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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

STEVE! (martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces

A young Steve Martin in STEVE! (martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces.

Steve Martin believes his life can be divided into two separate chapters: then and now. “Then” consists of his early days as a standup comedian, the profession in which he made his name. His road to stardom as a comic was bumpy. But hiccups and non-starters eventually led to recurring gigs on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live, and, by the mid–1970s, hugely successful comedy albums and sold-out arena shows. At that point he was at the top of his field. And yet, in 1980, at 35, he retired his act and moved on. Which leads to “now,” meaning the last four decades. Over this period Martin starred in films (The Jerk, LA Story, and who could forget Three Amigos?), wrote screenplays, and settled into a more unhurried existence. In STEVE! (martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces—an oddly formatted title, befitting of Martin—the entertainer traverses the “Then” and “Now” of his varied and remarkable career. —Jack Sullivan

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+