I watched The Producers just 2 or 3 days ago & was in fits as ever.
With Young Frankenstein & Blazing Saddles, he was was central to 3 of the funniest films ever. Very hard to pin down just what he had, a kind of impish quality I suppose, but utterly unique.
What did Gene Wilder have? God, that’s so hard to pin down. In most of his films he seemed to be intended as the straight man, but he genuinely wasn’t that. More often than not he seemed to just quietly take over. He was a comedy star who was meant to be the straight man, but who was just too damn quietly anarchic for that to entirely work. But he was never “showy” either. Basically he wasn’t Russell Brand in Get Him To The Greek. He never turned a supporting role into a lead role, but at the same time, you never forgot him. Frequently he was the best thing onscreen.
However, he WAS Willie Wonka. Sorry Johnny Depp, but he was. He had genuine threat and malevolence in that role, as well as mischief. It was just so perfectly cast in that…
His two best modes were firstly, the man about to lose his shit in spectacular fashion, and secondly, the quasi-Machiavellian mischief-maker. My least favourite of his roles were those that leaned too heavily on number one (‘The Producers’ — waaay too shouty, same with ‘Stir Crazy’), while his best were the ones where he managed to combine the two: ‘Sherlock Holmes’s Smarter Brother’, ‘Young Frankenstein’, ‘Blazing Saddles’, Willy Wonka…
That aside, I think it follows a broad trend of deaths receiving far more attention than they once did, or at least far more more than they once of done when people were relatively old.
He was (surprisingly) 83. It’s sad for his family and friends, but hardly shocking. News outlets making it the main headline seem to be unaware that it happens to all of us.
News outlets don’t do much actual news anymore. Not since the beginning of the ’90s. That’s when TV news started expanding everywhere and the newspapers switched their focus to “Celebrities”. Now the internet has caused the news channels to follow suit and mainstream TV creates it’s own celebrities for the news media, print and screen, to report on.
I didn’t realise Gene Wilder was that age. Somehow one doesn’t always notice that others are getting older the same as you are.
On reflection, it doesn’t seem so out of place as the lead news item when the same news bulletin had a prominent report on Rihanna receiving a Lifetime Achievement’ award at the VMA bash. Rihanna, lest we forget, is 28.
Junglejim says
I watched The Producers just 2 or 3 days ago & was in fits as ever.
With Young Frankenstein & Blazing Saddles, he was was central to 3 of the funniest films ever. Very hard to pin down just what he had, a kind of impish quality I suppose, but utterly unique.
Mike_H says
A very funny guy.
Eloise MacGuffin says
What Jim said. Three of the best comedy films ever. I adored Gene Wilder. I’m going to bed now, wake me up when it’s 2017.
ganglesprocket says
What did Gene Wilder have? God, that’s so hard to pin down. In most of his films he seemed to be intended as the straight man, but he genuinely wasn’t that. More often than not he seemed to just quietly take over. He was a comedy star who was meant to be the straight man, but who was just too damn quietly anarchic for that to entirely work. But he was never “showy” either. Basically he wasn’t Russell Brand in Get Him To The Greek. He never turned a supporting role into a lead role, but at the same time, you never forgot him. Frequently he was the best thing onscreen.
However, he WAS Willie Wonka. Sorry Johnny Depp, but he was. He had genuine threat and malevolence in that role, as well as mischief. It was just so perfectly cast in that…
Leicester Bangs says
His two best modes were firstly, the man about to lose his shit in spectacular fashion, and secondly, the quasi-Machiavellian mischief-maker. My least favourite of his roles were those that leaned too heavily on number one (‘The Producers’ — waaay too shouty, same with ‘Stir Crazy’), while his best were the ones where he managed to combine the two: ‘Sherlock Holmes’s Smarter Brother’, ‘Young Frankenstein’, ‘Blazing Saddles’, Willy Wonka…
Beezer says
SEDAGIVE?!
Put… the candle… back.
Rigid Digit says
Stir Crazy was, and still is, a brilliant film.
Silver Streak was good too, as was See No Evil Hear No Evil.
Not a bad trilogy there
Lando Cakes says
Ach.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Loved Gene, loved almost all of the films (although some stinkers in there) but is his death however sad really the lead item on UK news programmes??
ernietothecentreoftheearth says
It is still August.
That aside, I think it follows a broad trend of deaths receiving far more attention than they once did, or at least far more more than they once of done when people were relatively old.
dai says
He was (surprisingly) 83. It’s sad for his family and friends, but hardly shocking. News outlets making it the main headline seem to be unaware that it happens to all of us.
Mike_H says
News outlets don’t do much actual news anymore. Not since the beginning of the ’90s. That’s when TV news started expanding everywhere and the newspapers switched their focus to “Celebrities”. Now the internet has caused the news channels to follow suit and mainstream TV creates it’s own celebrities for the news media, print and screen, to report on.
I didn’t realise Gene Wilder was that age. Somehow one doesn’t always notice that others are getting older the same as you are.
Black Type says
On reflection, it doesn’t seem so out of place as the lead news item when the same news bulletin had a prominent report on Rihanna receiving a Lifetime Achievement’ award at the VMA bash. Rihanna, lest we forget, is 28.
Hannah says
Obviously Gene Wilder was totally wonderful, however I’m picking up on the “Please 2016, can you just stop now?” sentiment.
A work acquaintance died the other weekend. She was 19. Went to a music festival with her friends, didn’t come back. Hideous. 2016 can bugger off.
Leicester Bangs says
That’s terrible news, Hannah. May I ask, what was the cause of death?
Hannah says
From what I understand, a combination of Class A drugs, alcohol and dehydration. She was found dead in her tent in the morning.
Leicester Bangs says
How awful. I was fearing you might say something like that. I’ve got young ones, so all this to dread in the (rapidly approaching) future.
ganglesprocket says
Bloody hell. That’s just appalling. I am so sorry Hannah.
Kid Dynamite says
Oh that’s awful. Sympathies
rotherhithe hack says
Agree that the trio he made with Mel Brooks are to be treasured – and I hope that he got to keep the enormous schvanstuka.
bricameron says
Just happened upon Young Frankestein on TV. Loving every minute of it all over again.