My Favorite Year

Amazon.com

This love letter to the golden days of live television in the 1950s is a thinly veiled depiction of Your Show of Shows, the groundbreaking comedy show that starred Sid Caesar. The story, set in 1954, focuses on one of the writers for the show (Mark Linn-Baker), who is given the task of chaperoning that week's guest star, a famously ill-behaved movie star named Alan Swann. He's based on Errol Flynn and played with Oscar-nominated glee by Peter O'Toole. He also happens to be the writer's movie hero, but proves to be a hilariously drunken party animal, one who opens the naive young writer's eyes in a variety of ways. The highlight of the film is Swann's visit to the writer's outer-borough home and his encounter with the writer's star-struck mother (a delightful turn by Lainie Kazan). One of the better films directed by former actor Richard Benjamin. -Marshall Fine

Description

Peter O'Toole gives a knock-out performance as Alan Swann, a booze-loving former matinee idol who is forced into making a live appearance on a variety show to appease the IRS. Mark Linn-Baker plays the fledgling writer for the show who must keep Swann on the sober and narrow.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Feature-length commentary by director Richard Benjamin
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

An affectionate & funny love letter to the Golden Age of Television.......2007-08-15

After getting his start as a young writer on Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" during the 50's, it was a no-brainer that Mel Brooks' production company (Brooksfilms Ltd.) would helm this ode to the early days of live television, where anything could (and practically did) happen.
The great Peter O'Toole racked up another Oscar nomination with his gleeful portrayal of Alan Swann, a famous but ill-behaved matinee idol up to his ears in booze and women, and scheduled to make his T.V. comedy debut. The cast is terrific: A pre-"Perfect Strangers" Mark Linn-Baker as an idolizing writer handed the almost-impossible task of keeping Swann in check until he appears on the "Comedy Calvacade" show; Jessica Harper as Linn-Baker's object of affection (and also, seems unable to tell a good joke); Joseph Bologna as a Sid Caesar-like comedian/star of "Calvacade"; Bill Macy as a rude & overbearing head writer; Selma Diamond as an overworked & crotchety head of wardrobe; and of course, Lainie Kazan cast perfectly as Linn-Baker's doting Jewish mother.
This film definitely qualifies as "heroic comedy", as you watch Linn-Baker's character Benjy Stone force Swann to face his fears and be "that silly, godd**med hero". Actor-director Richard Benjamin does a fine job of veering the viewer from laughs to poignancy and back. Occasionally, his touches of broad comedy get dangerously close to being too broad, but this film is probably his best effort. It made me laugh when it was released, and it still makes me laugh today.

A Dazzling Diamond Among Lumps Of Coal!.......2007-08-03

"My favorite Year" is definitely one of my all-time favorite comedies. A comedy writing masterpiece, showing a brilliant mixture of whit and screw-ball slapstick, Norman Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo show us wonderful romantic look into the world of 1950's New York.

Peter O'Toole shows why he is one of the all-time great actors, playing Swann ("He's plastered!") the ultimate, drunken, Errol Flynn like swashbuckling film hero. The film also features an amazing performance by Mark Linn-Baker, playing Benjamin Stone, a sharp young writer at "King Kaiser's Comedy Cavalcade" (based on...Cid Caesar's Show of Shows). The cast assembled for this film is spectacular.

If you have a hard time finding a good laugh at most comedies, I don't think you will be disappointed in this film. It is filled with great lines and impeccable timing, a true diamond among lumps of coal in film comedy.

My Favorite Year.......2007-07-09

Actor Richard Benjamin goes behind the camera in this warm, side-splitting recreation of 1950's New York and the insane world of live television. O'Toole is tailor-made for a juicy comic role modeled on Errol Flynn, and Joseph Bologna does a wonderful Sid Caesar-ish turn as the caustic Kaiser. A genuine crowd pleaser, particularly for anyone interested in the period and the medium.

One of O'Toole's best performances.......2007-06-08

I saw My Favorite Year when it was originally released and loved it. As time passed I would see it on TV now and then but hadn't viewed the film for ten years or more. I bought the DVD from Amazon.com and watched it last night. It has aged well.

Peter O'Toole plays Alan Swan, a legendary film legend who typically was cast as a hero. In Greek plays and mythology, heros typically have a "tragic flaw" and Alan Swan does...alcohol. This flaw is what gives the movie its poignancy. Alan Swan does the right thing often enough that is impossible not to root for him, but he is battling to overcome his "tragic flaw". Will, he be a hero, or a jerk? How about both?

My Favorite Year has one great scene after another but two stick out in my mind. The first is the dance scene with the elderly woman at the Nightclub. Other reviewers have discussed this scene and described it better than I can so I will just add that the script is notable for what is not said. Director Richard Benjamin and the actors got this scene letter perfect. In lesser hands it would have been shlock and without poignancy.

The second scene that hangs in my mind is when Benji confronts Alan Swan and dresses him down expressing his diappointment in him, but unable to leave without holding out hope. The look on Alan Swan's face, the self loathing and fear in his eyes, is gut wrenching.

Funny, poignant, heart breaking, My Favorite Year is all of these things and more. It may be the best comedy I have ever seen on film.

An Overlooked Classic.......2007-05-24

Terrific story line, beautifully shot, and Peter O'Toole has never been better. I strongly believe one of the best scenes ever filmed was of O'Toole's character dancing with the lady celebrating her 40th anniversary. No words had to be spoken, the look in her eyes (perhaps remembering her youth and how she had dreamed of dancing with this film star of yesteryear?), the loving gaze from O'Toole which made her feel that nobody else existed, and the orchestra playing "How High the Moon" ...

It doesn't get much better than this.

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (December 19, 2000)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (December 19, 2000)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000HBL7MM
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

A conversation with actor Peter O'Toole on aging, acting, his movie roles and being voted Oldie of the Year.

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (May 6, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (May 6, 2002)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000HBL50G
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

Peter O'Toole speaks to Charlie for the hour. He reflects on work in his earlier career, including on the film Lawrence of Arabia, and talks about his new role on television in The Education of Max Bickford.

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (August 1, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (August 1, 2002)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000HBL4J8
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

A conversation with actor Peter O'Toole on aging, acting, and his movie roles.

DVD:

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