“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”
“Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.”
“That Mayor – he don’t know DICK!”
Weekends are for catching up with classic films! Here are the faces of three of the most brilliant, and neglected, comedies of the 1980’s!
Time to celebrate Rupert Pupkin, Withnail AND the best Used Car salesman in the world! Let’s begin with one of Kurt Russell’s greatest comedies ever!
Used Cars!
When the owner of a struggling used car lot dies, it’s up to the lot’s hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner’s ruthless brother and used-car rival – no matter what they have to do!
Meet Rudy Russo, the sleaziest used car salesman there is – well, except for all the others. Rudy wants to be a State Senator, and he’ll bribe anyone he needs to in order to achieve his dream of higher office. This hilariously profane comedy was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who went on to make “Back To The Future”.
Along with his partner in crime Gerrit Graham, Russell dreams up a plot to screw his arch enemy Roy Fuchs, played with a deliciousness by veteran character actor Jack Warden.
Roy Fuchs spits out hilarious one-liners like this, when he disagrees with the local elected officials:
“That Mayor – he don’t know DICK!”
Here is some great trivia, courtesy of IMDB: In a scene where Jack Warden argues with Kurt Russell and Gerrit Graham – Graham didn’t have any lines and kept pestering Director Robert Zemeckis for something to say. Finally, he just decides to repeat whatever Russell said to Warden. Apparently Warden was unaware of what Graham was doing, leading to his hilarious response:
“What’re you? A fuckin’ parrot?”
It was Warden’s genuine annoyance at Graham, which worked so well in the scene that it was included in the final cut!
“Used Cars” is one of the great neglected comedies of the 1980’s…along with this british masterpiece of comedy:
Withnail: “I think we’ve been in here too long. I feel unusual.”
Looking for the greatest English comedy of all time? Well, just remember to ask for this:
“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”
Withnail & I
London 1969 – two unemployed actors, Withnail and Marwood, are freezing in their unheated flat – and they are flat broke. They need a plan, and fast. Here is their discussion about calling to ask someone for money…
Marwood: What about whatshisname?
Withnail: What about him?
Marwood: Why don’t you give him a call?
Withnail: What for?
Marwood: Ask him about his house.
Withnail: You want me to call whatshisname and ask him about his house?
Marwood: Why not?
Withnail: All right. What’s his number?
Marwood: I’ve no idea. I’ve never met him.
Withnail: Well neither have I. What the fuck are you talking about?
Withnail: I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!
The scene where Withnail guzzles lighter fluid is a highlight….he does, after all, demand to have his booze…he has also greased his body up with muscle relaxant to get warm…
Withnail: [after having entirely covered himself in muscle embrocation] Have you been at the controls?
Marwood: What are you talking about?
Withnail: The thermostats. What have you done to them?
Marwood: I haven’t touched them.
Withnail: Then why has my head gone numb?
This movie is hilarious, and a perfect snapshot of life at the end of the 60’s – when hip, mod London turned into the cold, harsh reality of life as a struggling Actor.
From the late 60’s to the early 80’s, let’s go from a struggling Actor to a struggling Comic, who doesn’t think he’s struggling at all…
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Let me introduce myself. My name is Rupert Pupkin. I was born in Clifton, New Jersey… which was not at that time a federal offense.”
The King Of Comedy
Without a doubt, one of the best films ever made – released in 1982, and imagined a world when ANYONE could become a star…if you are willing to do whatever it takes….
Here is the trailer:
Rupert Pupkin: “The more scribbled the name, the bigger the fame.”
Robert DeNiro has never been better! DeNiro stars as aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin – who wants to achieve success in showbiz, by ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
“You Should Get Cancer! I Hope You Get Cancer!”
The film really digs into the cult of celebrity – and the price you pay for fame…
Jerry Lewis plays Jerry Langford, the kind of late night…who is shown being stopped by a woman talking on the telephone. When Jerry refuses to talk to someone on the phone, the lady says I hope you get cancer. This incident actually happened to Jerry Lewis. According to Scorsese, Lewis directed this segment himself!
Rupert Pupkin: Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.
There is a great new blu-ray that gives a ton of behind-the-scenes info on the movie, and includes a reunion too! Check it out here:
https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/25/the-king-of-comedy-goes-blu-amazing-extras-scorsese-grills-pupkin/
Enjoy your movie weekend!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Action Films, Awards, Books / Media, British Cinema, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Director Martin Scorsese, Exploitation films, Great Films, Grindhouse, Hollywood, Independent Cinema, London, Los Angeles, Movies, Movies About Movies, New York, Obscure Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
An interesting selection John. ‘Withnail’ is a cult classic here in the UK, and has a brilliant script. I have a lot of love for ‘Used Cars’, as although I generally don’t care for US comedies, that one is adorably silly. I think that ‘King Of Comedy’ is generally underrated, though I don’t see it as a comedy at all, rather a poignant tragedy about obsessives. i also really rate Sandra Berhard, not just in this film.
Best wishes from England. Pete.
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Thanks for reading the post and for your comment. All three films were “undersign” here in the US, and “Withal” is one of my favorite films of all….
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