Released in 1991, L.A. Story is my favorite Steve Martin movie — yes, I like it even better than The Jerk. It’s a little shocking to realize that the movie is nearly 20 years old now, as I distinctly remember watching it when it was released. I recall being completely obsessed with every character in this movie, and also kinda into Enya. Those were the days.
Anyway, L.A. Story is a strange love story, full of references to Shakespeare, spare footage from the film Koyaanisqatsi (seriously!), satire about the L.A. lifestyle, pathos, good jokes, awful 80′s outfits, and a stunning cast. The cast includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Richard E. Grant, Victoria Tennant, Patrick Stewart, and cameos by Chevy Chase, Woody Harrelson, Paula Abdul, Martin Lawrence, Rick Moranis, Iman, and Terry Jones. According to Wikipedia, sequences involving John Lithgow and Scott Bakula were also filmed, but were cut from the final movie. This is a hell of a cast for a Romantic Comedy!
Tonight, I bring you some clips from the movie. That is all. Enjoy.
Ordering Coffee
The absurdity of overly-specific coffee orders actually seems normal now. Remember, this was 1991. L.A. is just ahead of the curve.
Meeting SanDeE*
“Everybody has such weird names now.”
Paraphrasing Shakespeare
“Hey, life is pretty stupid, with lots of hubbub to keep you busy, but really not amounting to much.”
Modern Art
“The way he’s holding her, it’s almost filthy.“
Steve Martin as a Weatherman
“The cats were out until around 10, but it got a little too cold for them, and then they came in.”
Bored Beyond Belief
A lot of cats appear in this movie.
Enya’s Music Video for “Exile”
Featuring clips from the movie. (“Exile” was one of two Enya songs prominently featured in L.A. Story.) You can see the actual L.A. Story sequence featuring the song at YouTube or watch a low-quality version below.
The Fog Scene
SPOILER ALERT: if you haven’t seen the movie, don’t watch this. But if you have, this is one of the best sequences in it. Sorry for the crappy MySpace video; the YouTube version has embedding disabled.
This is one of several instances in L.A. Story when footage from Koyaanisqatsi (my favorite film of all time) is used.
“A kiss may not be the truth, but it is what we wish were true.”
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I love this movie too! In fact I was just thinking about it the other day…
I read/heard that Steve wrote it as a love story to LA and his wife (at the time), Victoria Tennent.
posted by Logan on 4-15-2010 at 3:31 am
Great movie! The quote that’s really stuck with me all these years is:
“Your breasts feel weird”
“That’s ’cause they’re real”
posted by Kie on 4-15-2010 at 9:06 am
Yes, undoubtedly one of my favorites, as well. I always thought it was so funny when SJK spells her character’s name: “big “S”, little “a”…her constant spinning and energy also made her funny and memorable. Thanks for posting!
posted by Marty on 4-15-2010 at 9:51 am
Also one of my favorite Steve Martin Films. Im not sure if people NOT from the left coast would really get this film because the LA culture really is a HUGE part of this movie and actually takes on a character of its own.
posted by mitchsn on 4-15-2010 at 9:55 am
Ditto on being my favorite Steve Martin film.
I once got into a discussion about magical realism and someone made the statement that there were no examples of magical realism in American culture – it all seems to be from Latin America (or maybe Italy if you include Italo Calvino). I asserted that L.A. Story was an almost perfect example of magical realism – the mystical weather events, the freeway sign, fate, and so on. Surprisingly, the lit fic snob agreed with me.
posted by Chris on 4-15-2010 at 9:59 am
Have you ever seen the excised Lithgow clip? Several years ago when Showtime ran this movie, Lithgow did a little host segment before that and showed it. He was playing the high-powered agent that everyone keeps referring to in the movie, and taking a meeting with Steve Martin’s character, offers him a role in his new musical about prostitutes and croons the showpiece number “I **** for a living”. I suppose it’s a bit naughty (I’m sure the language is why it got cut) but absolutely hilarious. I’d hoped it would be on the DVD of the film I bought a few years ago but it was not.
posted by Michael on 4-15-2010 at 10:16 am
I’m from the left coast and I still think this movie is pretty darned funny. Especially the coffee scene!
posted by Beth on 4-15-2010 at 10:30 am
I had forgotten all about this movie! Thank you for reminding me. I don’t like it more than The Jerk, but it is definitely a close second!
posted by Jenn on 4-15-2010 at 10:41 am
Rick Moranis.
Not Rock Moranis.
posted by MJ on 4-15-2010 at 11:57 am
My fave bit in this film, and something I quote all the time, is the application process for dining at the trendy restaurant. “You can have ze chicken!”
This is a great film, all in all. Now I want to see it again.
posted by Karen on 4-15-2010 at 11:59 am
I love LA Story! Loved it when it came out, and then happened to catch it on TV just a few days ago. It was still really great! Glad to hear others enjoy it too … seems that many people missed it.
I think LA Story is tied with My Blue Heaven for my favorite Steve Martin movie. He and Rick Moranis are such a fantastic duo in My Blue Heaven!
posted by Gwendolyn on 4-15-2010 at 12:45 pm
Michael — I haven’t seen the excised clips, no, though there is a mention at Wikipedia that they’re available on a commemorative DVD release. I’ll have to get that! Also, I found several online trailers for the film that included Lithgow and other scenes that weren’t in the finished film, so…not sure what’s up with that.
MJ – thanks for the catch. I have fixed Rock’s name. :)
posted by Chris Higgins on 4-15-2010 at 2:05 pm
Definitely L.A. Story. I was gonna say its my favorite “L.A.” film but L.A. Confidential has to take the cake. It’s not nearly as funny but my first introduction to two pretty awesome actors from down under.
As for Steve Martin’s movies this is a good pick. At the time I liked Parenthood but it didn’t age nearly as well.
posted by jiminut on 4-15-2010 at 2:21 pm
Not only one of my favorite Steve Martin movies, one of my favorite movies of all time. One of the deleted scenes was Steve Martin and Victoria Tennant discussing a cultural tour of L.A. (which is still in the movie), but she suggests walking, he refuses, but they try it anyway and he collapses on his lawn with a hurt leg. Why they cut that, I don’t know!
“Why is it that we don’t always recognize the moment when love begins but we always know when it ends?”
posted by helenann on 4-15-2010 at 2:30 pm
Also one of my favorite movies. I was living in LA when it came out and it really resonated with me. The scene that still makes me laugh to this day just thinking about it is:
“Reload! Reload!”
posted by Michelle on 4-15-2010 at 2:50 pm
I love the fact that the weekend get-away hotel is “El Pollo del Mar”.
posted by Mertseger on 4-15-2010 at 6:17 pm
I always remember Marilou Henner’s line from this movie: “I’m doing ’30 minute’ lips!!”
posted by Jenny on 4-15-2010 at 6:34 pm
Favorite? Really? You must not have seen “All Of Me.”
BACK in bowl, BACK in bowl…
posted by Joe Maz on 4-15-2010 at 8:44 pm
Oh I love this movie! It seems like most people I mention it to have no idea what I’m talking about…
posted by Nicole on 4-15-2010 at 9:54 pm
Everytime I drive my car a short distance I think of this movie.
posted by mdely on 4-20-2010 at 4:07 pm
This movie is the kind that comes back to you over and over, in the very best way. Glad it is appreciated by others!
posted by Polly Sonic on 4-29-2010 at 11:45 pm