The King of Comedy

The King of Comedy. 1983 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahnne Abbott
Cameo appearances: Tony Randall, Victor Borge, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ellen Foley, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Martin Scorsese, Lou Brown, Ed Herlihy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Available at Amazon.

Robert De Niro is Rupert Pupkin, an autograph hound and an aspiring stand-up comic whose obsessive ambition far outweighs his actual talent. A chance meeting with Jerry Langford (Lewis), a famous comedian and talk show host leads the obsessive Pupkin to believe that his big break has finally arrived, although repeated attempts to be booked on the talk show are rebuffed by Langford and his staff. The delusional Pupkin finds himself imagining that he and Langford are colleagues and friends. He then collaborates with a stalker named Masha (Bernhard), who is very familiar with Langford's routine around and away from the TV studio, and they both kidnap the comedian.

As ransom, Rupert demands that the kidnapping be kept a secret, and he be given the opening slot of that evening's program, with its emergency guest host, Tony Randall. The TV network, lawyers, and FBI agents agree, on the condition that Langford be released once the show goes off the air. Between the taping and telecast, Masha has a "dream date" with Langford, who is tied to a chair in her parents' home. Pupkin's appearance on the program is well received, and he confesses to the audience that he kidnapped Langford to break into show business, drawing laughs from the audience, who think this is just another joke. The movie ends with Rupert's release from prison, and his subsequent appearance on another national televised special, which may or may not be another one of his delusional fantasies.

Highly recommended.