L.A. Story (1991)

With the help of a talking freeway billboard, a wacky weatherman tries to win the heart of an English newspaper reporter, who is struggling to make sense of the strange world of early 1990s Los Angeles.

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writer:

Steve Martin

Stars:

Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Harris K. Telemacher
Victoria Tennant	...	Sara McDowel
Richard E. Grant	...	Roland Mackey
Marilu Henner	...	Trudi
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	SanDeE*
Susan Forristal	...	Ariel
Kevin Pollak	...	Frank Swan
Sam McMurray	...	Morris Frost
Patrick Stewart	...	Mr. Perdue, Maitre D' at L'Idiot
Andrew Amador	...	Bob, News Anchor
Gail Grate	...	Gail, News Anchor
Eddie De Harp	...	Maitre D' at Brunch (as Eddie DeHarp)
M.C. Shan	...	Rap Waiter at L'Idiot
Frances Fisher	...	June
Iman	...	Cynthia

Storyline

Harris K. Telemacher is a "wacky weekend weatherman" for a local Los Angeles television station, who is searching for meaning in his otherwise cliché ridden Los Angeles life. With the help of an insightful and talkative Freeway sign, Harris embarks on a journey through Los Angeles in pursuit of Sarah, an English reporter who has been sent to the City of Angels to research an article for the London Times.

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Plot Keywords:

television news | 1990s | reversing the polarity | weatherman | television | 

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Taglines:

Something funny is happening in L.A.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los Angeles Story

Filming Locations:

Spring Street Towers - 650 S. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,616,915, 10 February 1991, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$28,862,081

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Pictures, IndieProd Company Productions, L.A. Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie's opening title card reads: "Los Angeles - Temperature 72°".

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Goofs

In the credits Sarah Jessica Parker's character is listed as "Sandy" and not "SanDeE".

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Quotes

Sharon: Whatever you do, don't get dumped in L.A. I mean, it's not like New York, where you can meet someone walking down the street. In L.A. you practically have to hit someone with your car. In fact, I know girls who speed just to meet cops.

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Crazy Credits

SanDeE* (Sarah Jessica Parker) is very peculiar about how her name is spelled. Still, the character is listed as "Sandy" in the credits.

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Alternate Versions

A deleted scene featuring John Lithgow was reinstated in the cable-tv version of the film.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Wolverine/Ghosts of Girlfriends Past/Battle for Terra (2009)

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Soundtracks

Clouds
Written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson

User Reviews

Exceptional

I've read that this movie was Steve Martin's homage to a city he loves. Certainly, it feels like that. The whole movie has been crafted with the utmost care and delight - a feeling that is conveyed so well to the viewer.

I've watched this film many many times and as yet have been utterly unable to find a single mistake, wrongly placed moment, person or prop anywhere. What I have found is a sense of deeply placed pleasure at watching the unfolding of an old story told beautifully and never strained by being told in the 20th Century.