MY HIT LIST-GENE WILDER:DIRECTOR
The World's Greatest lover
Gene Wilder best known for his trilogy of collaborations with Mel Brooks; all of which are comedic masterpieces, The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein has a large body of work that is to say the least hit & miss.
His movies with Richard Pryor have some great moments but tend to be self indulgent. The sorely underrated Silver Streak is perhaps the best of these collaborations.
"Sheer Luck!"
He made a name for himself on the big screen with cameos in Bonnie & Clyde and in Everything you always wanted to know about sex* (but were afraid to ask) he was unforgettable as the Doctor in love with a sheep. wilder also bought Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka to vivid life.
I just find Wilder funny; he has that about him. Even in such fare as The Frisco Kid.
For me his most interesting period was as a Director. He made The woman in Red which is an of it's time romantic comedy in the Tootsie mould. Wilder's co star is the great Charles Grodin and it features bizarrely a Stevie Wonder soundtrack. It's also notable for the mahoganyesque performance from Kelly Le Brock. It's redeemed by some genuinely funny moments though. wilder also Directed Haunted Honeymoon in which he starred alongside wife Gilda Radner. This movie is a homage to the haunted house movie and has some good moments.
His most intriguing movies as Director are The World's Greatest Lover and The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother. Both films give the impression that Wilder was given carte blanche and this allows Wilder to reference British humour and pay homage to the silent era.
Sigerson Holmes
Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother has cast of British character actors and one of the funniest movie comediennes ever in Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman adds his idiosyncratic charms to the movie also. It sits nicely alongside Billy Wilder's take on Holmes and the Python's English quirkiness.
Ruddy Valentine
The world Greatest Lover is a fabulous movie and has genuine emotion in it's tale of silent era Hollywood; it would make a good double bill with The Artist.
As I said before, Gene Wilder makes me laugh in most things he has done. For those only familiar with Wilder in his work with Mel Brooks I would point you towards 'Sherlock' & 'Greatest'. You may enjoy what you find
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having said that;