Meet The Biz - Lainie Kazan: My Favorite Year

[@ohger1]

One of the most unappreciated movies of all time. Brilliant.

[@slownoman]

One of the funniest, truest movies ever made.

[@Mawrdew]

Alan Swann is Errol Flynn, no doubt about it. In the Brooklyn dinner scene, there's an oblique eference to Flynn's infamous statutory rape trial, when Uncle Mortie asks Swann. "So...did you schtupp her?"

[@viennawaits4u36]

The comments are correct, it was Errol Flynn that was being parodied in "My Favorite Year". Mel Brooks has stated in past interviews that when Flynn was scheduled to do live TV broadcasts in NYC, it was he who was assigned to looking after Flynn and making sure that he made it to rehearsal and show date on time, and sober. While Red Buttons simply watered down his bottles of Gin when ever Flynn did the Red Buttons show.

[@crwdfwtx]

This is just incredible considering how iconic Lainie’s performance was

[@robingottlieb7229]

It couldn't have been John Barrymore, since he died in 1942 and Sid Caesar's "Your Show Of Shows" debuted in 1950. Mel Brooks used to say the Alan Swann character was based on an Errol Flynn-type actor. Also, Peter O'Toole was Irish, not English.

[@LeeCameron]

it was based on both men and you can check on interview with Richard Benjamin on youtube. Anyway doesn't matter. also that O'Toole was born in Leeds and lived in England. While you are not far from being correct, it DOESN'T MATTER

[@terr777]

I love it AND you Lanie!

[@irwinmiller8684]

When Alan Swann { Peter O'Toole} arrives at Benjy's Mother's apartment on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, she greets him by saying, "Welcome to our humble chapeau!" Stone turns to Swann and says, " Five years studying at the Sorbonne and she still can't get it right."

[@dmhogan4239]

As much as I have always enjoyed Lainie Kazan, she sure does get a lot of things wrong in telling this story. As others have pointed out, Alan Swann was based on Errol Flynn (you only have to watch the movie to know this) and, as any true fan of Peter O’Toole knows, he was Irish, not British. Even when she explained the plot of the movie she didn’t explain it properly; the movie is based upon Mel Brooks’ experiences working on Sid Caesar’s Show of Shows. Nonetheless, it is one of my favourite Peter O’Toole films and I love his performance in it.