The King of Comedy (1982)

Rupert Pupkin wants to be famous, and imagines himself a successful stand-up comedian, frequent guest, and sometimes guest host on late night’s Jerry Langford Show. In the basement of his parents’ home, he trades witty lines with cardboard cutouts of Langford and Liza Minelli. Pupkin is borderline bonkers, then goes full nutso and kidnaps Langford, demanding a guest spot on the show as ransom.

The film finished ten minutes ago, and I’ve been staring at the screen, wondering what to write.

The movie and even Pupkin can be funny when they want to be, but it’s a no comedy. It’s a serious dive into American celebrity-obsession in the 1980s, which of course has only gotten worse.

And it’s terrific. Decades after it was made, The King of Comedy still feels fresh.

Cripes, was there really a time when a big star like Jerry Langford walked down Manhattan streets without a security detail?

Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro made this, but it never feels as gloomy and hard-hitting as Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, because instead of Paul Schrader the writer is Paul D Zimmerman. And I love me some Shrader, but this flick works better with a slightly lighter touch. Zimmerman’s IMDB page is short — he wrote this, two other movies you’ve never heard of, and he was a staff writer for Sesame Street.

Pupkin’s delusions are interlaced with the movie’s reality, always on the edge or over it. The ‘real’ Jerry Langford Show isn’t much less absurd than Pupkin’s fevered daydreams. His wanna-be stand-up isn’t brilliant, but also isn’t awful — a reminder that success requires luck and knowing somebody, not great talent.

Speaking of nepotism, the film is jammed with it. Diahnne Abbott, playing Rupert’s reluctant ladyfriend, was Robert De Niro’s wife. Fred De Cordova, longtime producer of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, plays Jerry’s producer. Assorted Scorsese family members litter the cast, including Martin’s mom. But no harm no foul, everything works, and The King of Comedy is a stunning flick that left me stunned.

But jeez, it’s hard to believe this came from a guy who wrote for Bert and Ernie and Big Bird.

Verdict: BIG YES.

♦ ♦ ♦

King of the Rocket Men (1949)

This is a 12-part serial, screened one episode at a time in theaters on successive weekends to draw repeat business. I watched all of it, adding up to about 2¾ hours — almost as long as the tedious 2005 remake of King Kong, but more fun.

A group of scientists are working to develop atomic weapons. Mad scientist Dr Vulcan tries to steal the blueprints so’s he can sell them to America’s enemies, but a good guy scientist has an experimental rocket suit, and jets around in the sky trying to foil Dr Vulcan’s nefarious plans.

Another scientist is a woman, who to my delight doesn’t merely scream and hope to be rescued, but throws the first punch in a fight, chases a baddie when it’s needed, etc. Rocket Man scolds her for this in episode 4 or 6 or something, and after that she doesn’t do much.

The storyline is episodic (har har) but adds up to a fun few hours, and rarely feels rinky-dink. This looks and feels like an action movie, which is what it is, I guess, just a little dumber than most and sliced into segments.

I avoid spoilers, but this one’s gotta be talked about, so look away now, if you’re planning to see King of the Rocket Men.

The serial ends with Dr Vulcan successfully destroying Manhattan — skyscrapers topple, the city is flooded, presumably millions are dead (although that’s unmentioned). Dr Vulcan gets blown to smithereens too, and the Mayor survives, and smiles and slaps Rocket Man on the back and pledges to rebuild New York City “into the greatest, the most wonderful, the finest city the world has ever known!”

Didn’t see that coming, and can’t remember another movie where a major metropolis is destroyed, The End.

Verdict: YES.

♦ ♦ ♦

King Ponce (2007)

Ten-minute short about a teenage boy who’s on the soccer team, but what he really wants is to dance. It’s quaintly wholesome.

Verdict: MAYBE.
Aw, what the hell — YES.

♦ ♦ ♦

King Rat (1965)

Based on a novel by James Clavell, this is a small but strong drama set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WW2. George Segal plays King Rat, so called because his last name is King and he’s set up a secret rat ranch on prison grounds to raise meat he can sell to the other prisoners.

Colonel King has a hundred different schemes going on, and seems to have the guards paid off, but there’s no bribing another prisoner assigned as security officer, who knows King’s up to something, up to everything, and determined to catch him.

Segal is good at being sleazy, and Joe Terkel rocks (you might not know the name, but you’ll know the face, from Blade Runner and The Shining). Also Tom Courtenay, James Donald, Denholm Elliott, James Fox, John Mills, Leonard Rossiter, and Richard Dawson from Family Feud, but he can’t kiss the ladies because there aren’t any females on screen in the whole movie.

King Rat isn’t great, but it’s very good, and packs a punch, especially at the end (which isn’t the end you’re expecting).

This is why I watch movies in alphabetical order — I’d never even heard of this, and with so many thousands of movies to choose from, I would’ve never chosen to watch King Rat. But the alphabet made me do it, and I’m damned glad.

Verdict: YES.

♦ ♦ ♦

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 50: Let there be lips

Alison Pill: It’s tough out there for a child actor

Marketing meltdown: why has Andrew Garfield’s new film suddenly added Robin Hood?

8/30/2026

Logo illustration by Jeff Meyer.
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If you can’t find a movie I’ve reviewed, or if you have recommendations, please drop me a note. And I mean it — if you ask, I will get you the movie.
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No talking once the lights dim, and only real butter on the popcorn, not that fake yellow stuff.