O Rei da Comédia

I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like this movie. It is hugely funny in places yet has a dark menacing strand running through it. Jerry Lewis and his TV-show world are totally believeable and De Niro as Pupkin plays the part like an exercise in total embarrassment.Also, much as you realise Pupkin is derranged,you can't help being on his side. One of the highlights is Pupkin's monologue. This is really well written and will remind most people of every bad comedian they have ever heard.The jokes are terrible but Pupkin's delivery seems just able to carry it off. When this movie was made the studio sat on it for two years before it was released.They probably did not know how to sell a movie like this.Sure it is an intelligent piece of work etc. but it is a most unusual film ,really quite unique.In the UK,it was barely released in cinemas and for years it was not even available on tape.Strange, because it really is a most excellent movie.