Finally, I own this little slice of classic movie making, My Favourite Year . Comedy with Alan Swann as the movie idol with a fondness for drink,whose forthcoming appearance on a live TV show sparks nervousness among the TV executives. Peter O'Toole is magnificent, channeling not only colleagues ( Errol Flynn !!) but a certain joie de vivre from his own life. The whole feel of the movie is 1954 even though it was filmed and released in 1982. It captures a certain Jewish comedy that I associate with Woody Allen in his early days, with Mel Brooks, and Sid Ceasar. But is it based on real life, a bit yes , bit no, and a bit who knows. Check out the movies Wikipedia section, " Relationship to real life ", which is replete with [citation required] :) I love it, and I am so glad I now have it and can watch it to my heart's content.