A Restored ‘King of Comedy’ Will Close Tribeca Film Festival

Twentieth Century Fox Jerry Lewis and Robert De Niro in a scene from the Martin Scorsese film “The King of Comedy.”

If your only exposure to “The King of Comedy,” Martin Scorsese’s cinematic exploration of celebrity, media and obsession, has been watching the movie on a small TV screen in your mother’s basement while reciting its dialogue to no one in particular, the Tribeca Film Festival will soon offer you a new way to experience this acclaimed satire.

A restored version of “The King of Comedy,” the 1983 comedy-thriller directed by Mr. Scorsese that starred Jerry Lewis as the abrasive talk-show host Jerry Langford and Robert De Niro as his dangerously fixated fan Rupert Pupkin, will be presented as the closing night film of the Tribeca Film Festival, it was announced on Thursday by the festival’s organizers (who just so happen to include Mr. De Niro.)

Written by Paul D. Zimmerman and featuring supporting performances from Diahnne Abbott and Sandra Bernhard (as well as appearances by members of the Clash and the director’s mother, father and daughter Cathy), “The King of Comedy” was more of a critical than a commercial hit at the time of its release, but has gradually earned a place in Mr. Scorsese’s pantheon. This digital restoration, which will be presented on April 27, is being produced from the film’s original camera negatives and will also have a restored soundtrack.

In a statement, Mr. De Niro said of “The King of Comedy”: “I was a big fan of the script and was very excited to do it with Marty and happy that we finally made it. The fact that it’s been restored (hard to believe that so many years have passed) is even all the better, and I can’t wait to see it on our closing night.”

Mr. Scorsese said in a statement, “I’ve always been partial to comedians - the irreverence, the absurdity, the hostility, all the feelings under the surface - and to the old world of late night variety shows hosted by Steve Allen and Jack Paar and, of course, Johnny Carson, to the familiarity and the camaraderie between the guests. You had the feeling that they were there with you, in your living room.”