History Film / TheKingOfComedy

''The King of Comedy'' is a 1983[[note]]technically 1982 going by its much earlier Icelandic release date, but the more official US premiere was two months later in February 1983[[/note]] BlackComedy film, directed by Creator/MartinScorsese and starring Creator/RobertDeNiro and Creator/JerryLewis.

The story centers around the autograph hunter and aspiring comedian Rupert Pupkin (De Niro), whose [[GiftedlyBad ambition far exceeds his talent]]. One day Rupert meets Jerry Langford (Lewis), a successful late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy. Rupert believes his "big break" has finally come and he attempts to to get a place on Langford's show by stalking him, and he soon begins to indulge in elaborate and obsessive fantasies in which he and Langford are colleagues and friends. Failing to heed Langford's polite attempts to brush him off, Rupert eventually resorts to kidnapping him in order to become "king for a night."

This film was a real departure from Scorsese's earlier work (such as ''Film/MeanStreets, Film/TaxiDriver,'' and ''Film/RagingBull''), due to its highly minimalistic style and absolutely unique tone. De Niro is also cast against type as a "real nerd", the definitive LoonyFan, while Lewis has a rare non-comedic role. Perhaps because of all this, the film was a huge commercial and critical failure in the year of its release. However, it has since acquired a cult following and is popular among stand-up comedians and the likes of Music/PaulMcCartney for its poignant portrayal of celebrity culture. ''Film/{{Joker|2019}}'' takes significant inspiration from the movie as well, even featuring De Niro in a role comparable to Lewis's.

-->'''Rupert''': Sydney, I"m really not that interested. [[BlatantLies It's not my whole life]]
-->'''Fan''': What's that supposed to mean?!

-->'''Sydney''': What's that supposed to mean?!

* Foil: Rupert stands as a big one to DeNiro's previous role [[Film/TaxiDriver Travis Bickle.]] Rupert and Travis are both men who desire more attention and respect than they get and long for a sense of purpose and status. However, Travis was quiet, reserved and socially awkward while Rupert is talkative, overly outgoing and somewhat charismatic. While Travis' eventual breakdown is horrifyingly violent and treated as such, Rupert is hopelessly inept at kidnapping and intimidation and his behavior is played for dark laughs.

* CloudCuckoolander: Rupert Pupkin is pretty much the poster boy for this trope. More precisely a DarkerAndEdgier and StepfordSmiler of the same, in that he's actually much smarter than he pretends and indeed has a nasty, ruthless edge.

* DarkChick: Masha (Sandra Bernhard) is Rupert's partner in crime and is ''far'' more unhinged, violent, and stalker-y than Rupert (being the one to actually suggest violence) and in many ways the mastermind behind their scheme.

* RealSongThemeTune: Music/RayCharles's version of the standard "Come Rain or Come Shine". Later [[ThemeTuneCameo sung in-universe]] by Masha to Jerry.

%%* BlackComedy

''The King of Comedy'' is a 1983 BlackComedy film, directed by Creator/MartinScorsese and starring Creator/RobertDeNiro and Creator/JerryLewis.

** Rupert, for his part, is ''tired'' of being labelled as a delusional prick (which he is) and just wants to not be some shmuck off the street, forever chasing fame and not standing out of the crowd because he wasn't lucky - anyone trying to make it in comedy (or, really, any art) can sympathize. His routine [[spoiler:isn't even bad or mediocre - it's genuinely funny, if generic.]]
* BrilliantButLazy: "Brilliant" may be a bit of a stretch. However, given how his comedy routine isn't half bad, it's enough to make one curious to see if Rupert really had the potential to be a successful comedian if he had followed Jerry Langford's blunt, but honest, advice to put in the time and effort needed to hone his craft

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Jerry Langford is pretty obviously based on [[Series/TheTonightShow Johnny Carson]]. (Carson was offered the role but turned it down. Carson's producer Fred de Cordova played his fictional equivalent, however.)

''The King of Comedy'' is a 1983 black comedy film, directed by Creator/MartinScorsese and starring Creator/RobertDeNiro and Creator/JerryLewis.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1145.PNG]]

* AbhorrentAdmirer: Masha for Jerry. Also Rupert for Jerry, albeit in a non-romantic/sexual way.

* AbhorrentAdmirer: Masha and Rupert, where Jerry Langford is concerned.

* VillainousAromanticAsexual: Played with. Rupert does fantasize about marrying Rita, but this seems more about the status of having a pretty girl around for show than any actual romantic or sexual interest in her or anybody else. Notably, Rupert doesn't accept her (grudging) offer to come up to Rita's apartment after their date, nor do sexual conquests of any kind figure into his very active fantasy world.

This film was a real departure from Scorsese's earlier work (such as ''Film/MeanStreets, Film/TaxiDriver,'' and ''Film/RagingBull''), due to its highly minimalistic style and absolutely unique tone. De Niro is also cast against type as a "real nerd", the definitive LoonyFan, while Lewis has a rare non-comedic role. Perhaps because of all this, the film was a huge commercial and critical failure in the year of its release. However, it has since acquired a cult following with many a BigNameFan and is popular among stand-up comedians and the likes of Music/PaulMcCartney for its poignant portrayal of celebrity culture. ''Film/{{Joker|2019}}'' takes significant inspiration from the movie as well, even featuring De Niro in a role comparable to Lewis's.

* BrilliantButLazy: "Brilliant" may be a bit of a stretch. However, [[spoiler: given how his comedy routine isn't half bad, it's enough to make one curious to see if Rupert really had the potential to be a successful comedian if he had followed Jerry Langford's blunt, but honest, advice to put in the time and effort needed to hone his craft.]]

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Jerry tries to warn Rupert that being famous isn't all it's cracked up to be ("you'll have idiots like you plaguing your life!"), but Rupert is oblivious.

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Rupert isn't so much interested in being a comedian as he is in becoming a celebrity. He more or less admits the the audience at the end that he kidnapped and threatened Jerry Langford because "it's better to be a king for a day than stay a schmuck for a lifetime."

The story centers around the autograph hunter and aspiring comedian Rupert Pupkin (De Niro), whose [[GiftedlyBad ambition far exceeds his talent]]. One day Rupert meets Jerry Langford (Lewis), a successful late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy. Rupert believes his "big break" has finally come and he attempts to to get a place on Langford's show by stalking him, and he soon begins to indulge in elaborate and obsessive fantasies in which he and Langford are colleagues and friends.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Rupert looks down on Masha for being an obsessed StalkerWithACrush whose relationship with Jerry only exists in her mind, completely missing the fact that description applies as much to himself as it does to her.