothesman |
Diahnne Abbott | Rita Keane |
Diane Rachell | McCabe's Wife |
Doc Lawless | Chauffeur |
Don Letts | Street Scum (as Dom Letts) |
Edgar J. Scherick | Wilson Crockett |
Ed Herlihy | Ed Herlihy |
Ellen Foley | Street Scum |
Frederick De Cordova | Bert Thomas (as Fred De Cordova) |
Gary Salter | Street Scum |
George Kapp | Mystery Guest |
Gerard Murphy | Plainclothesman (as Jerry Murphy) |
Harry J. Ufland | Langford's Agent (as Harry Ufland) |
Jay Julien | Langford's Lawyer |
Jeff David | Announcer |
Jerry Baxter-Worman | Street Scum |
Jerry Lewis | Jerry Langford |
Jim Lyness | Ticket Taker |
Jimmy Raitt | Stage Manager |
Joe Strummer | Street Scum |
Joyce Brothers | Herself (as Dr. Joyce Brothers) |
June Prud'Homme | Audrey |
Katherine Wallach | Autograph Seeker |
Kim Chan | Jonno |
Kosmo Vynil | Street Scum |
Leslie Levinson | Roberta Posner |
Liza Minnelli | Herself |
Loretta Tupper | Stage Door Fan |
Lou Brown | Band leader |
Mardik Martin | Second Man at Bar |
Margo Winkler | Receptionist |
Marta Heflin | Young Girl |
Martin Scorsese | TV Director |
Marvin Scott | Voice of Newsman (voice) |
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio | Extra in crowd scene (uncredited) |
Matt Russo | Cabbie |
Michael F. Stodden | Plainclothesman |
Michael Kolba | Man at Telephone |
Mick Jones | Street Scum |
Mike Tremont | Talk Show Contestant (uncredited) |
Paul Simonon | Street Scum (as Paul Simmion) |
Pearl Harbour | Street Scum |
Peter Fain | Plainclothesman |
Peter Potulski | Stage Door Fan |
Ralph Monaco | Raymond Wirtz |
Ramón Rodríguez | Man at telephone (as Ramon Rodríguez) |
Ray Dittrich | Giardello |
Richard Baratz | Caricaturist |
Richard Dioguardi | Captain Burke |
Robert Colston | Man at Telephone |
Robert De Niro | Rupert Pupkin |
Rob-Jamere Wess | Security Guard |
Sandra Bernhard | Masha |
Scotty Bloch | Crockett's Secretary |
Sel Vitella | Man at Telephone |
Shelley Hack | Cathy Long |
Thelma Lee | Woman in Telephone Booth |
Thomas M. Tolan | Gerrity |
Tony Boschetti | Mr. Gangemi |
Tony Devon | Plainclothesman |
Tony Randall | Himself |
Victor Borge | Himself |
Vinnie Gonzales | Stage Door Fan |
Whitey Ryan | Stage Door Guard |
William Litauer | Voice of Newsman (voice) |