10 Greatest Films of Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder was born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1933. He passed away on 29 August, 2016 at the age of 83. He was drawn towards acting after seeing his older sister act. At thirteen he began acting lessons. He studied Communication and Theatre Arts at the University of Iowa. After college he studied at the Old Vic in Bristol, England, and then at the Hebert Berghof Studio in New York. His acting studios were interrupted when he was drafted into the army in 1956. In the army he became a medic.
After his stint in the army, he was accepted into The Actors Studio. His first film role was a small part in Bonnie and Clyde. Soon after, he worked with Mel Brooks for the first time, in The Producers. He later wrote Young Frankenstein for Mel Brooks to direct. Gene Wilder found his perfect pairings with Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor.
Gene Wilder was an all around talent. In addition to acting, he wrote nine films and directed five. He was nominated for two Oscars: one for supporting actor for The Producers and one for writing Young Frankenstein.
He was a talent that will be missed — a serious actor and a comic genius. Just last week I was listening to a Leonard Maltin podcast with Mel Brooks, in which both extolled Wilder’s brilliance. As you get near the bottom of this list, you’ll find three of the funniest movies ever made.
10. The Woman in Red (1984) — Wilder wrote and directed this comedy that co-starred Kelly LeBrock, Charles Grodin, and Gilda Radner. The unexpected nature of this post means that I haven’t rewatched this film since I was a teenager. I don’t know how much of my memory of liking the film is really about being a teenager drooling over Kelly LeBrock.
“Take a look at those legs. Say she is kind of cute though. Ok knock it off! I learned my lesson and I will never do it again.” — Teddy Pierce
9. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) — Woody Allen’s sketch comedy probably best remembered for the scene of Woody and others dressed as sperm. Wilder plays a psychiatrist who falls in love with a sheep.
“This is Mrs. Bencours, one of my patients. She thinks she’s a sheep.” — Dr. Ross
8. Start the Revolution Without Me (1970) — Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland play two sets of twins, set up for mistaken identity hijinks during the French Revolution. The film didn’t do too well on initial release, but has become a cult favorite since then.
“Look, look, I wouldn’t leave you here, you’re my friend. But take you with me; I don’t even know who you are.” — Claude
7. Stir Crazy (1980) — Wilder and Richard Pryor team up again after their big success with Silver Streak. This one isn’t as good. It was apparently a tough film to make due to Pryor’s drug problems. Pryor and Wilder had to swap their intensity levels and it doesn’t quite work. It’s still a funny film. Sidney Poitier was the director. Pryor and Wilder would do a total of four films together.
“Well, I should have told you in your office! My mother was a veterinarian! I can’t have anything to do with the exploatation of animals, she’d turn over in her grave!” — Skip Donohue
6. The Frisco Kid (1979) — A bank robber and a rabbi walk into a bar. No, really. This is a great buddy picture and a rare opportunity for Harrison Ford to play comedy. Wilder is great in this film. There is a scene near the end in which he is experiencing doubt and Wilder just exudes honesty in that scene. I teared up a bit watching it.
“Don’t say that! You are a rabbi. I’m a bank robber. I’m a card player and a whoremonger. That’s what I am. You are a rabbi. You can fall in the mud, you can slip on your ass, you can travel in the wrong direction. But even on your ass, even in the mud, even if you go in the wrong direction for a little while, you’re still a rabbi! That’s what you are!” — Tommy
5. Silver Streak (1976) — Comedy. Action film. Heist. Romance. Who knows how to describe this film. Wilder plays an everyman that falls in love with a woman (Jill Clayburgh) on a train and gets sucked into an adventure. Pryor plays a thief that Wilder meets while trying to get back on the train.
“Did you know… that the Brainard Tunnel is the highest point on this line? Did you know that when we reach it, I intend to be higher?” — George
4. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) — Roald Dahl’s children’s book comes to life so much better in this film than in the recent Johnny Depp remake. Wilder is perfect as the untrustworthy chocolatier.
“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” — Willy Wonka
3. The Producers (1967) — Mel Brooks’ brilliant movie about a producer and accountant so determined to produce a flop that they produce a show called “Springtime for Hitler” with dancing gestapo. It is over the top hilariousness. Wilder got an Oscar nomination.
“I’m in pain and I’m wet and I’m still hysterical!” — Leo Bloom
2. Young Frankenstein (1974) — Wilder and Brooks put together a wonderful satire of the horror films of the 1930s. Wilder is great as Dr. Frankenstein and Peter Boyle and Marty Feldman fill roles they were born to fill. Add in Gene Hackman as a blind monk and this is a film that should be in everyone’s library.
“No. No. Be of good cheer. If science teaches us anything, it teaches us to accept our failures, as well as our successes, with quiet dignity and grace.” — Dr. Frankenstein
1. Blazing Saddles (1974) — Any top ten comedy films of all time list would have to include either Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and/or The Producers. I saw this movie as a kid and its outrageousness, subversiveness, and glee at being offensive enthralled me.
“Oh no, don’t do that, don’t do that. If you shoot him, you’ll just make him mad.” — Jim
What would make your list?
Edit 4 Sep. 2016 — I put this list together quickly to get it out before the end of the day on which Gene Wilder’s death was announced. That means I could only list films I’d seen. I hadn’t yet seen The Frisco Kid. I watched it this morning and had to rework the list to include it.
