Passed away today at age 83. He will always be mine and many others Willy Wonka. Starred in several Mel Brooks classic(some days Young Frankenstein is the funniest film ever) Appeared with Richard Pryor in the classic Stir Crazy. And of course he will finally be reunited with his beloved Gilda Radner. On a related note, Bleep off 2016
Silver Streak is the one movie I would keep if I could only have one. So much talent, so many laughs Thank you Gene
Something about this news makes me very, very sad. He's one of my favorites. 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,' 'Silver Streak,' 'Blazing Saddles' 'Young Frankenstein' are highlights. Nothing beats the Gene Wilder wind up and freak out ending in a screaming fit. Always a treat. Take it easy killer. Stay loose.
One of my favorite Gene Wilder scenes of all time. From 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' This is not an easy scene to play, and Wilder performs it beautifully.
I think my favorite Wilder scene is the (slow reaction... wait for it... wait for it...) "Now I'm HURT! And WET! And HYSTERICAL!" bit from the Producers. And great find on the Tootsie Roll ad. Watching it brought back a "Ohhhhhhh, yeaaahhhhhhhh..." like it was a commercial I saw a few times but not a zillion times like the "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop" from the same era, and was stored somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain. That deep place of memory that only now you can connect with more recent information (like who Gene Wilder is).
I recommend Wilder's autobiography 'Kiss Me Like a Stranger' which provides some real insight into their relationship. Not as fabulous as you might imagine.
We were traveling to visit our *off the grid* son on Monday. Hopefully tonight we will have the chance to pop Silver Streak into the VCR and drink a toast to one of our favorite Stars. Or maybe tomorrow we will do a marathon; Silver Streak (my favorite) and Young Frankenstein (the DH's favorite).
My husband and I saw it in the theater *all those years ago* and I was on the floor screaming with laughter. The next night we rounded up all our friends and said, "You have to see Silver Streak!!" and saw it again. I have seen some other movies more than once on the big screen; but never two nights in a row. Made me cry Now for a laugh You ever buzz sheep!
