A classic Martin Scorsese film, starring Robert De Niro in the titular role, The King of Comedy is a satirical dark comedy following aspiring comedian Rupert Pupkin as he tries to make his stand-up comedy dreams come true after meeting famous talk show host Jerry Langford (loosely based on the classic comedian Jerry Lewis, played by Jerry Lewis). A persistent and at times truly uncomfortable guy, Rupert relentlessly storms Jerry Langford’s office, badgering his assistants about getting on Langford’s show over and over, until he is eventually kicked out of the building.

This causes Rupert to go to drastic measures, going as far as to kidnap Jerry Langford as a hostage, in exchange for one night to perform his stand-up routine on television. This goes shockingly well, as Rupert has his dreams come true of being a comedian. What makes it one of Martin Scorsese's top (but underrated) films is how relevant The King of Comedy remains 40 years later this year. With its trans-generational themes based on the culture of American media, the ugly chase for fame and fortune, and of celebrity worship, The King of Comedy’s message can still be applied and seen today.

Celebrity Worship

The King of Comedy
20th Century Studios

Though most of the film is satiric, one consistent plot point that stands out in The King of Comedy is how Rupert Pupkin (in one of the best De Niro performances) relentlessly pesters Jerry Langford. Rupert immediately calls his office multiple times, even hogging a payphone waiting for them to call back. He bothers Jerry’s assistant, Cathy Long, to review his comedy routine tape the same day he dropped it off to her. He even goes to Jerry Langford’s house, telling the people there that he was invited by Jerry himself. Then, of course, kidnapping Jerry to get what he wants.

The level of invasiveness and persistence Rupert goes to is sadly still happening in this day and age, though maybe not as far as Rupert went into the film. There are countless stories of celebrities having their houses broken into by crazed, obsessed fans; fans trying to touch or grab celebrities at their shows or concerts; or even going as far to get plastic surgery to look like their obsessions. Tabloids have always been extremely popular, but now celebrities are 'followed' obsessively on social media. Any analysis of the Johnny Depp trial will show how intrusive and obsessive people are over celebrities. Celebrity worship (and outrage) is alive and well today, and Martin Scorsese was ahead of the curve when he dissected it with The King of Comedy.

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Tying into celebrity worship is the ugly pursuit of fame. One long-lasting and timeless quote from The King of Comedy is Rupert Pupkin’s last line in the movie: “Better to be king for a night, than a schmuck for a lifetime.” This encapsulating what a lot of people would do to just get a little taste of the limelight, their “15 minutes of fame” as Warhol prophetically said, or just how far they would go to achieve their dreams. Rupert in King of Comedy went as far as to take Jerry Langford hostage, duct-taping him to a chair, holding a gun to his head, and having him repeat lines from cue cards on a phone call, all to get an appearance on live television to do his routine.

There are even more horrific tales of real-life people doing awful things to accrue 'followers' and fans, using their children or animals to try and go viral. Others use live-streaming to gain popularity, with Facebook Live airing real-time killings and kidnappings, and even the 2019 New Zealand massacre. It’s an ugly culture, brought to the big screen by Martin Scorsese. Almost 40 years later, Todd Phillips took generously from The King of Comedy with his film Joker, which ultimately transformed Scorsese's film into a villain's origin story. Robert De Niro even plays the successful comedian in Joker, taking on the character he would kidnap in The King of Comedy.

Media in American Culture

The King of Comedy
20th Century Fox

Ever since its initial invention in 1927, television (and the subsequent media that came from it) has been growing as a market, and making it easier than ever to influence the masses.The ugly chase for fame was made much easier by television, and media culture has encouraged people to think and want fame and fortune. For Rupert Pupkin, that was seeing Jerry Langford do comedy live, and thinking that because Langford makes it look easy, that he can do it too. It caused Rupert to have delusions of grandeur, and a sense of entitlement, leading to serious consequences for everyone in Rupert’s circle.

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Now, with social media and YouTube, everyone believes they are entitled to be famous, because so many people have the technology and capabilities to do so. The amount of people filming themselves just opening packages, putting on makeup, or whispering into and scratching a microphone is astounding. However, as famous as most people want to be, they are ephemeral and will be forgotten; celebrity fades, but great art lasts.

Most films that stand the test of time do so through things they do well. Citizen Kane remains a great film for the techniques it created for film. Star Wars is relevant for the special effects work it did. The King of Comedy is relevant almost four decades later due to these themes it covered in its story. Celebrity obsession and worship are still known and rampant in this era, with media culture influencing people to want and crave fame, and the lengths they’ll go to do so. Though it worked for De Niro’s character, Rupert Pupkin, it certainly won’t work well in the real world.