{"id":7862,"date":"2009-07-02T10:43:52","date_gmt":"2009-07-02T17:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=7862"},"modified":"2020-12-27T00:18:56","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T07:18:56","slug":"king-of-comedy-1982","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=7862","title":{"rendered":"King of Comedy (1982)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Why not me? Why not? A guy can get anything he wants as long as he pays the price.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster-191x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-59851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster-191x300.jpg 191w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster-172x270.jpg 172w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Poster.jpg 481w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn aspiring comedian (Robert De Niro) named Rupert Pupkin aggressively pursues a spot on a late-night television show, resorting to kidnapping its host (Jerry Lewis) when all other attempts fail.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Black Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Comedians<\/li>\n<li>Jerry Lewis Films<\/li>\n<li>Kidnapping<\/li>\n<li>Martin Scorsese Films<\/li>\n<li>Misfits<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Fans<\/li>\n<li>Robert De Niro Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary holds nothing back in his vivid description of the &#8220;pushy, insensitive, tactless New York slimeball&#8221; protagonist of this cult black comedy by Martin Scorsese. He questions &#8220;why anyone would want to make such a sick, though oddly credible film&#8221; about such &#8220;repulsive&#8221; subject matter, yet he acknowledges that the film is &#8220;superbly made&#8221;, and notes that it features &#8220;perfect&#8221; acting by its leads, whose &#8220;characterizations are precise&#8221;. Indeed, one&#8217;s reaction to this controversial film &#8212; which flopped at the box office but has since been widely acknowledged as a &#8220;must see&#8221; flick (it&#8217;s included in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a>) &#8212; is likely to be mixed, given its crafty merging of brilliance, pathos, and sheer repugnance. <\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s difficult at first to know how to react to Pupkin (De Niro is in top form), who is single-minded in his devotion to &#8220;making it&#8221; as an entertainer, but utterly out of touch with the reality of what such an endeavor entails &#8212; especially given that the &#8220;reality&#8221; of achieving <em>any<\/em> kind of fame in show business, no matter how fleeting, is so nigh impossible that resorting to drastic measures may actually make some kind of sense. Peary and countless other critics give away the fact that Pupkin ultimately &#8220;triumphs&#8221; in his goals (making it on to Jerry Langford&#8217;s show), so I&#8217;ll mention it as well &#8212; and truth be told, this ending may very well be the only one that could have worked. No matter how much of a &#8220;despicable leech&#8221; Pupkin is, he&#8217;s also undeniably pathethic &#8212; a true loser who perhaps (perhaps!) deserves his chance in the limelight, if only as evidence of his sheer gumption and warped savvy. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-1536x827.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Pupkin-Final.png 1818w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Several &#8220;big names&#8221; were considered for the role of Jerry Langford (including Frank Sinatra, Orson Welles, Dick Cavett, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Johnny Carson), but Lewis was an inspired casting coup, given his real-life designation as the &#8220;king of comedy&#8221;. Meanwhile, Bernhard (in her screen debut) is simply hilarious as Pupkin&#8217;s partner-in-crime, a deluded poor-little-rich-girl whose entire identity revolves around being Langford&#8217;s &#8220;number one fan&#8221;; her interactions with Langford while he&#8217;s taped up in her house are rollicking. Indeed, by this point in the story, the film&#8217;s bitterly humorous sensibility has emerged more strongly than ever, as it becomes especially clear that Scorsese is aiming for satirical laughs, and won&#8217;t leave us stranded in a sea of purely icky discomfort. Pupkin and Masha (Bernhard) may be two of the most pathetic individuals in existence, but we all &#8212; film fanatics among us! &#8212; possess a certain amount of this quality ourselves; Scorsese&#8217;s gift here is in allowing us to feel a measure of empathy with two characters whose very actions are the epitome of obnoxious delusion. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-1536x831.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-De-Niro.png 1817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jerry Lewis as Jerry Langford<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-1024x550.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-1024x550.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-1536x825.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Lewis.png 1816w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sandra Bernhard as Masha<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-1536x830.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Bernhardt3.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine location shooting in New York<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-1024x539.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"337\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-1024x539.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-1536x808.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2-513x270.png 513w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/King-of-Comedy-Kidnapping2.png 1861w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a cult movie by an esteemed director.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0085794\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1983\/02\/18\/movies\/scorsese-s-king-of-comedy.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.tvguide.com\/king-comedy\/review\/103239\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/21359\/the-king-of-comedy#articles-reviews?articleId=88453\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-king-of-comedy\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why not me? Why not? A guy can get anything he wants as long as he pays the price.&#8221; Synopsis: An aspiring comedian (Robert De Niro) named Rupert Pupkin aggressively pursues a spot on a late-night television show, resorting to kidnapping its host (Jerry Lewis) when all other attempts fail. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Aspiring Stars Black Comedy Comedians Jerry Lewis Films Kidnapping Martin Scorsese Films Misfits Obsessive Fans Robert De Niro Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary holds&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=7862\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7862"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59860,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862\/revisions\/59860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}