Steve Martin Collection – Bowfinger/Sgt. Bilko/Housesitter/Parenthood/The Lonely Guy/Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid/The Jerk DVD – Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy 

Seven-film box set featuring the American comedian. In ‘Bowfinger’ (1999), Steve Martin is Hollywood’s least successful director. He figures that the only way to boost his flagging reputation is to make a film with megastar Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy). However, the only way to get Kit into the movie is to film him surreptitiously, while actors approach him and say their lines. Bowfinger also stumbles upon Kit’s movie buff brother Jeff (Murphy again), whom he convinces to impersonate his befuddled brother. Frank Oz directs from Steve Martin’s original script. In ‘Sgt.Bilko’ (1996), Martin plays the wily, gambling-loving Sergeant presiding over a ragbag troop of soldiers more adept at loading dice than guns. The hardline Major Thorn (Phil Hartman) has had run-ins with Bilko before, and when he takes charge of Fort Baxter, he is determined to put an end to the inveterate gambler’s extra-curricular scams. In ‘Housesitter’ (1992), architect Newton Davis (Martin) designs and builds a dream house for himself and his childhood sweetheart, but she turns down his proposal of marriage. Devastated, he gets drunk and falls into bed with waitress Gwen (Goldie Hawn), who also happens to be a compulsive liar. Having put the house on the market, Newton returns home to find his one-night-stand well and truly ensconced, posing as his wife and charming his friends and family… ‘Parenthood’ (1989) deals with the trials and tribulations of family life, as seen through the eyes of three generations. Gil Buckman (Martin) is a father rather too determined to give his kids the love and care which had been withheld from him as a child. Meanwhile, his Yuppie brother-in-law Nathan (Rick Moranis) is preparing his 3-year-old daughter for life in the fast lane by an accelerated learning programme which causes her to miss out on the more basic joys of childhood. Gil’s sister Helen (Dianne Wiest), a single parent, struggles to control her uncommunicative son and wild daughter, while black sheep of the family Larry (Tom Hulce) returns to sponge off his father Frank (Jason Robards) in order to pay off gambling debts. In ‘The Lonely Guy’ (1982), writer Larry (Martin) discovers his sexpot girlfriend in bed with another man, and begins to feel that he is becoming something of a ‘lonely guy’. His feeling of isolation is reinforced after an encounter with fellow sad loner Warren (Charles Grodin), who advises him to buy a fern for company and give up all hope of ever finding another life partner. However, after penning a manual based on his experiences Larry once again finds romance… but for how long? ‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ (1982) is a noir spoof utilising cleverly edited clips from the films of Hollywood’s golden era. Rigby Reardon (Martin) is a down on his luck private eye hired by Juliet Forrest (Rachel Ward) to investigate the suspicious death of her father, a noted scientist and cheesemaker. Reardon is soon interacting with suspicious characters portrayed by such stars of yore as James Cagney, Alan Ladd, Charles Laughton, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner and Veronica Lake. The film is dedicated to costume designer Edith Head, whose last production this was. In ‘The Jerk’ (1979), Navin Johnson (Martin, in his big screen debut) has never quite fitted in with his poor black sharecropper family. The reason for this is finally revealed to him when he comes of age; he is an adopted white child (yes, he’s going to stay that colour), which might also explained why he gets so depressed when his brother sings the blues. Deciding to seek his fortune in the big wide world, Navin sets off on a series of misadventures.

Titles Comprise: Bowfinger:How does Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) Hollywood’s least successful director get Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) Hollywood’s biggest star in his ultra low-budget film? Any way he can. With an ingenious scheme and the help of the eager nerd Jiff an ambitious and sexy wannabe (Heather Graham) and an over-the-hill diva (Christine Baranski) Bowfinger sets out to trick Kit Ramsey into the performance of a lifetime. Enjoy the fun with Eddie Murphy