My Favorite Year
Closed CaptioningRichard Benjamin
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Plot Summary
It's 1954 - the era of live television. A hapless production assistant is given the formidable assignment to keep his movie star idol, the alcoholic womanizing Alan Swann, out of trouble long enough so Swann can appear on the popular network show, "King Kaiser's Comedy Hour." Oscar-winner Peter O'Toole ("Lawrence of Arabia," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "The Stuntman") received his seventh Oscar-nomination for his hilarious portrayal of the Errol Flynn-like Swann. Mark Linn-Baker (TV's "Perfect Strangers") plays the production assistant while Joseph Bologna ("Citizen Cohn," "The Woman in Red") gives an outstanding performance as the Syd Caesar-like King Kaiser. With Jessica Harper ("Pennies from Heaven") and Laine Kazan ("Beaches"). Directed by Richard Benjamin ("Mrs. Winterbourne," "Racing with the Moon").
Customer Reviews
A Mark Linn-Baker Showcase
This is one of the rare jewels that offers a great human story that will leave you laughing our loud! Mark Linn-Baker and Peter O'Toole are great together and Richard Benjamin made this movie to a point where you can feel the joys and frustrations that are felt throughout the movie. This is one movie that I can watch over and over again and truly enjoy.
O'Toole at his best.
This film is a hilarious. The cast and script are amazing. First Review. CHECK OUT THE MUSICAL.
Superb!
Some years ago, Roger Ebert selected this as one of his ten "desert island" movies, and it's easy to see why. This is a love letter to a particular place and time - New York during the 1950's heyday of the Sid Caesar Show - and the clash of cultures between Hollywood (on the downswing) and television (on the upswing).
The entire cast, which includes Joe Bologna, Lainie Kazan, Bill Macy, Lou Jacobi, Selma Diamond, and Jessica Harper, is wonderful. But the film revolves around the relationship between young comedy writer Benjy Stone - played by Mark Linn-Baker - and the swashbuckling, extravagantly alcoholic Alan Swann, played by Peter O'Toole, during the week of Swann's guest appearance on the "King Kaiser" television show. Their chemistry is extraordinary, and O'Toole shows himself to be one of the great comic actors of any era.
It's interesting that while the (uncredited) executive producer was Mel Brooks, he went out of his way to bring in Richard Benjamin in his debut as a film director (Brooks' rationale to Benjamin: "We think you're sane.") The wonderful script, and Benjamin's very secure hand at the rudder, create the perfect setting for some absolutely brilliant comedy.
But aside from the humor - and this is, above all, a very, very funny movie - there is a wonderful poignancy underlying all of the proceedings. If you're watching it for the 10th time (as I am, this weekend), you'll know what I mean. And if you've never seen it before, I envy you your first encounter. Enjoy!
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- $9.99
- Genre: Comedy
- Released: 1982
- © 1982 A Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved