L.A. Story and Roxanne

by Steve Martin and Laura Hammond Hough

Book Overview

Steve Martin's hysterical antics and brilliant physical comedy have made him a star. But his credits also include work as a writer. He co-wrote and starred in The Jerk, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, and Three Amigos, and has been a regular contributor to The New Yorker. L.A. Story and Roxanne--which won the award for Best Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America--are both romantic comedies that demonstrate his original comic vision and talent...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802135129
• ISBN13: 9780802135124
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Delightful, whimsical, funny, funny movies - great to read

I am a big fan of both these movies - they have such funny and warm centers and Martin's humor is deceptively deep. It took him seven years to write L A Story and the number of in jokes prove the same. For those who don't know, L A Story is loosely (very loosely) based on A Midsummer Night's Dream and even has a scene from Hamlet it in (at the graveyard). Favorite line: Harris: You know, normally I don't like being around interesting people, because that means I have to be interesting. Sarah: Does that mean you find me interesting? Harris: All I know is that I find myself showing off when you're around, which is the idiot's version of being interesting. Roxanne is a pretty straightforward 20th century version of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac (if you havent seen Depardieu as Cyrano, run out now and rent it - I can wait). My favorite line from it is the scene where he comes up with 20 insults about his nose. Steve Martin has a way of being funny without being mean. And that means something. The same can be see in his later movies like Bowfinger (even though it was a bit uneven) and LA Story, in particular, sheds some light on his philosophical leanings as well!

Subtlety Evades Some

I have been a fan of LA Story from the first viewing. Everythingabout the movie is solid, from the superb casting to the subtleand extremely witty script, and fine performances turned in by everyone. I disagree wholeheartedly with whoever wrote the review and admitted to being thickheaded enough to walk out half way through the movie. But, as we all know, a man with a pointy nose is a little more direct than a subtle slice of Martin insight and hilarious angelean social commentary/satire. Subtlety escapes some and these are the people who are running tosee horrible movies in droves. If you consider yourself funny or an intellect or both, see this movie.

L.A. Story and Roxanne : Two Screenplays

In response to the other review, LA story is one of my very favorite movies. The screenplay is excellent, and the story is beautiful. There is nothing terrible or long-winded about it. Though I must say, I am not from California...

Another way to enjoy a good movie

One of the movies in this book I had seen and the other I had not. "Roxanne" I remembered as a wonderful movie, and I very much enjoyed being able to pick out my favorite parts and favorite lines in the book. "L.A. Story" is a very amusing satire and I have not seen the movie. At first, reading a screenplay is confusing, but I adjusted quickly and found the reading very enjoyable.