Jed Mills

Opportunity Knocks -- One average suburban couple. One career criminal. What happens when opportunity knocks?

In 1954, the era of live TV, a hapless production assistant is given the task of keeping his alcoholic film idol out of trouble longenough to appear on the King Kaiser Hour.

In 1954, the era of live TV, a hapless production assistant is given the task of keeping his alcoholic film idol out of trouble longenough to appear on the King Kaiser Hour.

It's 1954 - the era of live television. A hapless production assistant is given the formidable assignment to keep his movie star idol, the alcoholic womanizing Alan Swann, out of trouble long enough so Swann can appear on the popular network show, "King Kaiser's Comedy Hour." Oscar-winner Peter O'Toole ("Lawrence of Arabia," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "The Stuntman") received his seventh Oscar-nomination for his hilarious portrayal of the Errol Flynn-like Swann. Mark Linn-Baker (TV's "Perfect Strangers") plays the production assistant while Joseph Bologna ("Citizen Cohn," "The Woman in Red") gives an outstanding performance as the Syd Caesar-like King Kaiser. With Jessica Harper ("Pennies from Heaven") and Laine Kazan ("Beaches"). Directed by Richard Benjamin ("Mrs. Winterbourne," "Racing with the Moon").

Benjy is the junior writer on a top rated variety/comedy show in 1954. When the headliner, wants to throw Alan Swann, the guest, off the show, Benjy makes a pitch to save his childhood hero, and is made Swann's babysitter.

As a nationally televised New Year's Eve celebration rocks toward countdown mania, host Diane Sullivan (Roz Kelly) gets an ominous on-air call from a sadistic killer promising murder at the stroke of midnight -- one kill for each time zone -- with Sullivan last. True to his word, he strikes. And as victims face a brutal death, authorizes scramble to find a madman who may be closer to Sullivan than anyone knows.

Peter O'Toole gives a knock-out performance as Alan Swann, a booze-loving former matinee idol who is forced into making a live appearance on a variety show to appease the IRS. Mark Linn-Baker plays the fledgling writer for the show who must keep Swann on the sober and narrow.