My Favorite Year

Starring:Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna, Bill Macy, Lainie Kazan, Anne De Salvo, Basil Hoffman, Lou Jacobi, Adolph Green, Tony DiBenedetto, George Wyner, Selma Diamond, Cameron Mitchell, Jenny Neumann, Corinne Bohrer, George Marshall Ruge, Barbara Horan, John Welsh, Richard Brestoff
Director: Richard Benjamin
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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

Average customer rating:

One of O'Toole's best performances
An Overlooked Classic
a great throwback to another era of humor.........
Never Tired Of Watching This Movie
Comedy is hard, but Peter O'Toole makes it look easy.

My Favorite Year
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Mark Linn-Baker , Jessica Harper , Joseph Bologna , and Bill Macy
Director: Richard Benjamin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Lion in Winter
Becket
Local Hero
High Spirits
Lord Jim

ASIN: B0000648ZX
Release Date: 2002-07-09

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:

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.

a great throwback to another era of humor................2007-05-05

MY FAVORITE YEAR is a loving tribute to the old series, "Your Show of Shows." On this show, Alain Swan (Peter O'Toole) a legend, comparable to swashbuckler Errol Flynn (of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD), is to make an appearance on the variety program. The problem? Swan is a notorious alcoholic and has been hitting the sauce QUITE heavily, by the time the producers and staff encounter him around the time of production of this live show. Enter Benji (a very young Mark Lynn-Baker), the studio peon, who has been delegated as Swan's assistant and babysitter. He is to make sure that Swan doesn't get into too much trouble, and that he stays dry upon going on the air with the rest of the cast. As a side note, Swan is also a notorious womanizer. Is there any possiblity that this man can even be controlled? Well, you'll have to watch the film and find out for yourself.

Peter O'Toole received a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for this role, and I really think he should have won. This film is very funny and entertaining.

Never Tired Of Watching This Movie.......2007-03-20

What a great movie. (A feel good movie.)
The script, it's cast and their perfomances, everything about this film
made it a great viewing experience.
I'ts a movie I can (and do) watch over and over again.

Comedy is hard, but Peter O'Toole makes it look easy........2007-02-05

Richard Benjamin's "My Favorite Year" is a 1930s-style madcap comedy that somehow blessedly got made in the 1980s. Produced by Brooksfilm and based on Mel Brooks's experiences during the week Errol Flynn hosted "Your Show of Shows," "My Favorite Year" concerns the tribulations of fledgling comedy writer Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker) in having to chaperon the perpetually sloshed movie star Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole). Choleric boss Stan "King" Kaiser (Joseph Bologna) has told Benjy about Alan, "If he screws up, it's your (keister)." Of course, Alan proceeds to screw up in just about every way possible, including several that Benjy could never have anticipated. But of course Alan is so goshdarned likable, with such swashbuckling style and panache, that Benjy ends up having the time of his life--even if some of Alan's shenanigans might end Benjy's life prematurely! Meanwhile, there are subplots about Benjy's eccentric mother (Lainie Kazan); his rocky courtship of lovely co-worker Casey (Jessica Harper); and the constant threats King Kaiser receives from union president Carl "Boss" Rojack (Cameron Mitchell), who objects to King's weekly "Boss Hijack" sketches. Some parts of the film are funnier and more interesting than others, but the whole show is a breezy delight thanks to the fine cast, particularly Peter O'Toole as the scapegrace Alan Swann. Few classically trained English actors have ever shown as much flair for comedy as O'Toole (Alec Guinness being one of those few), and "My Favorite Year" gave O'Toole his best pure comedy role ever, allowing him to punch up his drunken swashbuckler act to the rafters. The young Mark Linn-Baker, with a face like a newly hatched puffin, is a lovable elf as Benjy (why Linn-Baker hasn't had a better subsequent career is utterly beyond me). Joseph Bologna (another unfairly forgotten actor) is a scream as the half-crazed Kaiser, a blustery dictator on the set, yet also possessed of bullheaded courage and integrity. There are also fine performances by Kazan, Harper, Mitchell, Adolph Green as Kaiser's harried producer, and Bill Macy (that's Bill of "Maude" fame, not William H.) as the show's mean-spirited head writer. Also, watch for the scene where O'Toole dances with an elegantly beautiful older woman at "21;" the actress is Gloria Stuart, 15 years before "Titanic" restored her stardom.

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

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (August 1, 2002)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (May 6, 2002)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (January 17, 2007)
Venus
Becket

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 (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

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (December 19, 2000)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (May 6, 2002)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (January 17, 2007)
Becket
Venus

ASIN: B000HBL4J8
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

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

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

Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (August 1, 2002)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (December 19, 2000)
Charlie Rose with Peter O'Toole (January 17, 2007)
Becket
Venus

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.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Seven Churches of Revelation Rediscovered

They Got Me Covered

3 Ninjas Kick Back (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Body Jumper

Hostile Waters