The King of Comedy (1982)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Paul D. Zimmerman (written by)

Release Date:

18 February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

. . and when it's all over one of them won't be laughing

Plot:

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin wants to achieve success in showbiz, by resorting to stalking his idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy.

Plot Keywords:

Kidnap | Stand Up Comedy | Life Magazine | Fictional Talk Show | Underwear

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Rupert Pupkin
Jerry Lewis	...	Jerry Langford
Diahnne Abbott	...	Rita Keane
Sandra Bernhard	...	Masha
Shelley Hack	...	Cathy Long
Ed Herlihy	...	Ed Herlihy
Lou Brown	...	Band leader
Loretta Tupper	...	Stage Door Fan
Peter Potulski	...	Stage Door Fan
Vinnie Gonzales	...	Stage Door Fan
Whitey Ryan	...	Stage Door Guard
Doc Lawless	...	Chauffeur
Marta Heflin	...	Young Girl
Katherine Wallach	...	Autograph Seeker
Charles Kaleina	...	Autograph Seeker
Richard Baratz	...	Caricaturist
Catherine Scorsese	...	Rupert's Mom
Cathy Scorsese	...	Dolores
Chuck Low	...	Man in Chinese Restaurant (as Chuck L. Low)
Liza Minnelli	...	Herself
Leslie Levinson	...	Roberta Posner
Alan Potashnick	...	Man at Telephone
Michael Kolba	...	Man at Telephone
Robert Colston	...	Man at Telephone
Ramón Rodríguez	...	Man at telephone (as Ramon Rodríguez)
Chuck Coop	...	Man at Telephone
Sel Vitella	...	Man at Telephone
Margo Winkler	...	Receptionist
Tony Boschetti	...	Mr. Gangemi
Mick Jones	...	Street Scum
Joe Strummer	...	Street Scum
Paul Simonon	...	Street Scum (as Paul Simmion)
Kosmo Vynil	...	Street Scum
Ellen Foley	...	Street Scum
Pearl Harbour	...	Street Scum
Gary Salter	...	Street Scum
Jerry Baxter-Worman	...	Street Scum
Don Letts	...	Street Scum (as Dom Letts)
Matt Russo	...	Cabbie
Thelma Lee	...	Woman in Telephone Booth
Joyce Brothers	...	Herself (as Dr. Joyce Brothers)
George Kapp	...	Mystery Guest
Victor Borge	...	Himself
Ralph Monaco	...	Raymond Wirtz
Rob-Jamere Wess	...	Security Guard
Kim Chan	...	Jonno
Audrey Dummett	...	Cook
June Prud'Homme	...	Audrey
Frederick De Cordova	...	Bert Thomas (as Fred De Cordova)
Edgar J. Scherick	...	Wilson Crockett
Thomas M. Tolan	...	Gerrity
Ray Dittrich	...	Giardello
Richard Dioguardi	...	Captain Burke
Jay Julien	...	Langford's Lawyer
Harry J. Ufland	...	Langford's Agent (as Harry Ufland)
Scotty Bloch	...	Crockett's Secretary
Jim Lyness	...	Ticket Taker
Bill Minkin	...	Clarence McCabe
Diane Rachell	...	McCabe's Wife
Dennis Mulligan	...	Plainclothesman
Tony Devon	...	Plainclothesman
Peter Fain	...	Plainclothesman
Michael F. Stodden	...	Plainclothesman
Gerard Murphy	...	Plainclothesman (as Jerry Murphy)
Jimmy Raitt	...	Stage Manager
Martin Scorsese	...	TV Director
Tony Randall	...	Himself
Charles Scorsese	...	First Man at Bar
Mardik Martin	...	Second Man at Bar
Bill Jorgensen	...	Voice of Newsman (voice) (as William Jorgensen)
Marvin Scott	...	Voice of Newsman (voice)
Chuck Stevens	...	Voice of Newsman (voice)
William Litauer	...	Voice of Newsman (voice)
Jeff David	...	Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Allan Baker	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Extra in crowd scene (uncredited)
Mike Tremont	...	Talk Show Contestant (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

Writing credits
Paul D. Zimmerman		(written by)

Produced by
Robert F. Colesberry	....	associate producer
Robert Greenhut	....	executive producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer

Cinematography by
Fred Schuler

Film Editing by
Thelma Schoonmaker

Casting by
Cis Corman

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Art Direction by
Lawrence Miller
Edward Pisoni

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Sr.
Daniel Robert

Costume Design by
Richard Bruno

Makeup Department
Philip Goldblat	....	makeup artist (as Philip Goldblatt)
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist (as Lyn Quiyou)
Jay Cannistraci	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert F. Colesberry	....	production manager
Barbara De Fina	....	post-production supervisor
Tom Razzano	....	assistant unit manager (as Thomas A. Razzano)
Thelma Schoonmaker	....	production supervisor
Ezra Swerdlow	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lewis Gould	....	second assistant director
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director
Jerry Olinick	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Billy Bishop	....	second props (as Bill Bishop)
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist
Carlos Quiles	....	carpenter (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser (as David Weinman)
Joe Williams Sr.	....	construction grip
Richard Shelton	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rebecca Einfeld	....	sound editorial staff
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gary S. Gerlich	....	sound editorial staff (as Gary Gerlich)
Vito L. Ilardi	....	boom operator (as Vito Ilardi)
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Victoria Martin	....	sound editorial staff
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank E. Warner	....	supervising sound editor (as Frank Warner)
Bill Wylie	....	sound editorial staff (as William Wylie)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Gary Parker	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ricki-Ellen Brooke	....	second assistant camera (as Ricki Ellen Brooke)
Sandy Brooke	....	first assistant camera
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam operator
Norman Buck	....	key grip
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
James Fitzpatrick	....	best boy
Deane Helms	....	best boy
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
William Ward	....	gaffer (as Bill Ward)
Dennis Degan	....	tape operator (uncredited)
Gábor Kövér	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jack De Palma	....	principals casting assistant
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting (as Sylvia Faye)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William Loger	....	costume supervisor
Mary Ellen Winston	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Louis Bertini	....	second assistant editor
Richard Candib	....	first assistant editor
Mary Hickey	....	apprentice editor
Holly Huckins	....	post-production coordinator
Susan Lazarus	....	apprentice editor
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)

Music Department
Mark Del Costello	....	music consultant
Robbie Robertson	....	music producer

Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain (as Harold McEvoy)

Other crew
Jourdan Arenson	....	production assistant
Marion Billings	....	publicity coordinator: M/S Billings Publicity
Dominique Bruballa	....	production auditor: Kathleen McGill Production Services
Sarah Carson	....	assistant production office coordinator
Michael Dulin	....	production assistant
William Goldberg	....	controller
Peter Grossman	....	production assistant
Roberta Hodes	....	script supervisor (as Roberta O. Hodes)
Shelley Houis	....	production office coordinator
Harry Litman	....	production assistant
Loretta Lorden	....	video consultant
Sheila Paige	....	second script supervisor
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Randee Post	....	production assistant
Alan Potashnick	....	assistant: Mr. De Niro
Sylvia Reed	....	production assistant
Helen Robin	....	assistant: Mr. Greenhut
Susan Rollins	....	production assistant
Gil Rossellini	....	production assistant (as Gil Rossellini-Dasgupta)
Valerie Sancoff	....	production auditor: Kathleen McGill Production Services
Amy Sayres	....	location coordinator
Hannah Scheel	....	consulting script supervisor
Bill Scheffer	....	production assistant
Deborah Schindler	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese
Jennifer W. Shore	....	production assistant (as Jennifer Wyckoff)
Shawn Slovo	....	assistant: Mr. De Niro
Laurie Spring	....	production assistant
Todd M. Thaler	....	production assistant (as Todd Thaler)

Production Companies

• Embassy International Pictures
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Filmpac Home Video
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
• Warner Home Video

Other Companies

• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Embassy International Pictures

Trivia:

The talk show segments were filmed on videotape (like a real talk show) and later transferred to film. An unedited version of Jerry's monologue in its original video format can be seen as part of the DVD's special features.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rupert is waiting by the payphone, the other phones are hanging down. But in the next shot one of them is in its right place again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ed Herlihy: And now, from New York, The Jerry Langford Show! With Jerry's guests Tony Randall, Richard Dreyfuss, Rodney Dangerfield, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Lou Brown and the orchestra, and little old me Ed Herlihy. And now say hello to Jerry!

Movie Connections:

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

Soundtrack:

Swamp

Scorsese and De Niro's underrated black comedy masterpiece.

'The King Of Comedy' is easily Martin Scorsese's most underrated and misunderstood movie. Scorsese and Robert De Niro's previous collaboration was the brilliant boxing biopic 'Raging Bull', generally regarded by most people as a masterpiece. Then the two made 'The King Of Comedy'... What a brave move! You couldn't find a more different movie, but one just as impressive and extraordinary. This movie is disliked by many, deliberately ignored by others. It's a very uncomfortable film. It's a (very) black comedy and is genuinely funny in places, but much of it is embarrassing to watch. Not because it is inept, but because of the believability of De Niro's obnoxious and irritating "loser" and wanna be comic Rupert Pupkin. De Niro has made a lot of disappointing movies in the last few years but 'The King Of Comedy' reminds you of just how brilliant he can be. I can't think of many actors who would be brave enough to play this part! Jerry Lewis is a performer I have always disliked, but he is excellent in this movie, probably because he is playing someone very close to himself in real life. The rest of the supporting cast aren't the most obvious choices, led by confrontational comedienne Sandra Bernhard and the "forgotten" Charlie's Angel Shelley Hack. Plus there are Tony Randall and a couple of other celebrities playing themselves, and a blink and you'll miss it cameo by The Clash (!). I really admire Scorsese for taking such a risk with this movie, which is one of the most original and provocative ever released by a major Hollywood studio. Bravo! This is must see viewing for not only all Scorsese or De Niro fans, but anyone who appreciates unusual or difficult movies.