L.A. Story

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L.A. Story

Theatrical poster
Directed by Mick Jackson
Produced by Daniel Melnick
Written by Steve Martin
Starring Steve Martin
Victoria Tennant
Richard E. Grant
Marilu Henner
Sarah Jessica Parker
Music by Peter Melnick
Cinematography Andrew Dunn
Editing by Richard A. Harris
Greg Le Duc
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date(s) February 8, 1991
Running time 95 minutes
Country USA
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

L.A. Story is a 1991 English language movie directed by Mick Jackson and written by Steve Martin. Set in Los Angeles, California, it tells the story of Harris K. Telemacher, an L.A. weatherman (played by Martin) who falls in and out of love with the aid of a talking freeway sign which arguably speaks for the city itself. The movie is both a romantic comedy and a satire on life and culture in Los Angeles. Over the years since its initial release, L. A. Story has acquired a strong underground and cult following[citation needed] and is considered by some to be Steve Martin's finest, most intricately insightfully written, and performed film.[who?] The film references everything from Shakespeare to modern new wave, and is by turns philosophical, sweet, introspective and (being a Steve Martin film) silly.

Tagline: Something funny is happening in L.A.

[edit] Plot

Steve Martin plays Harris K. Telemacher, a news meteorologist living in Los Angeles. He has been in a meaningless relationship with his girlfiend Trudi, played by Marilu Henner and wants to find some meaning and magic in his life. At a luncheon with a group of friends, he meets Sara McDowell, a journalist from London played by Victoria Tennant (then Martin's real-life wife), with whom he immediately becomes infatuated. Driving home that night, his car breaks down on the freeway and he pulls over into the shoulder, only to realize that a freeway traffic condition sign is displaying messages intended solely for him. The sign offers Harris cryptic advice on his love life throughout the movie. While he begins to fall for Sara, she feels she has a commitment to her ex-husband, Roland, played by Richard E. Grant, with whom she has tentatively pledged to reconcile. Afraid a relationship with Sara is impossible, Harris decides to go out with the ditzy-blonde SanDeE, a wannabe spokesmodel, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, whom he met at a clothing store. After the date with SanDeE, Harris learns that Trudi has been cheating on him for three years with his agent; the revelation sets him free. He decides to pursue his love interest in Sara, but this is still complicated by his relationship with SanDeE and by Sara's obligation to Roland. In the end he succeeds, with more help from the freeway sign.

[edit] Main cast

[edit] External links

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Steve Martin
Discography
Bibliography
The Jerk • Cruel Shoes • Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays • Pure Drivel • Modern Library Humor and Wit Series • Shopgirl • Kindly Lent Their Owner • The Underpants: A Play • The Pleasure of My Company • The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z • Born Standing Up
Filmography
The Absent-Minded Waiter • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band • The Muppet Movie • The Kids Are Alright • The Jerk • Pennies from Heaven • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid • The Man with Two Brains • The Lonely Guy • All of Me • ¡Three Amigos! • Little Shop of Horrors • Roxanne • Planes, Trains & Automobiles • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels • *Parenthood • My Blue Heaven • L.A. Story • Father of the Bride • Grand Canyon • HouseSitter • Leap of Faith • A Simple Twist of Fate • Mixed Nuts • Father of the Bride Part II • Sgt. Bilko • The Spanish Prisoner • The Prince of Egypt • The Out-of-Towners • Bowfinger • Fantasia 2000 • Joe Gould's Secret • Novocaine • Bringing Down the House • Looney Tunes: Back in Action • Cheaper by the Dozen • Shopgirl • Cheaper by the Dozen 2 • The Pink Panther • Baby Mama • The Pink Panther Deux
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