Posted on 08/30/2016 3:33:43 AM PDT by Bikkuri
US actor Gene Wilder, remembered by many for his lead role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died at the age of 83, his family has confirmed.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Willy Wonka? Fluff compared to Young Frankenstein or Blazing Saddles. He did a lot of the writing collaboration with Mel Brooks for those. Or who could forget Leo Bloom in The Producers. Brilliant. And a small film few have seen. Quakster Fortune Has A Cousin In the Bronx. Great film.
I saw an interview from 6-7 years ago that should have been canned. He was well into altzheimers.
I’m glad he lived to a decent age (though mom is 83 and still drives 3 hours to visit cousins. Good Italian genes).
I’m sad that he was one of the few hollywood folk that seemed to understand love and marriage and suffered terribly when he died.
Charle Bronson too.
I would like to think they were two good men who are in better places now.
I didn’t know about the alzheimers until I read about it in this article..
May he rest in peace.
I remember watching the 1967 movie “Bonnie and Clyde” and was kind of surprised to see him in it, along with Beatty, Dunaway, and Hackman (I guess an early role for him).
Oddly enough, Arthur Hiller passed away not long ago and he of course directed “Silver Streak”, one of my favourite Wilder films. I like how that one has Canada written all over it with scene shots of the Canadian Rockies and Toronto’s Union Station standing in for Chicago.
Both brilliant films. RIP!
Gene Wilder will always be "Froderick" and Marty Feldman will always be Eye-gore (and one of The Four Yorkshiremen...classic skit from the early 60's).
You've missed out, truly.
Although the book's author Roald Dahl was outraged by the many changes the screenwriter made both the book and the film retain their sense of whimsy and wonder. But both are morality tales about honesty and the seven deadly sins exhibited by spoiled children and their craven parents even as they are given the gift of a lifetime.
In short, it is an excellent demonstration of what NOT to do and it's hard to meet anyone in several generations who didn't learn many lessons while still loving the film for its sense of fun and absurdity.
Dahl's work in general is of this moralistic bent but like Twain and others he delivered it in a fascinating, humorous, often ironic way so that it never felt like a lecture.
Awesome films. But my favorite Gene Wilder movie - one of my all time favorites - is a little known movie called “The Frisco Kid” which costarred Harrison Ford. A sweet funny movie, Wilder plays a young Polish Rabbi, kind of a misfit in Poland, who is sent to San Fransisco to become their Rabbi. He ends up traveling across the country with an “outlaw” (Harrison Ford).
My family has been quoting this movie for years!
Bart: A man drink like that and don’t eat, he is going to die.
Jim:When?
lol!!!
He had a very small role in Bonnie and Clyde but it’s one of my favorite scenes. His comedic timing was genius.
Loved him in Stir Crazy with Pryor.
Blucher!.....
R.I.P., Mr. Wilder....
Gene Wilder was not the first choice to play the Waco Kid in “Blazing Saddles.” Originally, character actor Gig Young was supposed to play the part. Unfortunately, Young had a serious drinking problem which was affecting him on the set, so he was fired from the film and Wilder was brought in at the last minute as his replacement.
RIP Gene. Young Frankenstein is the funniest move that I have ever watched.
Don't sell that cow!
The Frisco Kid.
Fish-out-of-water perfection!
Unfortunately, Young had a serious drinking problem which was affecting him on the set,
gig ‘em, Gig...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.