Synopsis
At the beginning of the 20th century, in Belle Époque Naples, theatres and the cinema were thriving and the great 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, Scarpetta’s home situation resembled one of his comedies more than a traditional family. In 1904, 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 the draining years of 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.
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Movie Details
| New Zealand Releases: | May 4th, 2023 (Limited), released as The King of Laughter |
| Video Release: | November 25th, 2022 by 101 Distribution |
| Running Time: | 133 minutes |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Dramatization |
| Production Countries: | Italy, Spain |
| Languages: | Italian |