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The King of Comedy
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0024543038948
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: 20th Century Fox
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 MonoFrench (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 MonoEnglish (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
MPN: D2003894D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: December 17, 2002
Running Time: 109 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: February 18, 1983
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Editorial Review:
The King of Comedy, which flopped at the box office, is actually a gem waiting to be rediscovered. Like A Face in the Crowd (a not-so-distant cousin to this film), Network, and The Truman Show, its target is show business--specifically the burning desire to become famous or be near the famous, no matter what. Robert De Niro plays the emotionally unstable, horrendously untalented Rupert Pupkin, a wannabe Vegas-style comedian. His fantasies are egged on by Marsha, a talk-show groupie (brilliantly played by Sandra Bernhard) who hatches a devious, sure-to-backfire plan. Jerry Lewis is terrific in the straight role as the Johnny Carson-like talk-show host Jerry Langford. De Niro's performance as the obsessive Pupkin is among his finest (which is saying a lot) and he never tries to make the character likable in any way. Because there's no hero and no one to root for, and because at times the film insists we get a little too close and personal with Pupkin, some will be put off. Yet it's one of Scorsese's most original and fascinating films, giving viewers much to consider on the subject of celebrity. Its inevitable climax is clever and quietly horrific. --Christopher J. Jarmick
Martin Scorsese's The King Of Comedy is a funny depiction of the dangers of celebrity fandom. Robert De Niro plays the ridiculously inept Rupert Rupkin, an aspiring comic who idolizes 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 carboard 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 (Sandra Berhard), to kidnap Langford in exchange for a chance to let him deliver his routine on the air.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - If you need a reminder that DeNiro is a great actor...
Such a great film. Robert DeNiro is simply one of the finest actors of our time. His recent output has been shady at best, but go back and watch this movie, and remind yourself of just how good the man can be. Keep in mind that he had just won an Oscar a couple of years earlier for playing a monster of a man in "Raging Bull", and now here he is transforming into a mouse of a man as Mama's boy Rupert. Jerry Lewis steals every scene he's in, and Sandra Bernhardt is...um...insane. And kinda sexy. ... Read More
Rating:  - MIght be the best contemporary film ever made
Just get it and watch it. You have probably never seen anything like it, and won't ever again. Creative, quirky, sad, funny, and disturbing, you'll never meet another character like Rupert Pupkin played by Robert DeNiro in his finest, finest, role. Sandra Bernhard is amazing and perhaps the saddest part of the film is realizing what we missed out on by not having the same respect for Jerry Lewis as the French. Don't miss this film.
Rating:  - More sad than funny. Actually, totally depressing.
The King of Comedy has to be given credit for being a relentless portrait of the ultimate loser. The big joke is that he is not funny, nor is he smart -- he is a leech, a criminal, and someone with disturbing juvenile fantasies. It is a brutal film that takes great pleasure in mocking the most horrid of the lonely, pathetic outcasts of our society.
Needless to say, in its uber-satirical portrayal of a complete putz achieving his ultimate goals, it was a chilling precursor of what we have ... Read More
Rating: - Incredible From Start to Finish
The character of Rupert Pupkin could only be put on screen by the immaculate Robert De Niro. Considering the characters of Young Vito (The Godfather, Part II (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)), Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)), Jake La Motta (Raging Bull (Special Edition)), and Noodles (Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)), this a stark change for Robert De Niro.
Rupert Pupkin is a wannabe stand-up comic. He idolizes late night talk show host Jerry ... Read More
Rating: - Scary Comedy
This brilliant film about an aspiring comic who resorts to kidnapping, is a little known masterpiece by Martin Scorcese.
The part DeNiro plays here is as different from Taxi Driver or Raging Bull as you can get, but he still shows why in the early 80's he was THE best actor to have in your movie. From what I have read DeNiro did a lot of preparation work (as always) for this movie, and it shows, he is never less than utterly convincing.
There are some marvellous (though cringe ... Read More
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