The Best, Most California Movies

This week, I finally watched the 1991 movie “L.A. Story,” a fanciful romantic comedy that more than anything else is a loving sendup of Los Angeles.

The movie, written by and starring Steve Martin, is full of gags about traffic, earthquakes, hip restaurants, ever-temperate weather and happy people who aren’t actually all that happy. Martin, who grew up in Orange County, once described making the film as “like teasing your best friend.”

“You have to know them pretty well and like them, in order to be able to do it,” he told The New York Times in 1991.

When Martin’s character suggests to his love interest — played by Victoria Tennant, who was married to Martin at the time — that he give her a cultural tour of the city, she replies: “That’s the first 15 minutes. Then what?”

“L.A. Story” felt familiar to me not just because of the shooting locations — the opening sequence has a great scene at Echo Park Lake — but also because it channeled the voice of someone who knows Los Angeles.

It ranked among the movies most suggested by readers for our new California film list, a collection that I’m hoping will both entertain you and help you learn about the state. I’ll keep adding to the list, so feel free to email me at [email protected] with your choices and why you think they deserve to be included.

Here are four more selections to start us off.

“Chinatown” (1974)

Our most-recommended movie, now 50 years old, was directed by Roman Polanski and inspired by skulduggery over a quintessentially Californian issue: water rights. Read The Times’s (admittedly mixed) 1974 review, or watch the Times critic A.O. Scott revisit what’s now a beloved part of the cinematic canon.

“A classic detective mystery neo-noir, the greatest movie ever made about Los Angeles. Brilliant performances by Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, and an Oscar-winning screenplay by Robert Towne. The best Hollywood movie of the past 50 years.” — Tony Napoli, Santa Maria

“Sideways” (2004)

In this Alexander Payne movie, two old college friends, played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, set off on a wine-tasting road trip through the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. This movie delighted critics both of film and of wine — maybe to a fault.

“What it’s really about are all the different relationships that people have with wine. From alcoholism to appreciation of wine as an art form, the central role of the wine grape in our state is highlighted beautifully.” — Pam Van Allen, Stockton

“Lady Bird” (2017)

Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age film about a high school student, played by Saoirse Ronan, is a love letter to a part of the state that doesn’t get much attention on the screen. Sacramento, where Gerwig was born and raised, is as much a character in the film as any of the people are.

“Growing up in Sacramento, my childhood has been immortalized by the experiences of ‘Lady Bird’ and Greta Gerwig’s beautiful scenes of my hometown. Every time I return to this movie, I am reminded of the uniqueness of Sacramento.” — Sophia Saunders, Sacramento

“Vertigo” (1958)

Widely considered Alfred Hitchcock’s best work, “Vertigo” was shot largely in and around San Francisco. You can visit the filming locations and see photos of how the city has changed since the movie was filmed.

“Does a movie made by Alfred Hitchcock need an explanation for being selected at all? How he uses the camera to twist the eye’s perspective to create disorientation, to convey Scottie’s acrophobia. Monroe, Garbo, Hitchcock understood the lens like no one else.” — Noe Serrano, San Francisco

Tell us

We’ve been compiling our California soundtrack for years, and have captured most of the hits. Which songs do you think still need to be added?

Tell us at [email protected]. Please include your name, the city where you live, and a few sentences on why you think your song deserves to be included.

And before you go, some good news

Much of California’s history can be told through the story of its capital city.

One of the oldest incorporated communities in the state, Sacramento has been the backdrop to many major historical moments, from the discovery of gold on Jan. 24, 1848, to the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

Today, the state’s history can still be felt throughout Sacramento, and especially at its oldest operating businesses and restaurants. The Sacramento Bee, the region’s flagship daily newspaper, recently plumbed the city’s archives to learn more about these living historical landmarks.

Old Ironsides, a watering hole and performance venue in Southside Park, is the oldest bar in the city, and was apparently the first Sacramento establishment to receive a liquor license after Prohibition ended, according to the paper’s research. Also on the list of venerable businesses was The Sacramento Bee itself, originally named The Daily Bee, which celebrated the 167th anniversary of its first printed edition this month.

Dive into more Sacramento history and read the full article here.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Soumya

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword.

Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

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