MovieChat Forums > My Favorite Year (1982) Discussion > Mark Linn-Baker

Mark Linn-Baker

posted 15 years ago by MrsMurgatroyd
27 replies | jump to latest

Mark was so wonderful playing Benji. He hit just the right note of adoration and compassion for the alcoholic STAR. I just wonder why he never became a major star. I saw the movie when it came out and again when it has been shown on TV. I spent some time with Red Skelton when he was ill long ago. And his stories about Errol Flynn and the other players of the day matched this movie.
The rest of the actors are wonderful too as they just seemed to be the characters they were playing. With a little bit of over-acting thrown in by Jos. Bologna it was just right for the time.

Long Live Movies

[–] whitcombjl 15 years ago

I agree that Mark Linn-Baker was perfect. As were everyone else! A terrific movie on all counts.

[–] Irishdrummer007 15 years ago

I agree. Mark was great in this movie. Peter was perfect. It,s a shame more people don,t give this movie a chance nowadays. It,s timeless and a great classic.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

I totally agree. I suspect most people saw this movie because of Peter O'Toole, but Mark was the real glue that held this production together. An excellent performance in a sadly overlooked film.

Care to share any more details about your experiences with the late, great Red Skelton? I'm all ears!

[–] practicepiano 13 years ago

I like Baker and love O'Toole in this film, and just about everyone else.

Except . . .Bill Macy (perhaps not a real insult to him, since his character is obnoxious and loud, and he does it well!).

And, it hurts me to say it, but Adolphe Green. I like their wanting to include people who were part of the actual world they were portraying, and I love Green's work as a lyricist, but he just looked uncomfortable in this, and his timing was off, poor guy.

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

mark linn-baker suffers from dim sum syndrome.

We're not soldiers and he's not the enemy. He's a pizza man.

[–] jonathan1956 10 years ago

He is on my list as "Most Annoying Performance." What is suppose to be funny about a guy trying impress his girl while stuffing his mouth with that gigantic noodle and talking while eating it forever and ever? Watching someone eat like a pig is not funny and I can't imagine trying to get a girl with such bad manners, even in a farce. Then they kiss. Where in humor lexicon does that scenario fit? Is that in the script, the directors idea, or was he improvising?

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

yep. gigantic noodle jokes are never cool.

today's special: shrimp ceviche!

[–] LionHearted99 14 years ago

I agree. I think Joeseph Bologna stole this movie...he was just great as the "Sid Caesar" character.

[–] zuzupetal_99 14 years ago

Sorry, but I thought Mark was the worst part of the movie. But that's b/c I've always hated him ever since I was a kid & used to watch Perfect Strangers, I never could stand "Larry Appleton", and that's all I ever see when I see him! If anyone else had played the part in this movie, I would've liked it a lot better.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] sahara33 13 years ago

I loved Larry Appleton! Balki needed someone to bounce off of. If Larry wasn't who he was, Balki wouldn't have worked. Loved that show.

If you love when Jesse says BITCH and are 100% proud of it, copy this and make it your signature!

[–] lorene-lavora 13 years ago

We were looking for a light comedy last week and ended up at "How Do You Know?" (We liked it but I would not take responsibility for sending anyone to see it!) It took me a few minutes but, there was Mark Linn-Baker in the role of corporate lawyer. Haven't seen him in anything in all these years.

[–] thepartydjz 13 years ago

I'd seen this film years ago and appreciated O'Toole but thought it was just a dumb, slap happy, "mad cap" silly comedy, especially with "what's his name?" from network TV sitcoms? TCM is broadcasting it this month while they tribute the best films ever, it is listed at 3 1/2 stars out of 4 ???? What gives?

I simply can't believe it's rated that high, and harder to believe that anyone would send adoration to "Mark Linn-Baker" ? He is what is so bad about network TV comedies, predictable cartoon like nonsense, he is not even a real actor, are you people serious?

When I found out this was directed by Richard Benjamin it all seemed to make sense, dumb predictable slap stick nonsense, perfect fit.

[–] Ironman54 13 years ago

I agree with you. I've tried to like this movie but there is just too much 'wrong with it - starting with Bakers hair cut...1950s, really ? More like 80's.
I think he was a bad choice for the role as he just didn't come off as '50s' either. The period cars, clothing of many of the characters was spot on. How did no one see this with the co star ?? Perhaps if Mel Brooks was the head writer it woulda worked. Movies like 'Quiz Show' pulled me in (50's), this movie just turned me off - consistently....and as I said, I really DID want to like it. Robert Osborne said it was one of his favs. I figured I was missing something then as I trust his word. Nothing but re hashed jokes, over the top acting - I felt bad for O'Toole, one of my fav actors, down to this level (I just finished watching 'Lawrence of Arabia').Sad, sad, sad.

To those of you who love it, I am happy for you. Truly.Just one persons opinion - don't let it take away from your enjoyment :-)

[–] MuleDeer 9 years ago

I'd seen this film years ago and appreciated O'Toole but thought it was just a dumb, slap happy, "mad cap" silly comedy, especially with "what's his name?" from network TV sitcoms? TCM is broadcasting it this month while they tribute the best films ever, it is listed at 3 1/2 stars out of 4 ???? What gives?

I simply can't believe it's rated that high, and harder to believe that anyone would send adoration to "Mark Linn-Baker" ? He is what is so bad about network TV comedies, predictable cartoon like nonsense, he is not even a real actor, are you people serious?

When I found out this was directed by Richard Benjamin it all seemed to make sense, dumb predictable slap stick nonsense, perfect fit.

I agree with you. I've tried to like this movie but there is just too much 'wrong with it - starting with Bakers hair cut...1950s, really ? More like 80's.
I think he was a bad choice for the role as he just didn't come off as '50s' either. The period cars, clothing of many of the characters was spot on. How did no one see this with the co star ?? Perhaps if Mel Brooks was the head writer it woulda worked. Movies like 'Quiz Show' pulled me in (50's), this movie just turned me off - consistently....and as I said, I really DID want to like it. Robert Osborne said it was one of his favs. I figured I was missing something then as I trust his word. Nothing but re hashed jokes, over the top acting - I felt bad for O'Toole, one of my fav actors, down to this level (I just finished watching 'Lawrence of Arabia').Sad, sad, sad.

To those of you who love it, I am happy for you. Truly.Just one persons opinion - don't let it take away from your enjoyment :-)

These two sum it up well for me. I find this actor so annoying, I looked this movie up via Peter O'Toole just to see what his name is and to whom he might be related to get this part and that sitcom part. He was as annoying as Steve Gutenburg and Richard Dreyfus, always overdoing it. "Mahhhh, the Jewish mother" is tired cliche of a character but seems to find its way into countless movies.

[–] Crystal (534) 5 years ago

I liked his haircut. It's the best one I've ever seen him with.

[–] sockscats 12 years ago

I'm the world's biggest Peter O'toole fan but when you watch the film it is the other characters that make this so enjoyable today.

O'toole's performance was brilliant but the fall down on your face drunk routine doesn't resonate with audiences today and maybe it should not.

[–] Crystal (534) 5 years ago

O'toole's performance was brilliant but the fall down on your face drunk routine doesn't resonate with audiences today and maybe it should not.(?) This is why old-school movies are better than today's.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Oh, Good Lord. The film is set in THE 1950s in NEW YORK and is about THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS!
Of COURSE everyone drank too much!

[–] glenbarb 12 years ago

Love Peter O'Toole in this movie. Joseph Bologna was outstanding. The guy who played Alfie was the glue that kept everything together, including Alan Swann. Mark Linn-Baker, however, is what keeps this movie from being even better than it already is. Manic, shouting his lines, poor timing.... makes me wonder what he had on the director to let him get away with such a performance. Everyone else is so good, and then he walks on screen again and it all comes apart. Watching it on TCM tonight, i thought Paul Reiser would have been excellent in that part - the right amount of pathos and humility, good energy without sucking the life out of the room. And he would have been the right age at the time - 25 - and his first film, Diner, was released in the same year.

[–] MrDeltoid77 11 years ago

Mark Linn-Baker is a poor man's Richard Dreyfuss

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] denham 10 years ago

Agree with glenbarb, especially about Mark Linn-Baker, who was a poor casting choice. I'd add that the direction and editing seemed rather stodgy: there should have been much more energy in the film, aside from acting. O'Toole and Bologna very good though.

[–] I_Like_Turtle_s 9 years ago

Seemed to me like he was doing a bad (young) Dustin Hoffman impression

[–] jonathan1956 9 years ago

I still didn't get the "eating-Chinese-food-while-trying-to-impress-my-crush scene. Who does that? Was it an improvisation or did the writers and directors think it was funny. I've never met a person who isn't disgusted with observing one's awful table manners, and he's trying to impress his girl? Again, who does that???

[–] parisel 9 years ago

The only thing I can imagine is so that they could fit in the Jews and Chinese food joke, and he couldn't give her the comedy lesson in a restaurant.

I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.

[–] Mickyfinn 9 years ago

For what its worth the DVD commentary from the Director says that O' Toole was very impressed with Linn-Baker.

And as far as his 'date' and stuffing his face with Chinese food. That's who Benji was - he lived for comedy and was very naive and really just a regular Brooklyn guy. She finds that charming and says as much during the date.

And Joe Balonga WAS great. The DVD commentary has an interesting story about that too. Apparently Bolonga wanted nothing to do with this at first.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] Crystal (534) 5 years ago

Baloney ;) (RIP)