Cinema of the Dam’d presents:
From Zero to Hero

Cinema of the Dam’d presents a pair of 1982 films about small-time losers who try to make it big in the Big Apple.

Both films will be preceded by a program of shorts. Admission is FREE.

The King of Comedy  @ 19:00

Lifetime loser Rupert Pupkin (Robert DeNiro) lives in the basement of his mother’s New York City apartment and nurses delusional fantasies about becoming a famous stand-up comedian. Rather than work his way up the showbiz ladder, Pupkin tries to befriend Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), the prickly host of a popular late night TV talk show. As Langford rebuffs his advances, Pupkin takes extreme measures to launch his career. Martin Scorsese’s pitch black showbiz satire offers a funny and unsettling look at the intersection of crime and celebrity. DeNiro breathes nervous life into the pushy Pupkin, while Sandra Bernhard shines as one of Langford’s eccentric stalker fans. Watch the trailer. 

Directed by Martin Scorsese, 1982, USA, 109 minutes.

Q: The Winged Serpent  @21:15

A giant, winged serpent is terrorizing the citizens of New York City. Meanwhile, a pair of detectives (David Carradine and Richard Roundtree) investigate a series of ritualistic murders that might be connected to the creature. When small time criminal Jimmy Quinn (Michael Moriarty) accidentally stumbles upon the monster’s nest at the top of a skyscraper, he tries to trade his discovery for fame and fortune. Larry Cohen’s cult classic is a loving, low budget tribute to the stop-motion animated creature features of the past. But the film’s real star is the eccentric Moriarty, who mumbles, fumbles, sings and schemes across the frame, making one of the most memorable characters in B movie history. Watch the trailer. 

Directed by Larry Cohen, 1982, USA, 93 minutes.