classicalsteve The plot of "Silver Streak" is a very common if not somewhat overused plot device. An average Joe, played by Gene Wilder, gets caught in the middle of criminal activities, in this case murder and a million-dollar art fraud scheme. (Similar fair include "North By Northwest" with Carey Grant and "The Lady Vanishes" starring Margaret Lockwood, both directed by Alfred Hitchcock.) George Caldwell (Wilder) in every sense a meek every-man who writes books on gardening is taking the Silver Streak train to Chicago to see his sister's wedding. He meets Hilly (Jill Clayburgh), a secretary to a brilliant art historian, traveling in an adjacent train compartment and they end up having dinner together. They're spending a lovely evening in her train compartment when George sees a dead body fall outside the window. At first he thinks it's a hallucination and Hilly doesn't believe him. The next day, George glances at the book by the art historian and realizes he's the man who was murdered. From there, nothing goes as planned.Devereau (played with sly subtlety by the incomparable Patrick McGoohan) is engaged in an art heist of epic proportions. He's faked Rembrandts he's sold for millions but his jig has been discovered by the art professor who can prove the artworks are fake with authentic letters by Rembrandt. The art historian was on his way to Chicago for an art conference in which he was going to prove the Rembrandts were fakes, which is why Devereau hatched the elaborate scheme to take him out. Devereau then needs the Rembrandt letters in order to destroy them thus ensuring his art fraud will be successful. (In point of fact, original letters by Rembrandt, especially ones discussing his artworks would be worth millions, nearly as much as any of his paintings.) However, now there's been a witness to the murder, foiling Devereau's plans.After several confrontations with the baddies, George ends up off the train and inadvertently befriends Grover (Richard Pryor). After Grover believes George's story, he's willing to help his white friend re-board the train but it's now being staked out by police and federal agents. Then Grover contrives a way for George to re-board the train without being discovered in one of the greatest comedic scenes ever shot on film. What makes the scene so outrageously funny is it how it taps into the gross stereotypes of race, and yet it works on all levels and is not offensive. Apparently, one aspect of the scene was changed from the original script at the request of Pryor and Wilder, and the result is a perfectly acted and shot comedic scene which is both playful and telling. This alone is well worth the price of admission.Ultimately a fun action-mystery-comedy which takes it's self seriously enough that the viewer runs with it and the comedic moments never seem out of context. Both Wilder and Pryor developed a unique chemistry, and they would work together in several subsequent films. Jill Clayburgh makes a wonderful woman in distress, and McGoohan is perfect as a British godfather type. Some parts are a little bit dated and the final resolution was rather weak. Still, the one scene with Wilder and Pryor is one of the great moments in cinema and makes an interesting yet inoffensive statement about race relations and perception.

hnt_dnl Although they did 4 films together, it is this film SILVER STREAK (1976) that is probably my favorite pairing of the 2 famous comedy icons Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor! Also, it is one of my personal favorite 70s movies. It is their first outing together and it is sublime from start to finish. A perfect mix of action, comedy, drama, mystery, and thriller (and even a touch or romance), it's one of those rare movies where every element works. "Silver Streak" stars the aforementioned Gene Wilder in probably my favorite ever role of his. Wilder plays George Caldwell, a nebbishy magazine writer on a cross-country train trip to Chicago trying to get to his sister's wedding. Once on board, the first night George meets Hilly (played with immense sex appeal and radiance by Jill Clayburgh). The duo hit it off immediately and as they are making love in Hilly's cabin, George thinks he witnesses a man being thrown off the train. Hilly tries to convince that it's only in his mind. The morning after, George sees a book on Rembrandt and on the back of it is the author, Prof. Schreiner, who Hilly is assistant to and who George recognizes as the man he thought he saw being murdered. George investigates and the mystery begins!During his investigation, George meets several memorable characters: a mysterious man named Devereau (played with panache and class by Patrick McGoohan of 'The Prisoner' fame) and his 2 cronies Whiney (played by the great character actor Ray Walston) and Reace (played by the iconic Richard Kiel of Bond movie fame), Rita (played by vet Lucille Benson, reprising her offbeat snake-lady-in-the-middle-of- nowhere role from "Duel"), travelling salesman Bob Sweet (reliably played by vet Ned Beatty), train conductor Ralston (played with comic aplomb by the iconic Scatman Crothers), country Sheriff Chauncey (hilariously played by Clifton James reprising his bumpkin- sheriff role from "Live and Let Die"), and last but not least thief Grover (essayed by the great Richard Pryor in a scene-stealing role). George teams with Grover at about the film's halfway mark to finish solving the mystery and this where the Wilder-Pryor chemistry begins.Much as I enjoy their zanier comedies, I think it's here where Wilder and Pryor's chemistry shines the most. Not too OTT, neither trying to upstage the other, but rather complementing each other's rather opposing comedy styles to create a memorable pairing. Also, Wilder and Clayburgh have great romantic chemistry, with Clayburgh being at her absolute hottest in this film!Of course, this is really Wilder's film all the way as he is the film's protagonist and is in virtually every scene of the film and we are following George's journey. "Silver Streak" is most probably reminiscent of the Hitchcock classic "North by Northwest" (man falsely accused of murder, on the run, train action, mistaken identity, international intrigue), but also there's the reminder of several James Bond films of the 70s (with actors like Kiel and Clifton playing similar roles from those), and of course is kind of a microcosm and preview of the buddy-comedy-action film that would become so prevalent in the 80s. A memorable, fun comedy-mystery from the 70s. Watch it, you won't be disappointed!

Tim Kidner Arthur Hiller's 1976 film is the epitome - and one of the best and at times, the worst - example of what Hollywood came synonymous for in the 1970s.Ending with one of those truly great action set-pieces, when such were actually filmed and not with a computer mouse and starting out with the oh-so-smooth Gene Wilder getting his wicked way with the delectable Jill Clayburgh, an awful lot happens in-between.Taking - and featuring huge chunks of influence from James Bond (inc 'Jaws', the iron-toothed giant), Hitchcock (crime capers on moving trains, espionage, intrigue) and loads of over-the-top big Americanism, this is a rail-road coaster of a ride. You can see bits that have helped influence later films, too and the start of the delicious pairing between Wilder and black comedian Richard Pryor, which spilled out over into the future Stir Crazy and Blazing Saddles.Yes, a lot of it is nonsense - this is essentially Sunday afternoon TV fun, now. There's clever innuendo, dumb stunts, big scenery and baddies. It does pop up on Film 4 and Sky Movies every once in a while, showing that it is still has a place and though obviously looking pretty dated now, you can't go far wrong with this one.

cstotlar-1 Ordinarily I don't care for either Gene Wilder or Richard Pryor but this material is fresh and refreshing. There are references to Hitchcock everywhere - Number 17, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps and North by Northwest to mention only a few. And doing something in the Hitchcock vein with suspense and comedy as partners is a great idea - not remaking a Hitchcock movie which seems to be the fad nowadays.Mancini's score is superb, the best of the best, and the actors are all in top form. Ray Walston has one of the funniest lines I've heard recently. It keeps the audience guessing what's going to come up and surprising them time and time again. Curtis Stotlar