The King of Laughter
Movie · Drama · Biography

Naples, 1904: Italian theatre is thriving, and comic actor, Eduardo Scarpetta is the box office king. Known in the Neapolitan theater for his cheeky alter egos, Scarpetta’s larger-than-life stage productions were matched only by his eccentric personal life. Composed of wives, partners, lovers, legitimate and illegitimate children (including a young Eduardo De Filippo, famed Neapolitan playwright), Scarpetta’s home situation resembled one of his comedies more than a traditional family. At the height of his popularity, the comedian risked everything by staging a parody of the great Italian poet, Gabriele D’Annunzio. Booed and hissed from the stage by younger rivals, Scarpetta was sued for plagiarism, leading to the first ever copyright lawsuit in Italy. Despite legal troubles and familial strife, Scarpetta fought not only for his craft but for his legacy as one of the great thespians of Italian theater.

2022 · 2h 12m
  • 75%
Starring Toni Servillo, Maria Nazionale, Cristiana Dell'Anna
Director Mario Martone

Trailers

  • The King of Laughter
    The King of Laughter
    Drama

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Cast & Crew

  • Toni Servillo
    Eduardo Scarpetta
  • Maria Nazionale
    Rosa DeFilippo
  • Cristiana Dell'Anna
    Luisa DeFilippo
  • Antonia Truppo
    Adelina DeRenzis
  • Eduardo Scarpetta
    Vincenzo Scarpetta
  • Roberto De Francesco
    Salvatore Di Giacomo
  • Lino Musella
    Benedetto Croce
  • Paolo Pierobon
    Gabriele D'Annunzio
  • G‌M
    Giovanni Mauriello
    Mirone
  • C‌B
    Chiara Baffi
    Anna De Filippo
  • Lucrezia Guidone
    Irma Gramatica

About

The King of Laughter

Drama

Naples, 1904: Italian theatre is thriving, and comic actor, Eduardo Scarpetta is the box office king. Known in the Neapolitan theater for his cheeky alter egos, Scarpetta’s larger-than-life stage productions were matched only by his eccentric personal life. Composed of wives, partners, lovers, legitimate and illegitimate children (including a young Eduardo De Filippo, famed Neapolitan playwright), Scarpetta’s home situation resembled one of his comedies more than a traditional family. At the height of his popularity, the comedian risked everything by staging a parody of the great Italian poet, Gabriele D’Annunzio. Booed and hissed from the stage by younger rivals, Scarpetta was sued for plagiarism, leading to the first ever copyright lawsuit in Italy. Despite legal troubles and familial strife, Scarpetta fought not only for his craft but for his legacy as one of the great thespians of Italian theater.

75%

TOMATOMETER
Average 6.3
Reviews 8
Fresh 6
Rotten 2

Information

Studio
Film Movement
Released
2022
Run Time
2 hr 12 min
Rated
Unrated
Regions of Origin
Italy, Spain
© 2021 Indigo Film

Languages

Original Audio
Italian, Italian (Italy)
Audio

Italian (Italy) (AAC, ⁨Dolby 5.1⁩)

Subtitles

English (Always On)

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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

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  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
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