Swithin Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Sad to report that the great Gene Wilder has died, aged 83. http://variety.com/2016/film/news/gene-wilder-dead-dies-willie-wonka-young-frankenstein-1201846745/ 4 Link to post Share on other sites
LornaHansonForbes Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Damn it. Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I'm very sorry to hear this. Gene Wilder achieved a peak in comic brilliance when working with Mel Brooks in The Producers and Young Frankenstein ("That's Fronkensteen"). Every time I'm in Toronto's Union Station I think of him and Richard Pryor when I walk near the washroom (recently torn down) where in 1976 they filmed the scene in Silver Streak in which Wilder was taught how to be "black." When the washroom existed I used to visit it like a pilgrimage to Wilder and Pryor. Up until a few years ago the washroom looked much as it had in the movie. 6 Link to post Share on other sites
speedracer5 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 It says that he passed away from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. That is a horrific disease, so I am glad he is free from its clutches, but still... Not Gene Wilder! He will always be "Dr. Fronkensteen" to me. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
CinemaInternational Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I saw the news a few minutes ago and it crushed me. He was a great comic talent and Willy Wonka was such a big part of my childhood. RIP! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ElCid Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I especially enjoyed Silver Streak (among my top 5) and the Cash Carter TV movies he made. Link to post Share on other sites
EricJ Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Only yesterday I was reading one of those clickbait "Whatever Happened to?" articles that caught up with Wilder-- After getting through both Gilda Radner's bout with cancer and his own, he'd pretty much dropped out after his brief "comeback" (which never got any better than "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"), but said he was happier in retirement: "I still love the Show, I just don't like the Business." And any argument about who was the better Willy Wonka was cemented by Wilder explaining that he only took the '71 role if they let him do that fake-out somersault scene..."Because we would never completely know whether or not to trust him after that." Roald Dahl complained because he'd written Wonka for a manic Spike Milligan (just imagine half of Wonka's Shakespearean quotes in Milligan's "Whatwhatwhatwhatwhat?" voice), but Wilder's calm deadpan was even brilliantly crazier-like-a-fox. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
LawrenceA Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Nooooooooo... Link to post Share on other sites
JamesStewartFan95 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 You will be missed severely Mr. Wilder. You were always there with a witty remark that would make the most saddest of days happy. You were the best possible Willy Wonka and very deservedly earned your reputation as an actor in The Producers, Young Frankenstein, your collaborations with Richard Pryor and Blazing Saddles. Thank you for the memories. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
lydecker Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 What an incredible talent he was. Really sad news to hear that he is gone. Lydecker Link to post Share on other sites
HelenBaby2 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 This makes me very sad. Link to post Share on other sites
Hibi Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 How sad. I wish they'd find a cure for this disease. I did not realize he was that old. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Pedderrs Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 A truly funny man. Link to post Share on other sites
Princess of Tap Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Lerner and Loewe ended their brilliant career with a sweet musical version of the French classic The Little Prince by Saint Exupéry. The Little Prince is a book for everyone, children, adults and beginning French students. The Little Prince becomes friends with a wild fox by taming (apprivoiser) him. It's the sweetest story in the book. Gene Wilder made this story come alive by acting as the tamed wild fox-- I can't think of any other actor who could have pulled that off so convincingly. The Little Prince was a musical and Gene Wilder acted the part, while singing and dancing. Many people remember him as a great comedian, but he was also an all-around old -fashioned type movie star who could do everything. That kind of talent we don't see too much of anymore. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
LornaHansonForbes Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 How sad. I wish they'd find a cure for this disease. I did not realize he was that old. Yeah, at the end of the day, I believe in God....but Alzheimer's SUCKS SO HARD that I have to admit it has made me question the existence of a higher power and a grander scheme from time to time. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Dargo Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Yeah, at the end of the day, I believe in God....but Alzheimer's SUCKS SO HARD that I have to admit it has made me question the existence of a higher power and a grander scheme from time to time. So, when ya wake up in the morning you don't, but later on, and say, oh about 6 or 7 in the evening you do. Is that about it, Lorna? (...sorry, couldn't resist...and R.I.P. Gene...loved your zaniness) Link to post Share on other sites
EricJ Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Lerner and Loewe ended their brilliant career with a sweet musical version of the French classic The Little Prince by Saint Exupéry. The Little Prince is a book for everyone, children, adults and beginning French students. The Little Prince becomes friends with a wild fox by taming (apprivoiser) him. It's the sweetest story in the book. Gene Wilder made this story come alive by acting as the tamed wild fox-- To wit: (If the story itself wasn't so mushy, I'd say it was one of the last good Lerner & Lowe musicals from the 70's post-Oliver decline of big G-rated musicals, but pretty much only for the scene where Richard Kiley as the Aviator brings his full La Mancha on the title tune.) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
LawrenceA Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Another personal favorite of mine was Start the Revolution Without Me: Link to post Share on other sites
speedracer5 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 TCM has already announced a TCM Remembers tribute. It was announced on their Facebook page. Thursday, September 29, 2016 Primetime. All times EST. 8:00pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 9:15pm Young Frankenstein 11:15pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 12:30am Start the Revolution Without Me 2:15am The Frisco Kid 4:30am Bonnie and Clyde 9 Link to post Share on other sites
TopBilled Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 TCM has already announced a TCM Remembers tribute. It was announced on their Facebook page. Thursday, September 29, 2016 Primetime. All times EST. 8:00pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 9:15pm Young Frankenstein 11:15pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 12:30am Start the Revolution Without Me 2:15am The Frisco Kid 4:30am Bonnie and Clyde Thanks for the info. Gene was a guest programmer on June 17, 2014 and this is what TCM aired that evening: GUEST PROGRAMMER GENE WILDER 8:00 p.m. Random Harvest (1942) 10:15 p.m. The Merry Widow (1934) 12:15 a.m. Witness for the Prosecution (1958) 2:30 a.m. Dark Victory (1939) 4:30 a.m. Role Model: Gene Wilder (2008) 3 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesjazzguitar Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 TCM has already announced a TCM Remembers tribute. It was announced on their Facebook page. Thursday, September 29, 2016 Primetime. All times EST. 8:00pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 9:15pm Young Frankenstein 11:15pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 12:30am Start the Revolution Without Me 2:15am The Frisco Kid 4:30am Bonnie and Clyde Wow, I admit I'm surprised given that Wilder wasn't a studio-era movie actor (Ok, B & C is at the tail end) and TCM is often slow to react even for those types. Link to post Share on other sites
speedracer5 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Wow, I admit I'm surprised given that Wilder wasn't a studio-era movie actor (Ok, B & C is at the tail end) and TCM is often slow to react even for those types. I was surprised it was announced so quickly. Looking at the current schedule, it seems that Gene Wilder bumped the "Starring Frankie Avalon" evening. As much as I love teen beach movies, this was probably a good theme to replace. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
LornaHansonForbes Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 So, when ya wake up in the morning you don't, but later on, and say, oh about 6 or 7 in the evening you do. Is that about it, Lorna? (...sorry, couldn't resist...and R.I.P. Gene...loved your zaniness) Hee hee. ( I have certain catch phrases I use, probably too much, and " at the end of the day" is most certainly one of them.) Really though, it should be the other way around. At the start of the day I'm a Deist, but after dealing with people for a few hours I'm a full-fledged atheist with no faith in humanity by noon. (2 pm on a good day.) 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Larynxa Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Terribly sad news indeed. When my brother phoned me with the news, I said, "Now he's reunited with his sweet Gilda." My brother said, "I knew you'd say that." Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner both had the one quality that makes a truly great clown: comic vulnerability, otherwise known as HEART. Even doing the wildest slapstick, they both had a certain sweetness that made you love them. TCM's slapstick programming, this September, will be bittersweet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Hibi Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 TCM has already announced a TCM Remembers tribute. It was announced on their Facebook page. Thursday, September 29, 2016 Primetime. All times EST. 8:00pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 9:15pm Young Frankenstein 11:15pm Role Model: Gene Wilder 12:30am Start the Revolution Without Me 2:15am The Frisco Kid 4:30am Bonnie and Clyde He was in Bonnie and Clyde???? Oh, I think I remember now. He was the kidnapped man? (edited) Link to post Share on other sites
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