In the new two-part documentary,Steve Martinreveals sides of himself fans have never seen before.
STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 piecesconsists of a part one titled “Then," mixing archival footage of early stand-up comedy days with narration, and a part two titled “Now," which includes glimpses of Martin’s life these days.
The latter includes interviews with the comedian and his friends and costars, includingDiane Keaton,Tina Fey, Eric Idle,Jerry Seinfeld, Frank Oz, John McEuen andMartin Short.
The 78-year-old industry legend’s journey began with humble beginnings, working at Disneyland at age 10 and practicing magic tricks. While audiences may know Martin shifted from the stand-up comedy world to moviemaking, they may not know his reasons for doing so.
The Morgan Neville–directed documentary delves into the comedian-actor-musician-artist’s resistance to easy classification.
Growing up, the Inglewood, California-born Martin worked at theme parks, theater companies and eventually in nightclubs doing comedy. His “overly confident idiot” character, as he says in the documentary, became central to his offbeat act as he “started to realize what I was doing was a parody of show business.”
(Left-right:) Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin in 1999.NBCU Photo Bank
Martin had a difficult relationship with his father
Martin’s father Glenn“couldn’t quite be proud of an unconventional showbiz act that he didn’t quite understand,” according to the comedian. Among the documentary’s interviewees is his sister Melinda Dobbs, who remembers little affection from their father during childhood.
“I remember my father got very mad at me because I bought a pair of shorts that cost $4,” remembers Martin. “He was through the roof, that was a gigantic sum. But I earned it all myself. But then, from then on, I didn’t take any money from my parents, from age 10.”
Elsewhere, Martin admits seeking his father’s approval overshadowed his career for years. Even after becoming a big enough star to headline 1979’sThe Jerk, Glenn’s apparent reaction was saying, “Well, he’s no Charlie Chaplin.”
A one-act play calledWasp, which Martin wrote in 1996, is dramatized in glimpses throughout part two ofSTEVE! (martin), withFinn Wittrockplaying Martin’s autobiographically inspired father character.
His love life included a Christian proselytizer, Dalton Trumbo’s daughter — and bouts of intense loneliness
Mostly chronological, Neville’s documentary includes occasional updates on Martin’s love life. At age 18, he remembers, he worked at a theater at Knott’s Berry Farm, where he fell in love with Stormie Sherk. Interviewed in the doc, she has since become Stormie Omartian, a Christian proselytizer.
ThePlanes, Trains and Automobilesstar also datedBernadette Petersand Melissa Trumbo, daughter of the blacklisted Hollywood screenwriterDalton Trumbo. As he began working as a staffer on big breakThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour(which eventually earned him a writing Emmy Award), Martin dated a woman who it turns out was also dating the show’s head writer. Mason Williams is introduced in the doc as “Steve’s girlfriend’s boyfriend.”
Martin’s romances also included first wife Victoria Tennant (his costar in 1991’sL.A. Story) from 1986 to 1994, current wifeAnne Stringfieldsince 2007, and a woman who Martin remembers accompanied him to a dinner with Steven Spielberg and later ranted at him, “Why can’t you be more like Steven Spielberg?”
ButSTEVE! (martin)also charts the artist’s struggles with depression and anxiety, particularly the loneliness that can accompany fame. “I was very isolated and very lonely. You literally can’t go outside,” he says of becoming a well-known comedian. “Your own silence is not there for you.”
He had a funny run-in with Elvis Presley
Martin’s story ofmeeting the King in 1970is one for the books. During a stint in Las Vegas opening forAnn-Margretand her husbandRoger Smith, Presley apparently caught Martin’s routine.
“I see Elvis coming back to visit Ann-Margret,” narrates theOnly Murders in the Buildingstar. “He was all in white, and he had the big belt.” Presley, he continues, “says, ‘Son, you have an oblique sense of humor… You wanna see my guns?’ ”
Tina Fey, Martin Short and other friends make their best guess at “the real Steve”
“I feel like I still wouldn’t be able to say, ‘Well, the real Steve…’ ” says Fey in part two ofSTEVE! (martin). Idle, Keaton and other pals admit that although they’ve known Martin for years, they’ve never had a sense of who he really was.
“It’s a bittersweet chocolate bar,” explains Fey. “It’s Hershey’s Special Dark, it’s not milk. There is a longing at the center of pretty much everybody he shows us.”
She adds with a laugh, “And the only person who can fix it is Martin Short!”
Martin’sThree Amigoscostar can be seen throughout part two of the documentary as the two work on their return to the stage together for a comedy tour. Short recalls how he clicked instantly with hislongtime collaborator.
In a sit-down conversation with Martin,Jerry Seinfeldasks him what would happen to his career if Short were to die. “I would probably stop,” answers Martin.
(Left-right:) Steve Martin and John Candy in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”.Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
Martin remembers “weeping” at a John CandyPlanes Trains and Automobilesmonologue
Martin is among the many celebrities who havemourned the lossofSpaceballsstar John Candy. InSTEVE! (martin), herecalls starringwith the late Canadian actor in 1987’sPlanes, Trains and Automobiles.
“John Candy was very sensitive and very complex and we really loved each other,” he says to camera while showing off items in his home storage facility, including scripts of theJohn Hughescomedy.
“He had a beautiful scene,” he says, recalling “weeping” at a lengthy monologue Candy delivers — and that was subsequently “cut down to a line or two” in the final product. Martin holds back tears remembering his costar’s delivery of the speech.
He describes having a daughter with wife Anne Stringfield as “true love”
(Left-right:) Martin Short, Selena Gomez and Steve Martin on Jan. 12.Michael Kovac/Getty
Michael Kovac/Getty
The documentary offers glimpses of what Martin is like as a father: leaving cute video messages, teaching the banjo and making time in his still-busy schedule for his daughter. “He lets her style his hair a lot,” said Stringfield.
“This child will never not know love,” says Martin’s sister, citing his rough childhood. “He can be the things that he wanted from our dad.”
source: people.com
