The Wild and Crazy Side of Steve Martin

The Jerk (1979)

The Jerk was the perfect vehicle for Martin--probably because he wrote it.  In 1993 he told Playboy, "It did what I was trying to do at the time. It put my comedy act into a movie. When I look at it now, I think I yelled through the entire movie. But I like it."  So what kind of starring role did he create for himself?  The complete idiot.   The film was a huge success.

 

The Jerk, Steve Martin, 1979, (c) Universal Pictures / Courtesy: Everett Collection