Silver Streak
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.04 You Save: $5.94 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.62 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Silver Streak
Movie Review: Who Shot Rembrandt?
Summary: 5 Stars
Good buddy movies are a thing of the past. They still crank them out nowadays, but now it feels less like a creative team up, and more like a marketing ploy to see who they can pair up and hope fireworks and hilarity ensues. They don't work. One of the best comedy pair-ups of the last 30 years or so is, no doubt, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. They hit comedy/buddy paydirt with this film and "Stir Crazy", but they tarnished their reputation when doing the terrible "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" in 1987, and the even worse, "Another You" in 1990. This is their best team up, and they haven't shined like this since then. What is most surprising when I first watched this film, is that Pryor doesn't even show up until halfway through the movie. I almost forgot he was in it. Gene Wilder playes a tired, average joe book publisher named George Caldwell. A publisher of instruction books who is looking for a relaxing train ride from Los Angeles to Chicago. So you know that's not what he gets. He immediatley befriends salesman Bob Sweet(the wonderful Ned Beatty), and the lovely Hillie(Jill Clayburgh). Before you know it, good 'ol George is wrapped up in mystery when he claims to of seen Hillie's boss murdered and thrown from the train. What ensues is a fun and entertaining comedy/drama/mystery, with George trying to figure out what he saw and who these people are that are soon after him. Pryor plays Grover, a criminal that George meets up with when George takes a police car with Grover in the back. It's a funny and most welcome introduction to the character. Together, George and Grover try to stop the train and clear George's name. Directed by Arthur Hiller, the movie is nicely paced and put together. It moves right along and is always entertaining. I don't know much about Arthur Hiller and his career, so I won't really say anything about why Amazon called him a hack, when this movies is nicely done and shot.It's A hybrid of comedy/drama/mystery, the film pretty much succeeds on most fronts, but the mystery is hardly deep or complex, and isn't too hard to get around. It is obvious that the script is playing with, and a homage to, the Alfred Hitchcock formula. The comedy is nicely done and proper for such a film. The first half without Pryor was a nice set-up, and was working well on it's own, but it just gets better when Pryor and Wilder finally team up. Wilder is a comedy god. There is no doubt about it. His sly, deadpan way with a word or a physical scene, are always incredible. And even when he's more subtle, as he is here most of the time, he is still funny. His regular, suburban joe of a character works for the movie and the plot, making him a total fish out of water when it comes to being the hero and getting involved with guns and murder. It is a way that makes the character more human, and more relatable. Pryor is Pryor. There is no denying the man. He certainly brings the film up to another level. And, of course, Wilder parading as a black man is a comedy classic. Reason enough to view the movie!. Patrick McGooham also stars as Roger Devereuax, a man who may or may not be in on the mystery. As usual, McGoohan brings his usually classy and slick persona to the character of Devereaux, and is always a pleasure to watch. Veteran actor Ray Walston also appears, as does Richard Kiel, who people will probably best remember as Jaws from 2 James Bond movies. Why Wilder and Pryor?. Why do they work?. They are so different from each other, that they compliment each other. Does that make sense?. Wilder, with his normal, sly, sometimes manic humor, and Pryor with his, well, just Pryor being Pryor. It's such an interesting combination that it is destined to work. And work it does. "Silver Streak" is a witty little film that I can say has earned the good word it has usually gotten these last 29 years. It's a nice movie that nicely pairs two comedic geniuses in a solid and worthy endeavor. Ride these rails!.Movie Review: R.I.P. Richard Pryor: One of his best
Summary: 5 Stars
Richard Pryor, along with George Carlin, undeniably one of the greatest standup comedians of all time, had a much more spotty film career. Pryor was wasted in garbage like The Toy, Brewster's Millions and Superman III -- films that wasted his complex personality. In his best work, Pryor could somehow be edgy, profane, angry, sympathetic and sweet at the same time. Eddie Murphy crafted a much more successful film career overall, but he has never been able to project the combination of attitude and vulnerability Pryor was able to embody.
Silver Steak definitely is one of his best films -- his first and most successful pairing with Gene Wilder. Wilder plays a book editor who is falsely accused of murder onboard the Silver Streak, a luxury train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago. The first half of the film is a Hitchcockian mystery with Wilder romancing Jill Clayburgh, tangling with villainous art dealer Patrick McGoohan and being chased by the law.
Suddenly, Pryor enters the film as a fugitive thief and the film immediately becomes a great buddy movie. Instead of the nebbish whimp Pryor was forced to play in too many of his films, Director Arthur Hiller trusts Pryor enough to let him project his own personality -- smart, sharp, funny, clever and, best of all, nobody's fool. But unlike Eddie Murphy, who always has to have the screen to himself, Pryor works with Wilder instead of trying to shove him into the background. The movie immediately becomes ten times as funny as the two interact as well as some of the great comedy teams of the past. In one hilarious scence, Pryor must try to teach Wilder to "be black" in order to slip past a police checkpoint. It's no wonder the duo were paired three more times after this.
However, my favorite moment in the film comes at a more quiet moment. After jumping from the Silver Streak, Wilder and Pryor manage to convince the law that Wilder is innocent of murder. Pryor stays behind while the FBI and Wilder go after McGoohan and his henchman on the Silver Streak. As Wilder leaves, Pryor, displaying obvious affection and friendship for Wilder, very softly tells him to take care of himself and "stay loose." There is a gentleness to Pryor's delivery of these lines that gives added depth to his character. Instead of a one-dimensional, fast-talking crook, Pryor has created a flesh and blood character with whom the audience identifies and sympathizes with. It's too bad more writers and directors didn't let Pryor be himself.
Richard Pryor was a groundbreaking, revolutionary comedian whose potential on screen was never fully realized. Silver Streak is one of a handful of films that show the depth of acting talent Pryor possessed. It encapsulates all that was best about Richard Pryor and all that we'll miss now that he is gone.
Movie Review: Adventure on a Train
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is one I can watch over and over again. While Gene Wilder's cluelessness may seem to wear a little thin in places, the chemistry between the characters works. Admittedly when Richard Pryor appears the movie goes from humorous to hilarious, but in the meantime the Hitchcockian flavor will keep most viewers entertained.
Gene Wilder is a book editor travelling by train from Los Angeles to Chicago. Jill Clayburgh is a professor's assistant. During a romantic interval in Jill's compartment Gene see's a man killed. Of course the man is the professor. Let the fun begin.
Gene Wilder is a perfect straight man for this movie. He is clearly intelligent, but unused to crime and guns. His bravado is likely that of a typical suburbanite, and while we laugh at his actions, we also identify with his character.
Other stars make this movie an absolute joy to watch over and over. Richard Kiel of James Bond "Jaws" fame makes another silent appearance. Ray Walston is a sleazy hood. Clifton James, another James Bond movie character, also makes an appearance about the same time as Richard Pryor. Ned Beatty plays a government agent and Scatman Crothers plays a conductor. An all-star cast of characters actors in somewhat stereotypical roles, but they are so instantly recognizable that their appearance is enjoyable.
The train is a center piece of the movie, and the most important action scenes take place on or around the train. Train buffs who also enjoy comedies will find this movie to be fascinating. The end of the movie is particularly spectacular and intense as we wonder whether Jill, Richard, Gene and Scatman are going to survive to the end.
This movie was nearly an instant classic when it was released. Light comedy and very good entertainment, this movie is worth having on DVD.
Movie Review: THE BEST AT THEIR BEST
Summary: 5 Stars
This film features a very nice cast and an even nicer screenplay creating interest on many levels. Firstly, the comedy of Wilder and Pryor infuse the suspense filled plot to provide a rich diversity of interest in this film. Secondly, the film may prove to be bigger than the stars themselves, as an epic of rail travel mystery. Add to this the romantic underscore, and you have a very unique and entertaining movie. Jill Clayborn provides a nice supporting role as well as Ned Beatty.
The music score is entrancing and provides a complement to the surprising cinematography of beautiful backdrops of views from the rails. The plot takes more twists and turns than the rails themselves, leaving the viewer lost in the whole experience. I'll watch this over and over, if for any reason than that of the adventure of the rail travel itself.
This movie is part love story, police story, murder mystery, and slapstick comedy. It is somewhat timeless, and has far outlasted (unfortunately) it's featured cast. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor never quite were able to capture the chemistry they enjoyed here. This is truly captivating film that makes you want to watch it over and over again, because you just miss being on the Silver Streak. Pick up a copy and enjoy, it will turn the everyday person into a rail fan, but most importantly, a movie fan.
Movie Review: Humourous, romantic streak across the States
Summary: 5 Stars
Talk about a winning combination of humour & romance spiced up with a pinch of violence and derring-do. Gene Wilder gets lucky ridin' the Silver Streak train (with the rather charming Jill Clayburgh [what happened to her?? woulda liked to see her in some other films... ]). Enter Richard Pryor, stage [back seat]. Wilder as 'Mr Normal' and Pryor, a thief of dubious reliability make for a truly amusin' comic duo. One really funny 'leitmotif' throughout the film is how George Caldwell (Mr. Wilder's character) keeps gettin' tossed off the train... and everytime he does, he's astonished and damned pissed off (usually shouting, "Son of a bitch!").
Have to mention the delicious soundtrack by Mr. Henry Mancini (the Master, himself) - there's the theme, a broad, sweeping all-violins melodic arc (first played as the train pulls out of L.A. at the beginning of the movie) - AND... watch for the scene in George's and Hilly's [Ms. Clayburgh's character] suite when they first get together - the slow track playing 'on the radio' is pure 70's romance - subtle, easy-listening like and (I feel) kinda makes ya wanna shed a tear - such vulnerable music.
If you haven't seen it, do so.