Gene Wilder deserves an honorary Oscar...

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 4:58pm

...for indelible performances in a number of classic films:
Young Frankenstein
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
The Producers (Oscar-nominated)
Blazing Saddles
Bonnie & Clyde

He's also an Oscar-nominated screenwriter (Young Frankenstein). Certainly sounds worthy to me!

[Fantod]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 5:01pm

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is one of the worst adaptations of book to film ever made.

Updated On: 11/5/15 at 05:01 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 5:01pm

I would like to see him get it while he is alive and not posthumously. He is deserving.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 5:54pm

I can't agree strongly enough.

 

His performances in YF and Willy Wonka  are iconic and inimitable (sorry Johnny Depp).

 

And don't forget Stir Crazy and Silver Streak, 2 more classics.

 

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 6:13pm

Yes to Silver Streak and Stir Crazy! He and Richard Pryor made a great comic duo. Gene's now 83, so yes, the Academy should act soon.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/5/15 at 7:12pm

We bad   We bad

[Kad]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 12:52pm

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is one of the worst adaptations of book to film ever made."

Wilder's performance is still pretty fantastic.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:58pm

Not to mention that as an adaptation it's miles better than the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton disaster from a few years back. 

I would totally support Wilder getting an honorary Oscar. He's given some of the funniest film performances I've ever seen, and has a unique gift of overplaying everything without simply mugging or becoming grating.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 4:08pm

Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.

 

[hork]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 5:08pm

"I'm wet! I'm hysterical and I'm wet!"

 

Gene Wilder is the best. I've been a fan since I was a kid and first saw Willy Wonka. Then my mom introduced me to Silver Streak, which is kind of a silly movie but I really enjoyed it even at a young age and watched it multiple times (and to this day, train travel is inextricably linked to that movie in my mind).

 

But as much as I love Willy Wonka, I love the Tim Burton version even more. It's funnier, darker, and more faithful to the source.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 6:34pm

Forgot all about The Producers

 

His reaction to Ulla coming into Max's office with the cigar hanging out of his mouth was priceless.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/7/15 at 10:46am

I disagree with the idea that "being true to the original" makes something inherently better, especially in reference to Tim Burton's utterly misguided and joyless adaptation featuring one of the most unnecessarily studied performances I've seen. Wilder was perfect, and quite dark in a much more interesting and subtler way than Depp, in the original film.

His performance in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is one of the greats.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/7/15 at 10:56am

@1:45 today on TCM Channel 82 Time Warner

 

The Producers

Updated On: 11/7/15 at 10:56 AM

[hork]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 2:41am

ray-andallthatjazz86 said: "I disagree with the idea that "being true to the original" makes something inherently better,

 

It doesn't. Actually, its faithfulness to the novel has nothing to do with my love for the film, so I'm not sure why I said that. I just think it's hilarious and wonderful, but I understand I'm very much in the minority on this one.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:18am

Watched See No Evil, Hear No Evil last night. Kevin Spacey the baddy

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 9:56am

wonderfulwizard11 said: "I would totally support Wilder getting an honorary Oscar. He's given some of the funniest film performances I've ever seen, and has a unique gift of overplaying everything without simply mugging or becoming grating.

What's so amazing is how he can play broadly and subtly at the same time, to hilarious, often subversive effect. Check out the Willy Wonka scene where he is stroking Mike Teevee's hair so tenderly but with such intensity that it's lascivious, giving his whole performance and the entire movie a wicked subtext. Brilliant!

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 12:12pm

I'm a big fan of his performance in Quackser Fortune Has  A Cousin in the Bronx. Margot Kidder was his co-star. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 12:12pm

Whoops! Duplicate post!

Technology...you gotta love it!

Updated On: 11/9/15 at 12:12 PM

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 11:36am

Rolling Stone readers have picked two Gene Wilder films among its 5 funniest movies of all time. "Young Frankenstein" at #5 and "Blazing Saddles" at #1.

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/readers-poll-the-25-funniest-movies-of-all-time-20140521/aa-blazing-saddles-748-8#
 

Love them both, but I'd actually flip the ranking, putting "Young Frankenstein" at the top.

[Tag]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 7:33pm

On a sidenote, anyone see the Wonka children reunion on the Today show?

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 8/31/16 at 7:16pm

<Bump>

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/31/16 at 7:53pm

He was underestimated for his great comic timing. He has made some of the funniest films in film history.His role in Silver Streak was a classic

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/31/16 at 11:49pm

Fantod said: "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is one of the worst adaptations of book to film ever made.

 

"

Sorry to be adding commentary so late. While I agree it's not a great adaption from the book I don't see how that has any connection to gene's performance. We are talking about his performance not the movie. I think his performance of willy wonka is spot on and noteworthy.

Its truly saddening such a great actors, comedian and singer left the world without any notable awards. Though I guess his character didn't call for that. 

 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 4:11am

But he was clearly adored and in his latter interviews it seems he was aware of that, at least.

I hope he could feel the love- he deserved to.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 4:11am

But he was clearly adored and in his latter interviews it seems he was aware of that, at least.

I hope he could feel the love- he deserved to.