Silver Streak (1976)

Just what I expected

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Fitfully funny film, too checkered by raw violence to establish a humorous mood or a successful spoof. The first part is the best, resembling a Hitchcock picaresque where an ordinary guy gets in over-his-head and has to prove himself capable. The early rail scenes with a perfectly cast Beatty are a hoot. He's every bulging inch the carousing salesman, while his attempt to pick up sweetie Clayburgh is another hoot. Wilder too manages well, though no Cary Grant in the romantic department. Highlight too is the giant Richard Kiel's sudden appearance in the cramped passageway. His metallic mouth still has me under the covers. And catch grandma's cross-country flying service. From the looks of her spiffy bi-plane she could go one-on-one with the fabled Red Baron.But once the violent clash part takes over, the humor dilutes, and that's despite hip comedian Pryor's late addition. Then too, the extended shootout between cops and robbers is about as convincing as one of those old cowboy matinees where a thousand rounds maybe hits a couple targets. And for a movie that treats violence seriously, that's a drawback. Except for this sequence, special effects are gripping, especially the culminating train crash that's nothing less than spectacular. All in all, it looks like the runtime was padded with repetitive antics to get a feature length production. Nevertheless, with a tighter screenplay and a softening of the violence, the basic idea could be memorable. As things stand, however, the results are mainly for fans of Wilder and Pryor.

(Flash Review)This goofy movie was the first of 4 where Wilder and Pryor team up for comedic jollies. This has an old school James Bond type of story to it. While getting lovey-dovey with a woman he put the moves on in the bar car of the train, an unsuspecting fellow played by Wilder, gets caught up in what he thinks has been a murder on the train. To his surprise, the woman ends up being partially involved with the murder. Wanting to keep her safe, he begins to investigate what funny business is going on. After many unusual scenarios, Pryor enters the picture as a captured burglar. They team up to uncover the truth. Very funny stuff incorporated into a pretty good story which feels very 70's. Amazingly, Pryor doesn't use any profanity. And Jaws from James Bond makes an imposing appearance. A must see for Wilder & Pryor fans.

On a long-distance train trip, a man (Gene Wilder) finds romance but also finds himself in danger of being killed, or at least pushed off the train.As a comedy, the film is pretty mild. There are humorous situations, but never any moment where you might actually laugh. And as a mystery thriller, it works pretty well but never fully takes off. Neither of these are bad things, it just leaves us with a film that is more driven by our characters than anything else.Interestingly, it is described as a Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor film. Yes, Wilder is in every scene. But Pryor does not even show up until the second half. He is great, and they work well together, but it is hard to see this as a true comedy pairing when half of the duo is not in half of the movie.

As Mr. Wilder passer away last week, i looked over My Collection of Gene Wilder movies and in particularly those with Richard Pryor. This movie also marked Richard Kiel - here with gold teeth and 2 years before "The Spy who loved me" - as a terrifying villain. The movie is also a road movie seeing a Lot of the US country side. It bare resemblance with Trains, planes and Automobiles. There are many unforgettable classic scenes which in Teasers and trailers was used heavy. One scene deals with the accuse that White people ain't got rhythm. Gene are made Black with Black polish. Then he must learn how to walk like a Black Brother giving into the music. Patrick Mcgoohan plays hard boiled villain with No sympathy other than for money. His Løw dry voice is very convincing. The disaster in the end cannot be experienced on TV even we have 70 inch. In the movie Theater you get the impression the train comes though the wall. In My humble view the movie is on the top 100 of any List having seen 4-5000 movies over 45 years.