When Martin Scorsese cast comedy hall-of-famer and ground breaking filmmaker Jerry Lewis’, paradoxically, in the straight role of a celebrated comedian, his acclaimed performance as the victim of an obsessive fan will be remembered as one of his greatest achievements - a triumph of precise observation from an artist of astounding range, having shed the lunatic antics that had made him a star.

Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) is a failure in life but a celebrity in his own mind, hosting an imaginary talk show in his mother's basement. When he meets actual talk show host Jerry Langford (Lewis), he's convinced it will provide his big break, but Langford isn't interested in the would-be comedian. Undaunted, Pupkin stalks Langford, and when that doesn't work, he kidnaps him, offering his release in exchange for a guest spot on Langford's show.

If the above is a description of the plot, it doesn't even come close to articulating the waves of neediness, despair and paranoia coursing through this prickly black comedy. The crucial component of which comes from Lewis's performance – and the very fact that it's Jerry Lewis in the role. For this is ultimately a dark look at showbiz dreams guided by a performer who understood the creepy underside of celebrity all too well.

Of his performance, Lewis said: "To see myself – because I had no mask or no disguise that I'm used to seeing this silly Jerry hide behind – it was doubly frightening because I was watching myself play a real-life moment in my life … and it's frightening." And, for the rest of us watching on, forever astounding.

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