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The King of Comedy
Friday July 29, 2022 09:15 PM EDT
Cost: $16.34
CL RECOMMENDS
CL Critic Curt Holman Recommends: Martin Scorsese’s scorching satire of celebrity and the hunger for fame was ahead of its time when it was released 40 years ago, and it’s lost none of its punch. Robert De Niro plays deluded would-be comedian Rupert Pupkin, whose obsession with a late-night talk show host (Jerry Lewis) takes increasingly dark turns. This film, along with Taxi Driver, was hugely influential on Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. — CH
From the venue:
Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) is a failure in life but a celebrity in his own mind, hosting an imaginary talk show in his mother’s basement. When he meets actual talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), he’s convinced it will provide his big break, but Langford isn’t interested in the would-be comedian. Undaunted, Pupkin effectively stalks Langford — and when that doesn’t work, he kidnaps him, offering his release in exchange for a guest spot on Langford’s show.