THE KING OF COMEDY (PG)

"Creepiest movie of the year in every sense, and one of the best." - Time Out London

The fifth collaboration between Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, The King of Comedy (MIFF 1983) was underappreciated upon its release, but stands up as a forgotten classic, featuring virtuoso performances not only from De Niro, but also a disturbed Sandra Bernhard and an enraged Jerry Lewis at the top of his game.

The delusional Rupert Pupkin (De Niro) is Travis Bickle with a poor sense of humour - a stand-up comedian wannabe who idolises talk-show host Jerry Langford (Lewis) with an obsession that will see him go to any lengths for the chance to do a routine on Jerry's show.

Here Scorsese makes a bold statement about celebrity, slamming the tabloid culture that at the time blamed Taxi Driver for causing Ronald Reagan's botched assassination attempt.

D Martin Scorsese P Arnon Milchan S Paul D. Zimmerman Dist Twentieth Century Fox 35mm/1983