See also: - Repertory Cinema Wishlist: American Graffiti - Repertory Cinema Wishlist: L.A. Story - Repertory Cinema Wishlist: Crossing Delancey
Of course, that's where the resemblance to truth ends: In this incarnation, Peter O'Toole charms the audience in a tour de force comic performance as Alan Swann, the Flynn character, who arrives to meet Stan "King" Kaiser, the Caesar character (aptly played by Joseph Bologna), quite smashed. Kaiser wants to kick him off the show, but junior writer Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker), an adoring fan, offers to take Swann under his wing and keep him off the drink until the show airs.What follows is delightful: a series of pratfalls and picaresque New York City adventures turned both hysterically funny and sweetly serious by subplots involving Benjy's untouchable love interest, K. C. Downing (Jessica Harper), and crazy family (his mother hilariously played by Lanie Kazan), as well as Swann's daughter Tess, from whom he is estranged.
Continue reading for more about My Favorite Year. Benjy and Alan develop a relationship through it all, and there is some disappointment as Benjy realizes Alan doesn't quite live up to his heroic image. But nothing ever drags this little film down, packed as it is with O'Toole's sophisticated gags and innocently wide baby blues.
He even manages to charm Kaiser during rehearsals, but disappears before showtime upon learning he'll be performing on live television ("I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!"), throwing everyone into a tizzy.
What happens next is an ending for the ages, which we won't divulge -- but rest assured that it is happy and will leave a sweet spot in your heart.
My Favorite Year is available for download from iTunes and Amazon, or on DVD from Netflix.
Susan Froyd, in another life, toiled for a few years in some of Denver's most beloved and belated repertory cinemas. She has also seen a lot of movies over a lot of years. In this weekly series, she'll recommend forgotten films, classics, cult favorites and other dusty reels of celluloid from the past. You might like it.
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