How Steve Martin turned a tragic 19th-century play into a modern romantic comedy
In short: In 1987, Steve Martin reimagined Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac for the big screen. By trading the original’s tragic ending for a heartfelt, comedic resolution, Martin crafted a story about a witty fire chief whose insecurity over his large nose keeps him from finding love with a visiting astronomer.
The film follows Charlie Bales, a charismatic fire chief in the small town of Nelson, who is deeply self-conscious about his unusually large nose. When Roxanne Kowalski, an astronomy student, arrives in town, Bales falls for her but assumes his appearance makes him unworthy of her affection. He ends up ghostwriting romantic letters for a handsome but dimwitted fireman, Chris, to help him win her heart. This premise mirrors the structure of Rostand’s 1897 play, with character names like C.D. Bales and Chris serving as direct nods to the original Cyrano and Christian.
Martin spent three years drafting the screenplay, driven by a desire to see the protagonist finally get the girl. The production was filmed in the summer of 1986 in Nelson, British Columbia, though the film depicts a fictionalized American town. To achieve the iconic look of the lead character, Martin endured 90 minutes of prosthetic makeup application every single day. The film’s success was significant, grossing over $40 million in North America and earning Martin critical acclaim, including top actor honors from both the Los Angeles and National film critic organizations.
Beyond the central romance, the film is packed with literary and historical allusions. Bales’s leadership of a bumbling fire crew parallels the original play’s Gascon Cadets, and a famous scene featuring a barrage of nose-related insults is a direct homage to the play’s first act. While the film maintains a lighthearted, whimsical tone, it remains a sophisticated adaptation that balances the spirit of the source material with a modern, optimistic sensibility. Martin’s performance and writing were widely celebrated, proving that even a centuries-old story of unrequited love could be reinvented for a contemporary audience.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Roxanne (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Roxanne · CC0
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