L.A. Story

L. A. Story is Steve Martin's love letter to his then wife, Victoria Tennant, and to the city of Los Angeles. Sadly, his marriage to Tennant did not endure; they divorced in 1994, three years after the film's release. His love of Los Angeles appears to be alive and well; he lives there to this day.The love of L.A. is the best part of the film. It's a Steve Martin movie so he lampoons it, often quite sharply, but you can feel the love behind it. The love story with Tennant is also sweet, but marred by a lack of visible chemistry between Martin and Tennant. (I don't know what the state of their relationship was at the time, but in any case chemistry doesn't come across on film.) Other notable characters are SanDeE*, a very Californian young woman played by Sarah Jessica Parker in her first notable film role, and Richard Grant as Tennant's ex. There is a funny minor part played by Patrick Stewart, and uncredited cameos by Chevy Chase, Woody Harrelson, Paula Abdul, Martin Lawrence, Rick Moranis, and Terry Jones. A hilarious bit by John Lithgow was filmed but cut for length; you can watch it in the deleted scenes on the disc. Finally, there is a highway sign that is an important character.The music in L.A. Story is mostly classic songs from the 50s and 60s. Three songs by Enya are used as the soundtrack of emotionally evocative scenes, to good effect.L.A. Story is sweet and funny. It's one of my favorite Steve Martin films. Recommended, especially for fans of Martin's films from the 80s and 90s.Now, on to the 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray...The film gets a good high definition transfer. It occasionally looks a bit soft but that appears to be in the original cinematography and may have been an artistic choice. The sound is in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio, is available both in 5.1 surround and a stereo downmix, and is also fine; there are no spectacular sound effects in the film. (The theatrical release was in analog Dolby Stereo, but all disc releases have had digital surround sound.) The picture and sound are both an upgrade from the earlier DVD versions. English and Spanish subtitles are available, and appear to be identical to the ones on earlier releases.The Blu-Ray includes a number of extra features. O2BEINLA: Mick Jackson's L.A. Stories is new to this edition; it's an interview with director Mick Jackson where he talks about how he came to be involved in making L.A. Story and the artistic choices he made. Two others, The Story of L.A. Story and The L.A. of L.A. Story, were originally made for the 15th anniversary DVD edition in 2006. The Story of L.A. Story intercuts bits from the featurette on the original DVD edition from the 90s with interviews of some of the cast. The L.A. of L.A. Story visits many of the locations that were used in the film, including the Ambassador Hotel which was used for a number of indoor scenes and was torn down just after the featurette was made. There is also a collection of deleted scenes, including the ones with John Lithgow, and marketing materials including multiple versions of the movie's trailer (some of which contain scenes that were cut from the actual film).Alas, there is no director's commentary track. There never has been. The second release of the DVD in 2001 listed one as an extra, but it contained the same disc as the original 1998 DVD and does not actually contain any commentary. But the new featurette with the director is a pretty good replacement.Fans of the movie are going to want this disc, even if they already have one of the DVD releases. If you haven't seen L.A. Story, watching this disc just might turn you into a fan.

One of his best

Cool movie

As described...what could go wrong?! Lol

It was good

An old favourite. Jam packed w names and just fun and funny and romantic and magical.

By far one of Steve Martin's greatest works. A funny and poignant story about a weatherman's lackluster attitude towards relationships but his love for L.A. life. Great cast, directing, camera work, locations, and exceptional music which is not available on CD.Music from movie:Epona Written by Enya Performed by Enya Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. / BBC Enterprises Ltd. By Arrangement with Warner Special ProductsExile Written by Enya, Roma Ryan and Nicky Ryan Performed by Enya Courtesy of WEA Records Limited / Geffen Records By Arrangement with Warner Special ProductsOn Your Shore Written by Enya, Roma Ryan and Nicky Ryan Performed by Enya Courtesy of WEA Records Limited / Geffen Records By Arrangement with Warner Special ProductsI've Had My Moments Written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson Performed by Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt Courtesy of Vogue Records By Arrangement with GNP Crescendo RecordsLa Mer Music by Charles Trenet and Albert Lasry Lyrics by Charles Trenet Performed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli Courtesy of RCA Records, A Division of BMG MusicDo Wah Diddy, Diddy Written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich Performed by Manfred Mann Courtesy of BMI, A Division of Capitol Records, Inc. By Arrangement with CEMA Special MarketsLa Mer Written by Charles Trenet Performed by Charles Trenet Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc. By Arrangement with CEMA Special MarketsYou Drive Me To Distraction Written by Chaz Sanford (as Chas Sanford) and Charles A. Judge (as Charles Judge) Performed by Big WorldWild Thing Written by Chip Taylor Performed by Seeds of Love featuring Jimmie Wood Produced by Carl SealoveAin't That A Shame Written by Fats Domino (as Antoine "Fats" Domino) and David Bartholomew (as Dave Bartholomew) Performed by Fats Domino Courtesy of Heritage Entertainment, Inc. By Arrangement with Celebrity Licensing Inc.Smoke Rings Written by Ned Washington and H. Eugene Gifford Performed by Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt Courtesy of Vogue Records By Arrangement with GNP Crescendo RecordsAmazing Grace Arrangement by Fairbairn Performed by The Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Courtesy of RCA Records, A Division of BMG MusicClouds Written by Gus Kahn and Walter DonaldsonSymphony No. 5, 1st Movement (uncredited) Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

I really enjoyed this movie and it was well worth the $10, I usually like Steve Martin movies but this is one of his best because it is a very original story and a hilarious satire of Los Angeles that is still relevant today, certain parts like the freeway scene seem to be just another example of art imitating life!

L.A. STORY [1991 / 2006] [Blu-Ray + DVD] [Dänemark Release] Something Funny is Happening in L.A.! This is the First Great Comedy of the 90’s!Steve Martin is Harris K Telemacher is a “wacky weekend television weatherman” for a local Los Angeles television station who is searching for meaning to his otherwise cliché ridden Los Angeles life. However, driving home one night, Harris K Telemacher suddenly comes across a philosophising road sign on the L.A freeway, that wants to help him find direction within his life. Harris K Telemacher then embarks on a journey through Los Angeles in pursuit of Sara McDowel, an English reporter who has been sent to the City of Angels to research an article for the London Times.FILM FACT: There are uncredited cameo appearances by Chevy Chase, Woody Harrelson, Paula Abdul, Martin Lawrence, Rick Moranis and this would be the fourth and final film in which Rick Moranis appeared with Steve Martin. Terry Jones. John Lithgow and Scott Bakula filmed scenes respectively as a movie agent and Harris's neighbour that didn't appear in the final cut, although references to John Lithgow's character remain in the freeway shootout and the “California Cuisine” lunch scenes. Steve Martin and Victoria Tennant were real-life husband and wife at the time of the film's production.Cast: Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Forristal, Kevin Pollak, Sam McMurray, Patrick Stewart, Andrew Amador, Gail Grate, Eddie De Harp, M.C. Shan, Frances Fisher, Iman, Tommy Hinkley, Larry Miller, Anne Crawford, Samantha McCoy, Thornton Simmons, Dennis Dragon, Richard Stahl, Aaron Lustig, Julianna McCarthy, Time Winters, Pierre Epstein, Wesley Thompson, George Plimpton, David Glyn Price, Wesley Mann, Mark Steen, Jaime Gomez, Amy Wallace, Cheryl Baker, Mary R. Boss, Scott Johnston, Robert Lind, Tony Marsico, Burt Macke, Mary Pedersen, Matt Stetson, Brian Banowetz (uncredited), Sean Michael Beyer (uncredited), Michael E. Burgess (uncredited), Chevy Chase (uncredited), Tina Cote (uncredited), Larry Echerer (uncredited), Woody Harrelson (uncredited), Terry Jones (voice) (uncredited), Rick Moranis (uncredited) and Robert Picardo (voice) (uncredited)Director: Mick JacksonProducers: Daniel Melnick, Mario Kassar, Michael Rachmil and Steve MartinScreenplay: Steve MartinComposer: Peter Rodgers MelnickCinematography: Andrew Dunn (Director of Photography)Video Resolution: 1080pAspect Ratio: 1.85:1Audio: English: 2.0 Dolby Digital StereoSubtitles: Swedish, Danish, Finnish and NorwegianRunning Time: 91 minutesRegion: Region B/2Number of discs: 1Studio: Soul Media / StudioCanal / TriStar Pictures / CAROLOCOAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘L.A. STORY’ [1991] was written by its star, Steve Martin and is an up-to-the-minute parody of the city’s inhumanly relaxed, into-the-future life-styles. But with these Californian people continue to flex their sense of well-being like a new set of muscles, nobody sets foot on the sidewalk, where we see shallow nature of the culture and people of Los Angeles, with their chic clothes, their chic body, their chic connections still rules. The difference is that Steve Martin ridicules Los Angeles from the inside, where Steve Martin loves this high-tech urban pleasure dome. Striving to achieve fulfilment, he finds a helping hand from the last person he expected: the city of Los Angeles itself.‘L.A. STORY’ primary objective is to make as much fun of Los Angeles as possible. And all the usual topics that are worth poking are here: the predictable and rarely changing weather, the obsession with driving for even the shortest trips, gun violence on the highways, California cuisine, plastic surgery, and inane topics of conversation, earthquakes, and the trendy restaurants that are impossible for normal people to get into. Steve Martin packs his story with deserved digs at his city, and generates a steady stream of laughs.Steve Martin plays Harris K. Telemacher, a “wacky” weekend television weatherman who has nothing to forecast but how sunny it’s going to be tomorrow. The film is about how he loses his ludicrous, show-biz-fringe job, comes under the influence of a mystical flashing highway sign (yes you heard me right), and realises that the only thing that can save him from being sucked under by the city’s relentless superficiality is Sara McDowel [Victoria Tennant], a visiting journalist from the London Times. Harris K. Telemacher, like the standard Woody Allen hero, is a self-doubting romantic prone to anxious spasms of lust. Betrayed by his girlfriend Trudi [Marilu Henner], he finds himself dating SanDeE* [Sarah Jessica Parker], a smiley, tousle-haired young sex bunny who treats walking around as a form of higher gymnastics and, when it comes to conversation, has passed beyond Valley Girl brainlessness into some brave new realm of Outer Valley vacuous pomposity.‘L.A. STORY’ would like to be a comedy of relationships, but the characters are too shallow for that. The film is basically a series of airy satirical riffs where we find Steve Martin is laid-back, helium-fuelled version of an early Woody Allen comedy film. And though a few of the gags are very funny and I am still meditating on the line, “I could never be a woman because I’d just stay home and play with my breasts all day,” and most of the humour doesn’t quite explode to total hilarity. Instead we get the full-throttle clash of banality and absurdity. Instead, ‘L.A. STORY’ has a fizzy-bubbly charm all on its own.Steve Martin understands that the infamous “mellowness” of Los Angeles is really a fusion of fanatic hedonism and fanatic order. As he tells it, the city is a playpen ruled by control freaks, a world where any pleasure worth having is also worth regulating. In one scene, Harris K Telemacher tries to get a reservation at the eatery of the moment with Mr. Perdue [Patrick Stewart], the Maitre D' at the L'Idiot restaurant, only to discover that he has to produce his entire financial statement. Once there, he is offered his choice of dental floss, regular or diet. At the same time, Steve Martin shows you that the city’s residents have a genuine rebellious streak, a lyrical zaniness. Even the relatively cautious Harris K Telemacher gets into the act: His hobby is roller-skating through art museums, which he considers a form of performance art.Some of the humour is quite silly and surreal, such as the shooting on the freeway, while other jokes are more literate, referencing Fellini and Shakespeare, who surprisingly turns out to be buried in Los Angeles, presumably where he wrote, Hamlet Part 8: The Revenge. While Steve Martin saves the best lines for himself, Sarah Jessica Parker is a scene stealer as a sexy young valley-girl named SanDeE*, which is spelt just like that. With no exaggeration, it's one of the finest performances of her career.By the way watch out when Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker end up in the Los Angeles “Hollywood Forever Cemetery” where they come upon a hilarious uncredited cameo performance of Rick Moranis as the wisecracking Shakespeare-loving Gravedigger, who tries his best to do a London Cockney accent very badly, exactly like Dick Van Dyke tried to do in the film ‘Mary Poppins,’ despite Rick Moranis endeavour, it is still hilarious to watch.Although the central love story isn't the strongest aspect of the plot, it does have some nice moments, particularly the night Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker first sleep together, which, accompanied by an Enya song, manages to be both lush and romantic. Also Steve Martin makes an unlikely romantic lead, but there's no doubt of his comic abilities, because he wrote a very funny script and he delivers a nice performance in it. Overall this is probably my favourite of all Steve Martin’s films, as I love all his quirky comedy capers in this film and was definitely made for his very eccentric character in this film.Steve Martin is fantastic as Harris K. Telemacher and offers a wonderfully funny, genuine performance. His charisma works wonders in this type of film. Victoria Tennant also does a fantastic job as the odd yet sophisticated British journalist Sara. The two work really well together and have believable, palpable chemistry. It probably didn't hurt that they were married during the time this movie was filmed. There is also a solid supporting cast including Sarah Jessica Parker as the ditsy clothing store clerk SanDeE* and Richard E. Grant as Sara's ex-husband Roland Mackey, and Marilu Henner, who plays Harris K Telemacher abrasive girlfriend Trudi, who is having an affair behind his back. Though this is a comedy and it can get pretty wacky and silly at times, but there are some genuinely beautiful, and tender moments about having dreams, finding love, and eventually finding true friendships.As a sort of homage and finale to this hilarious and shallow look at life in Los Angeles, it is near the end of the film where Steve Martin does some brilliant and wonderful poignant monologues in summing up his life in the sunshine state of California, where says:“Why is it that we don’t always recognise the moment when love begins, but we always know when it ends?”“Forget for this moment, the smog, and the cars, and the restaurants, and the skating, remember only this, a kiss may not be the truth, but it is what we wish were true.”“There are only two things in my life, I will never forget, one is that there is someone for everyone, even if you need a pickaxe, a compass and night goggles to find them, and the other, is tonight, when I learned romance does exist deep in the heart of L.A.”L.A. STORY MUSIC TRACK LISTINGEPONA [Performed by Enya]EXILE [Performed by Enya]ON YOUR SHORE [Performed by Enya]I’VE HAD MY MOMENTS [Performed by Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt]LA MER [Performed by Django Reinhardt and The Quintette du Hot Club de France with Stéphane Grappelli]DO WAH DIDDY, DIDDY [Performed by Manfred Mann]LA MER [Performed by Charles Trenet]YOU DRIVE ME TO DISTRACTION [Performed by Big World]WILD THING [Performed by Seeds of Love featuring Jimmie Wood]AIN’T THAT A SHAME [Performed by Fats Domino]SMOKE RINGS [Performed by Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt]AMAZING GRACE [Performed by The Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]CLOUDS [Written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson]SYMPHONY No.5, 1st MOVEMENT (uncredited) [Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven]Blu-ray Video Quality – TriStar Pictures and StudioCanal brings you this 2006 Blu-ray release that gives us a beautiful 1080p encoded image that looks pretty sharp and has been helped by being digitally remastered. The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer doesn't suffer from any major defects; hints of grain here and there are the only noticeable visual distraction and overall, it's a solid, film-like image. Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.Blu-ray Audio Quality – TriStar Pictures and StudioCanal presents you with one standard 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo audio experience. The film's music score, composed by Peter Rodgers Melnick, is greatly enriched by Enya's contributions. Overall the audio sounds lush and full ambience sounds and especially with the crackling dialogue heard clearly, and free of any distortion, especially for this 2006 Blu-ray release.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Sadly none are available.Finally, ‘L.A. STORY’ [1991] is a charming, light-hearted, fancy-free, fantastical, eccentric and fun film that is really enjoyable to experience, especially having and outside view of this part of California and especially for anyone who lived in Los Angeles during the 1990's or lives there now for that matter. It is one of the best films of Steve Martin's career, and he has an excellent supporting cast to back him up in his wacky zaniness comedy film yet, on top of all that it is also very goofy and sweet. ‘L.A. STORY’ constitutes Steve Martin's satirical valentine to his hometown and a pretty funny comedy into the bargain. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

This wonderful film, staring & written by Steve Martin is not only a very funny romantic comedy. The reason I love it so much is because it is one of only a few films I've watched many times & enjoy it more each time I view it.Why?? ... because it's so cleverly written & produced and walks a tightrope between the ridiculous & the harsh reality of love, lust, romance & life in general. Sarah Jessica Parker is so cute in this & play her role well.Steve Martin hit the nail on this script with funny lines that make me laugh every time.The best line being the one when Steve Martin, after being accused of dating a woman too young for him says"..she's not so young, she'll be 27 in 4 years!!" 🤣LA Story is so underrated and a little unknown but is on the top of my list of all-time favourite films. It's conventional & unconventional at the same time... brilliant!The Blue-ray quality is OK, considering the age of the film, and currently sits pride of place in my collection.

Steve Martin has made quite a few movies. Some of them are really good (Roxanne, for example), some not so much.This film is a delightful and surreal love story. It takes several viewings to grasp, which is why it's good to have on disc. I had a good copy on DVD, but I wanted it on Bluray. Sadly, it hasn't been released in most places. As far as I can tell, this is the only version released anywhere.The back cover has a blurb in several languages (Scandinavian, by the looks of it). The menu on the disc, and the movie itself, are in English. There are no extras.

L.A. Story [DVD] [1990 ]This is a delightful - altho rather dated - crazy story taking place in LA in the late 80s. It is still fun to watch while one drifts back to the economic times of those days & the outrageous money flowing around LA. Steve Martin is his own wildly flailing self. The guy is in terrific physical shape as he does his own stunts. I purchased this flick after a long hiatus of not seeing it. It was worth the purchase. L.A. Story [DVD] [1990

I so love this film, I hadnt seen it for ages, and watched it, and fell in love with it all over again. For some reason, its just "me", its my humour, it encapsulates the way I used to look at the world, and relationships when I was younger, the fairytail, and thats what this film is, a modern day fairytail. Its hard to remember Steve Martin used to make stuff this good. Recommended.,