Don't Make a Scene: The King of Comedy

The Story:  Although, he was never given much of a chance to do it, the mercurial comedian Jerry Lewis could be very good—very good—at drama. Like here, in this scene from The King of Comedy (directed by Martin Scorsese), where Rupert Pupkin has lunch with his idol/mentor Jerry Langdon (a thinly-veiled version of Johnny Carson—they even share the same producer, Freddy DeCordova).

Well, they're not exactly having "lunch-lunch." The King of Comedy is a story about fame, and the insane greed for it. Rupert wants it. He doesn't have the talent to have it, but, in his mind (where a good deal of The King of Comedy takes place) he does. He deserves it. He just doesn't have "the contacts" to get his foot in the door. He's going to need very big clown-shoe sized loafers to be able to squeeze through to get his "Big Break." Really big, because Rupert has to get his "Big and Tall Shop" ego through, as well.

That ego has a lot of room in it, an Imax theater dimensioned amphitheater where Rupert plays out his famous fantasies (that is, fantasies about being famous), although the actual location is the basement of his mother's brownstone.

In this film, Scorsese plays a disorienting guessing game. Frequently, he'll cut from one scene to another, as simple as changing locations. But, often, they'll go from Rupert's day-to-day existence to a fantasy (without so much of a clue-in as a fade or the horried bell-tree gliss). Suddenly, you're there...and reality is different, things are not as you know them and you wonder if you're missing something (or, if seeing it in a theater, the projectionist has the reels flipped).  You're not missing anything; Scorsese is not doing a documentary here, but, instead, showing the inner workings of Rupert's mind. There IS no difference between reality and fantasy* there—it's all one big muddled jumble. But, it's a focused jumble.

The King of Comedy has some of Lewis' best, most subtle, acting in a career of taking things to the edge and beyond. This will do.

The Set-Up: Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), messenger-boy and aspiring comedian, is trying to set up a meeting with talk-host Jerry Langdon (Jerry Lewis) to audition for his show. He has to get noticed for the great talent that he thinks he is, and Jerry is the key. While he works at creating the life he deserves, he fantasizes about what that life will be like, even its pressures and frustrations.

Action! LANGFORD Hey, Rupe, before I forget...I really appreciate you meeting me for lunch. I know how busy you are and how tired you are.
PUPKIN What are friends for, Jerry?
PUPKIN Talking about schedule, you're the one who looks tired.
LANGFORD Yeah, I know.
LANGFORD It's the show.
LANGFORD The pressure, the ratings.
LANGFORD The same guests, the same questions. I'm just not enjoying it anymore.
PUPKIN That's... the worst.
LANGFORD Listen, I... I really wish you would think about it again.
Eddie arrives. He is a small, slightly-bald man with greying hair and a goatee. He wears a foulard under an open-necked shirt. He carries a long sketch pad. He immediately sets up a small easel and starts sketching.
PUPKIN  Again...Wait a minute. You-you're starting again. You're starting up again.
LANGFORD It's not that big a deal to think. I'm asking you to think.
PUPKIN I'm thinking. That's all I do is think day and night about it.
PUPKIN How can I not think about it? I mean, I've been sitting here at lunch with you... which I knew is why you invited me from the first place...
PUPKIN ...and all I'm sitting and eating here to get guilty with you, right?
LANGFORD I'm asking you to take over the show for six weeks. What's six weeks?
PUPKIN I'll give you anything, but don't ask me to do six weeks. I can't take over the show for six weeks. I can't even take over my own life for six weeks. And you're asking me to do something that's impossible!
MRS.PUPKIN** Rupert!
PUPKIN It's impossible!
MRS.PUPKIN Rupert!
PUPKIN Don't you understand...
PUPKIN What?!
MRS.PUPKIN What are you doing down there so late?
PUPKIN It's impossible! I'm trying to tell you that.  What do want?  You want the tears to come out of my eyes?.
LANGFORD There's gotta be...there's gotta be a way to work it out. It's just six weeks.
A YOUNG GIRL stands before PUPKIN and LANGFORD. She hands PUPKIN her autograph book.
GIRL Excuse me. Um, Mr. Pupkin? You think you could...
PUPKIN Yeah, sure. What's your name, dear?

GIRL Dolores.
PUPKIN - Dolores? That was my father's name.
PUPKIN (writing) To Dolores, who sensed greatness. Rupert Pupkin.
PUPKIN There ya go, sweetheart.
GIRL (reading it) Thanks, Mr. Pupkin.
PUPKIN Don't mention it.
The GIRL leaves.
MRS.PUPKIN  Rupert! Rupert, who you talking to?
PUPKIN Mo-o-o-m!
MRS.PUPKIN What is it?
PUPKIN Pleeeeease stop calling me!
PUPKIN It's terrific. It's great.
PUPKIN There's only one problem, though. He made-he made you bigger.
LANGFORD Would you answer me?
PUPKIN All right! You've got the six weeks! Don't bother me! I'll give you the six weeks! What can I say? You happy now?
LANGFORD You're a tough man, Rupe.
PUPKIN You got to be in this business. (laughs)
LANGFORD Ha ha ha ha ha!

PUPKIN Ha ha ha ha ha!

Back in his mother's basement, Rupert laughs, then takes Jerry's place and laughs. The laughter builds.

The King of Comedy

Words by Paul D. Zimmerman

Pictures by Fred Schuler and Martin Scorsese

The King of Comedy is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Warner Home Video.

* Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader show you the inner thoughts of Travis' Bickle in Taxi Driver (or rather let you hear them), but there are no fantasy sequences—Travis doesn't have that rich an imagination...at best, he can only interpret (through slow-motion and color-grading).

** By the way, the unseen Mrs. Pupkin? She's played by Scorsese's mother.

Don't Make a Scene: The King of Comedy

The Story: I can't tell you how many demo tapes I've listened to. Hundreds. Thousands might be pushing it. But I've heard tons...and that would be literal. I've listened to them, I've made them for other people and myself. They are exercises in ego.  But if you're a "talent," they are absolutely essential tools for showing somebody you've got some.

A resume can give you facts and figures and dates. But a demo tape is you, hopefully at your best...or what you think is your best. That's where the ego comes in.

At this point in The King of Comedy—critic/screenwriter Paul Zimmerman and director Martin Scorsese's scathing black comedy of fame and fortuitousness (with more than a touch of facetiousness), Robert De Niro's Rupert Pupkin actually gets the chance to make a "demo" for his idol Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Technically astute, it still is an exercise in pure ego as Pupkin pontificates on his philosophy and wheedles compliments to his target audience.  The thing of it is, casting people don't want to hear that stuff; they want to see "the goods," hopefully ASAP. Even just saying your name first thing may be a waste of 5 seconds of their precious time...

Start with your best stuff first, then show your range. And if you want to give a lecture, become a professor.

Where would a casting person stop the tape on this one and toss it in the circular file?

At about the "First, Miss Long, tha..."

The Set-Up: Rupert Pupkin (Robert DeNiro), messenger/wannabe-comedian has actually met and talked to his idol, talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). After a couple visits to the production offices of "The Jerry Langford Show," he has been asked to send a demonstration reel of his material for review by Miss Long (Shelley Hack).

Action!

PUPKIN sitting before the tape recorder lost in thought.
Finally, he starts the larger recorder and lifts the mike.
PUPKIN First, Miss Long. Thanks very much for your help at the office and for passing this along to Jerry. I appreciate it more than you know.
PUPKIN stops the tape recorder and thinks again for a few
beats. He then starts the large recorder.
PUPKIN Now, Jerry. Before I begin, I just want to thank you for listening to this material and for the opportunity that you've given me. PUPKIN You know, lots of people think that guys like you, you know, people who have made it, lose their feeling for struggling young talent such as myself. But now I know from experience that those people are just cynics, embittered by their own failure.
PUPKIN I know, Jerry, that you're as human as the rest of us, if not more so. (pause) Oh well, I guess there's no point going on about it. You know how I feel.
PUPKIN So let's get on with the show. The best of Rupert Pupkin!
PUPKIN I've sketched out this little introduction in order to save you a little time.
PUPKIN So close your eyes and imagine it's exactly six o'clock. You're standing in the wings and we hear Lou Brown and the Orchestra strike up your theme song.
PUPKIN pushes a button on the cassette and we hear the theme song of the Jerry Langford Show, followed by the voice of BERT CANTER, the announcer.
BERT CANTER'S VOICE And now, direct from New York, it's the Jerry Langford Show! Tonight, with Jerry's guests Richard Pryor, Ben Gazzara, Elizabeth Ashley, Carol Burnett...
PUPKIN deftly shuts off the cassette and substitutes his own voice for that of CANTER's. The large tape recorder keeps rolling.
PUPKIN ... and the comedy find of the year making his television debut, Rupert Pupkin, the King of Comedy!
MRS. PUPKIN Rupert! Rupert! Are you crazy?
PUPKIN Say hello to..
MRS. PUPKIN What's wrong with you?
MRS. PUPKIN People are sleeping!
PUPKIN Aw, mom!
MRS. PUPKIN Lower it! What's the matter with you?
PUPKIN Mom! Take it easy!
MRS. PUPKIN Lower it!
PUPKIN I'm not going to lower it. I have to do this now!
MRS. PUPKIN I don't mind you playing it, but lower it!
PUPKIN rapidly races the cassette tape forward, then pushes down the "play" button. We hear a burst of thundering applause. PUPKIN lets the applause run for a while and then shuts it off. The large recorder keeps rolling.
PUPKIN Now you come on, Jerry, and do your monologue. Then, when the time comes, this is how I see you introducing me. You could say something like this. "Will you please give your warmest welcome to the newest King of Comedy, Rupert Pupkin!!!"
PUPKIN pushes the cassette and we hear another enormous burst of applause. PUPKIN lets it run, listening intently. He stands up and faces a wall of his room, still holding the microphone.
WE SEE that the wall is covered by a huge blow-up of an audience laughing and applauding.
PUPKIN Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Rupert Pupkin.
PUPKIN I was born in Clifton, New Jersey...which is north of...
PUPKIN Is there anyone here from...
PUPKIN But the fact is...

The King of Comedy

Words by Paul Zimmerman

Pictures by Fred Schuler and Martin Scorsese

The King of Comedy is available on DVD from Warner Home Video.