My Favorite Year (1982)

TOMATOMETER

96%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

84%

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My Favorite Year Photos

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Movie Info

It is 1954, and the larger-than-life, swahbuckling movie star Alan Swann is set to make his first television appearance on the hugely popular show, The Comedy Cavalcade. Given Swann's reputation as a wild, unpredictable alcoholic, the producers give their new writer, young Benjy Stone, the job of babysitting Swann and getting him to the show on time and sober. The experience is far more stressful than Benjy expected, but after some adventures, he and Swann both learn some valuable lessons and develop a friendship.

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Cast

Peter O'Toole
as Alan Swann
Mark Linn-Baker
as Benjy Stone
Jessica Harper
as K.C. Downing
Joseph Bologna
as King Kaiser
Bill Macy
as Sy Benson
Lainie Kazan
as Belle Carroca
Anne De Salvo
as Alice Miller
Basil Hoffman
as Herb Lee
Lou Jacobi
as Uncle Morty
Adolph Green
as Leo Silver
Tony DiBenedetto
as Alfie Bumbacelli
George Wyner
as Myron Fein
Selma Diamond
as Lil
Cameron Mitchell
as Karl Rojeck
Jenny Neumann
as Connie
Corinne Bohrer
as Bonnie
George Marshall Ruge
as Lord Drummond
Barbra Horan
as Lady Eleanor
John Welsh
as Cubby Brown
Richard Brestoff
as Stage Manager
Philip Bruns
as Fed. Marshal Holt
Jed Mills
as 1st Member
Ted Grossman
as Harris
Teresa Ganzel
as Dumpling
Phil Bruns
as Federal Marshal Holt
Karen Haber
as Vivian
Priscilla Kovary
as Priscilla
C. Eleanor Heutschy
as Gossip Columnist
Peter Paul Eastman
as Maitre d'
Archie Hahn III
as Delivery Boy
Fox Harris
as Curt
Rieneke De Man
as Andrea
Howard George
as Artie
Bob Windsor
as Alvin Horn
Gloria Stuart
as Mrs. Horn
Clyde McLeod
as Club Dancer
Harry Bill Roberts
as Orchestra Leader
Ramon Sison
as Rookie Carroca
Annette Robyns
as Sadie
Pearl Shear
as Mrs. Kessler
Stanley Brock
as Mr. Berkowitz
Martin Garner
as Mr. Cantor
John Medici
as Scalfoni
Robert G. Denison
as 1st Stockbroker
John Christy Ewing
as 2nd Stockbroker
Vincent Sardi
as Policeman
Katie McClain
as Tess
Norman Steinberg
as Sandy
Richard Warwick
as Technical Director
Rex Benson
as Make-up Man
Denver Mattson
as 1st Thug
George Fisher
as 2nd Thug
Bob Terhune
as 3rd Thug
Nick Dimitri
as 4th Thug
Phil Adams
as 1st Stagehand
Richard Butler
as 2nd Stagehand
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Critic Reviews for My Favorite Year

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (1)

The movie concludes on a saccharine note intended to send you away smiling and it might, if you like fairy tales where no alcoholic is unlovable.

Oct 23, 2018 | Full Review…
Associated Press
Top Critic

Peter O'Toole received an Oscar nomination for playing an eccentric womanizer and boozy star (modeled on Errol Flynn) in this charming comedy set in the 1950s.

Aug 16, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com

An excellent vehicle for O'Toole to shine in a tour de force performance.

Jun 14, 2006 | Rating: A | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Wildly enjoyable comedy with great O'Toole performance.

May 12, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Portrays the golden age of television in a warmly affectionate light, while delivering the criminally entertaining Peter O'Toole at his most devilishly charming.

Jul 26, 2002 | Rating: 80/100
Apollo Guide

...an affectionate look back on those golden years of live TV...a delightful little romp.

Jul 4, 2002 | Rating: 7/10
Movie Metropolis
View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for My Favorite Year

½

I love The Sid Caesar Show and Your Show of Shows, the original sketch comedy show, which Carol Burnett and then Saturday Night Live carried on. Those early sketch shows started the careers of many famous writers and comedians. Mel Brooks was one, and this movie is based on a story he wrote about his experiences writing in those early days of TV. I had high expectations, but was disappointed. I haven't been a fan of Peter O'Toole just because his performances usually bother me in their delivery. This was no different. Overall, all the other performances and the story just weren't that funny!

Byron Brubaker
Byron Brubaker

Super Reviewer

½

Absolutely charming. Peter O'Toole gives a fantastic performance as an Errol Flynn facsimile named Alan Swan.

Ken Stachnik
Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

½

A tribute to the golden age of live television. Peter O'Toole plays "Swann", a great drunken washed-up actor. It's got some fun comical scenes.

Lafe Fredbjornson
Lafe Fredbjornson

Super Reviewer

Starts a little slowly but once Peter O'Toole appears sweeps you up and charms you all the way to the can't help but smile conclusion. Look for Gloria Stuart in the cafe scene.

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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