The Film Stage Presents The B-Side Ep. 180 – Steve Martin (with Eric D. Snider)
Apr 10, 2026
Eric D. Snider, long‑time film critic and Sundance regular, joins to celebrate Steve Martin. They dig into Martin’s stand‑up rise, his oddball early comedies like The Man with Two Brains and The Lonely Guy, his surprising dramatic turns in films such as A Simple Twist of Fate and The Spanish Prisoner, and his later indie and mainstream work including Novocaine.
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Episode notes
Early Films Show Martin Took Creative Risks
- Martin's early film choices mixed commercial hits and surprising experiments, like the flop Pennies From Heaven.
- Dan notes Pennies' dour tone contrasted with his other successful comedies, revealing Martin's ambition beyond safe comedy.
Charles Grodin Steals The Lonely Guy
- The Lonely Guy features Charles Grodin delivering deadpan gold, like the bridge and cardboard-cutout party scenes.
- Hosts single out Grodin's robot-chess and bridge bits as standout comedic moments that anchor the film.
Martin's Strength Was Letting Co-Stars Shine
- Steve Martin consistently plays a non–attention-hog straight man, letting co-stars like Martin Short or Queen Latifah dominate scenes.
- Hosts argue this deference is an underrated star quality that preserves his likability across hits.
