I am so glad you covered this film! My dad introduced me to it when I was in junior high/early high school age and it has stayed with me.... a near perfect comedy
What an amazing movie. I remember the first time I watched it and how happy it made me. It still makes me that happy every time I rewatch it. I would love to hear you talk about some more of Richard Benjamin's movies on here, especially Goodbye Columbus or Westworld. Great Job, as always.
I was told at our film school (Sherwood Oaks Experimental College) that this story was inspired by an incident during the making of "Your Show of Shows" where Mel Brooks was a young writer and he had to shepard Errol Flynn who was a guest one night. I love this movie and Joe Bologna plays a GREAT Sid Caesar. When the film came out Richard Benjamin was also a guest at our school. Thank you for reviving current interest in this classic.
I recommend watching "My Favorite Year" along with Woody Allen's "Radio Days" (1987) as a double feature. FUNNY x 2! Radio Days acts almost like the prequel to My Favorite Year. P.S. the silent (or quiet) bald writer in the movie, is based on the famous playwright (and former Sid Caesar comedy-writer), Neil Simon, who was also very quiet back then.
Wonderful review for a wonderful movie! I grew up in the '80's and this was an HBO staple so I saw it a lot and dug it quite a bit. One more recent film that VERY much reminded me of this film - sort of a modernized version - Get Him to the Greek. Not as good a movie but solid and definitely touched a lot of the same emotional beats towards the end to the point where I found myself tearing up but mainly because it had me remembering My Favorite Year. :) If you're considering suggestions from that same era of movies, I'm at a loss as to any specific films but maybe something else with Joseph Bologna...
The only problem with My Favorite Year was it came out against ET and Officer and a Gentleman--and got buried under them! Otherwise this is one of those perfect comedies a'la The Odd Couple and Bringing Up Baby. The film itself is more a collection of comedic vignettes stitched together with some great lines. I used to use this in my classes because of its theme of learning how to be a man, with the question being does Alan teach Benji or does Benji teach Alan? I could go on forever on this one, but you've done a fine job here. . .
My Favorite Year is great. Peter O’Toole gave a great performance. I think his Academy Award nomination was deserved and wish that either O’Toole or Paul Newman won for The Verdict that year. Ben Kingsley was great in Gahndi, but O’Toole and Newman were so fantastic, where I could go on talking about those performances a bit more than Kingsley’s. My Favorite Year, The Verdict, Gahndi, E.T., Tootsie... 1982 was a great year for films.
I enjoyed your review. My Favorite Year is among my all time favorite movies. i just love it. It's charming and full of in-jokes and in-facts. For example, if I'm not mistaken, Selma Diamond, the wardrobe lady in My Favorite Year WAS the comedy writer on Your Show of Shows who is here being played by Anne DiSalvo. Diamond later became the first or one of the first women stand up comics, and many will also know her as the bailiff on early episodes of the TV show, Night Court. On the Dick Van Dyke Show which is also about the making of Your Show of Shows, Selma Diamond was played by Rose Marie! I laugh every time i see the moment when Sy says, "What's the matter, Herb, ya can't talk to me like a normal human being?" and Herb leans over, whispers in her Anne DiSalvo's ear, she sits back in her chair, looks straight at Sy, and states, "No!" LOL
I wish you would do an underrated classics on my favorite film Big Wednesday. John Milius brings out something unique to most of his early work. I also love Farewell to the King
Here's my suggestion for an underrated classic: the 1927 Fritz Lang original Metropolis. I know it highly acclaimed now, but I feel that it is still underrated considering that the general public doesn't know much about it (since it is a very long silent movie that has had several parts of itself missing for decades)
Gosh I love this movie. And I had such high hopes for this commentary. Repeating ‘this movie is good’ doesn’t cut it. You don’t even MENTION JOE BOLOGNA. Who is the MVP of this movie. And you don’t say enough, frankly, about OToole. Without HIM, this movie sinks. Baker is good, but O’toole carries this piece. Come on man.
I found it so dated and predictable with really cheap looking production values. For example when they throw things out of a window we get an obligatory car crash sound ebey time.
I am so glad you covered this film! My dad introduced me to it when I was in junior high/early high school age and it has stayed with me.... a near perfect comedy
What an amazing movie. I remember the first time I watched it and how happy it made me. It still makes me that happy every time I rewatch it. I would love to hear you talk about some more of Richard Benjamin's movies on here, especially Goodbye Columbus or Westworld. Great Job, as always.
I was told at our film school (Sherwood Oaks Experimental College) that this story was inspired by an incident during the making of "Your Show of Shows" where Mel Brooks was a young writer and he had to shepard Errol Flynn who was a guest one night. I love this movie and Joe Bologna plays a GREAT Sid Caesar. When the film came out Richard Benjamin was also a guest at our school. Thank you for reviving current interest in this classic.
"I'm not an actor..... I'm a movie star!! Awesome movie!
“Allan Swans beneath us!” “Of course he’s beneath us, he’s an actor!”
Selma Diamond as Lil the wardrobe lady is my favorite character. "Now he wants to see it when I'm up to my ass in threads?"
Thank you so much! I love this film.All my friends love this film..That is a cashmere coat Stan......STAN!!!
I recommend watching "My Favorite Year" along with Woody Allen's "Radio Days" (1987) as a double feature. FUNNY x 2! Radio Days acts almost like the prequel to My Favorite Year.
P.S. the silent (or quiet) bald writer in the movie, is based on the famous playwright (and former Sid Caesar comedy-writer), Neil Simon, who was also very quiet back then.
Wonderful review for a wonderful movie! I grew up in the '80's and this was an HBO staple so I saw it a lot and dug it quite a bit. One more recent film that VERY much reminded me of this film - sort of a modernized version - Get Him to the Greek. Not as good a movie but solid and definitely touched a lot of the same emotional beats towards the end to the point where I found myself tearing up but mainly because it had me remembering My Favorite Year. :)
If you're considering suggestions from that same era of movies, I'm at a loss as to any specific films but maybe something else with Joseph Bologna...
All I can think of is
“Chapter Two” where he plays Jimmy Caan’s brother. I like that movie
also.
❤️d him as ‘Stan’. He was
hysterical. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The only problem with My Favorite Year was it came out against ET and Officer and a Gentleman--and got buried under them! Otherwise this is one of those perfect comedies a'la The Odd Couple and Bringing Up Baby. The film itself is more a collection of comedic vignettes stitched together with some great lines. I used to use this in my classes because of its theme of learning how to be a man, with the question being does Alan teach Benji or does Benji teach Alan? I could go on forever on this one, but you've done a fine job here. . .
Great review. Just saw it again, recently. It has so many meaning for me, because my career was in the Industry
My Favorite Year is great. Peter O’Toole gave a great performance. I think his Academy Award nomination was deserved and wish that either O’Toole or Paul Newman won for The Verdict that year. Ben Kingsley was great in Gahndi, but O’Toole and Newman were so fantastic, where I could go on talking about those performances a bit more than Kingsley’s. My Favorite Year, The Verdict, Gahndi, E.T., Tootsie... 1982 was a great year for films.
I ❤️ me some this movie. Always have and always will.
“My Favorite” movie
with Peter O’Toole.
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
I enjoyed your review. My Favorite Year is among my all time favorite movies. i just love it. It's charming and full of in-jokes and in-facts. For example, if I'm not mistaken, Selma Diamond, the wardrobe lady in My Favorite Year WAS the comedy writer on Your Show of Shows who is here being played by Anne DiSalvo. Diamond later became the first or one of the first women stand up comics, and many will also know her as the bailiff on early episodes of the TV show, Night Court. On the Dick Van Dyke Show which is also about the making of Your Show of Shows, Selma Diamond was played by Rose Marie! I laugh every time i see the moment when Sy says, "What's the matter, Herb, ya can't talk to me like a normal human being?" and Herb leans over, whispers in her Anne DiSalvo's ear, she sits back in her chair, looks straight at Sy, and states, "No!" LOL
I wish you would do an underrated classics on my favorite film Big Wednesday. John Milius brings out something unique to most of his early work. I also love Farewell to the King
Here's my suggestion for an underrated classic: the 1927 Fritz Lang original Metropolis. I know it highly acclaimed now, but I feel that it is still underrated considering that the general public doesn't know much about it (since it is a very long silent movie that has had several parts of itself missing for decades)
Watch Breaker Morant. An a true underrated movie that is almost unbelievable and also has a connection to A Few Good Men.
You should do a review of People will talk
Gosh I love this movie. And I had such high hopes for this commentary. Repeating ‘this movie is good’ doesn’t cut it. You don’t even MENTION JOE BOLOGNA. Who is the MVP of this movie. And you don’t say enough, frankly, about OToole. Without HIM, this movie sinks. Baker is good, but O’toole carries this piece. Come on man.
I found it so dated and predictable with really cheap looking production values. For example when they throw things out of a window we get an obligatory car crash sound ebey time.
It does look sort cheap.