by Michael Lyons
"I'm not an actor. I'm a movie star!"
Just one of the many clever, insightful, and funny lines of dialogue from one of the best comedies of the 80s, My Favorite Year.
And that year in the film is 1954. It's New York City during the Golden Age of Television. Young Benjy Stone (played by Mark Linn-Baker, later of Perfect Strangers, here in his first major role) is an up-and-coming writer on Comedy Cavalcade, a fictional comedy-variety show based on the real Your Show of Shows.
The guest on the show that week is Alan Swann, played by Peter O'Toole, a swashbuckling movie star in the mold of Eroll Flynn. Swann's carer is on a downslide and has developed a terrible reputation for carousing, womanizing, and drinking.
Benjy, who idolizes Swann, is given the responsibility to keep Swann on track, off of alcohol, away from women, and on time for the show. Not an easy task.
What follows in the week leading up to the show is that Benjy realizes celebrities are just as human as anyone else; Swann realizes the responsibility that comes with being a celebrity.
Written by Norman Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo, My Favorite Year sparkles with sharp dialogue that feels like it was written by the team of Comedy Calvacade writers. In addition to O'Toole's "movie star” line above, a classic exchange between the actor and legendary comedienne Selma Diamond defines comedy gold.
O'Toole rightfully received an Oscar nomination for his performance, constantly walking a tightrope of comedy and tragedy throughout the film. Linn-Baker has the thankless task of being O'Toole's straight-man but brings to it such emotion and empathy as the wide-eyed surrogate for all star-struck movie fans.
The supporting cast of My Favorite Year is full of MVPs. Joseph Bologna is pompously perfect as King Kaiser, the show's star, and Bill Macy, Anne DeSalvo, and Basil Hoffman add a great backdrop as a trio of disparate writers on Comedy Calvacade.
But, stealing the show is Lanie Kazan as Benjy's mom, Belle, and Lou Jacobi as his Uncle Morty. The scene in My Favorite Year, where Benjy takes Swann to Brooklyn to meet his family, ranks as one of film's greatest and most hysterical "clash of cultures" scenes. Belle calls Allan "Swanee," to which Benjy declares, "Ma! He's an actor, not a river!"
Actor Richard Benjamin made his directorial debut with My Favorite Year. As a great comic himself, he shows a deft hand with the film's funnier scenes and allows the film its quieter moments of character development and even pathos.
Debuting on October 8, 1982, My Favorite Year was a big enough of a hit and long remembered enough to inspire a popular Broadway musical version that debuted in 1992.
It's no wonder that My Favorite Year was able to provide such rich inspiration. The film is that rare comedy that allows us to see a little bit of ourselves and our world and delivers an insightful message.
As Alan develops a case of stage fright around live TV, Benjy pleads with him: "...don't tell me this is you life-size! I can't use you life-size! I need Alan Swanns as big as I can get them!"
My Favorite Year speaks to the frailty of our celebrities and how much we all “need” our celebrities.
True in 1954. True today.
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