Synopsis
It's No Laughing Matter.
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.
1982 Directed by Martin Scorsese
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.
Robert De Niro Jerry Lewis Sandra Bernhard Diahnne Abbott Shelley Hack Frederick de Cordova Kim Chan Ed Herlihy Lou Brown Margo Winkler Ralph Monaco Catherine Scorsese Cathy Scorsese Loretta Tupper Peter Potulski Vinnie Gonzales Whitey Ryan Doc Lawless Marta Heflin Chuck Low Katherine Wallach Charles Kaleina Richard Baratz Leslie Levinson Alan Potashnick Michael Kolba Robert Colston Ramon Rodriguez Chuck Coop Show All…
Re per una notte, O Rei da Comédia, Král komedie, 코미디의 왕, キング・オブ・コメディ, 喜劇之王, Король комедии, Король комедії, Ο Βασιλιάς της Κωμωδίας, El rey de la comedia, Koomikkojen kuningas, Król komedii, Rupert Pupkin, The King of Comedy 1982, キング・オブ・コメディ:1982, Komedi Kralı, Komediya Kralı, Kahkahalar Kralı, La Valse des pantins, 喜剧之王, A komédia királya, Βασιλιάς για μια νύχτα, מלך הקומדיה, Regele comediei, King of Comedy, Кралят на комедията, El Rey de la Comedia, Kráľ komédie, კომედიის მეფე, Kralj komedije, ราชาแห่งความขบขัน
I read the interview for this in ‘Scorsese on Scorsese’ and he claimed that to get in character Robert DeNiro started stalking and harassing his own stalkers. Showing up to their apartments, calling them in the middle of the night, etc. Thought it was worth posting here.
when rupert says "woody allen is a personal friend of mine" and rita says "of course he is" ... scorsese's mind
Definitive ranking of the names Rupert gets called:
1. Mr. Puffer. Hilarious lack of effort, chef’s kiss
2. Mr. Pumpnick. Beautiful, not a single syllable is right
3. Mr. Pumpkin. Low hanging fruit, but still a decent laugh
4. Mr. Romance. Well-timed sarcastic contribution from Rita
5. Mr. Potkin. Meh, not very convincing
6. Mr. King. Rupert’s self-proclaimed alias, basically just an honourable mention
7. Mr. Pipkin. Bad, you probably heard his name correctly and you’re just being a dick if you use this one
On this viewing, Rita (Diahnne Abbott) -- the least flashy of the four central characters -- stood out for me like never before. Former homecoming queen turned Manhattan bartender, she is the embodiment of an adult life marked by disappointments and diminished expectations. As Rupert walks her to her apartment after their pitiful first date, the weary way she says "I guess you're entitled to come up for some coffee" is quietly devastating.
And now she suffers the further indignity of being recruited to be Rupert's dehumanized army-candy. He wants to "rescue" her from her circumstances much like how Travis Bickle sought to "rescue" Iris, but mostly wants to use her as a prop to impress Jerry and validate his…