With the deepest, deepest respect:
Silver Streak is still one of my all-time favorite movies. I loved Murder on the Orient Express, but Silver Streak was even better.
There was something about Gene that made you love him no matter what he was doing.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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my name is Frahnkenshteen!
Loved Silver Streak, too, but my favorites are Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles was just the perfect foil for Wilder, and Marty Feldman was amazing in Young Frankenstein. And Mel Brooks tied it all together.
Gene Wilder always came across as a likable, sweet, and funny man, and I’m sorry to know that Alzheimer’s was a culprit in his demise in his later years. I will always remember the very best about him.
Gene Wilder was a great actor in funny movies. He was particularly funny because he was a schlub, a lovable loser type. You don’t see too many of those now, and I particularly exclude Adam Sandler, who is a schlub-a-dub bozo. We also don’t have many people now who can play a part straight without mugging. Sometimes Wilder did that – a great gift.
I agree with you. I loved Silver Streak. I love mysteries and there are very few really good mysteries being made. It was one of the best and Wilder’s performance was brilliant.
Blazing Saddles and Willy Wonka were my favorite.
RIP Gene!
Gene Wilder singing Pure Imagination in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is maybe my favorite silver screen vocal performances.
Loved Silver Streak, too.
Also, if you haven’t seen the remake of Murder on the Orient Express with David Suchet as Poirot, VERY worth the watch. I know that the other one had the all-star cast, but actually I don’t think anybody really out does David Suchet who you’ll also want to see in the last DVD of Playing Shakespeare, when he goes head to head against Patrick Stewart doing Shylock’s last speech, and, in my opinion, wins hands down.