Silver Streak (1976)

Overrated and overhyped

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

An absolute waste of money

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Arthur Hiller's "Silver Streak" is rightfully one of the most popular movies that he has ever directed thanks to his expertise with the making of this movie mixing the genres of romance, comedy, and crime very effectively. The movie's main character is named George Caldwell (Gene Wilder) who is going on a train ride from Los Angeles to Chicago to attend his sister's wedding, who also happens to publish books for a living. While on the train he meets a supposed vitamin salesman named "Bob Sweet" (Ned Beatty) who is really a Federal undercover agent named Stevens, as well as a young woman named Hilly Burns (Jill Clayburgh) who is going to Chicago for a new job, end up falling in love with one another. While Caldwell and Burns are in her room Caldwell sees a dead body hanging off of the train and then falls off and he believes that it is the Professor who Hilly is going to work for that was killed, but the one problem with his story is that no one believes him. The next morning he tells Sweet about the murder and conduct a brief investigation of their own after getting thrown off the train by a minion named Reese (Richard Kiel) and then one of his superiors named Mr. Whitney (Ray Walston) who then orders Reese to kill Caldwell fearing that he may have incriminating evidence against them and their whole operation, but then Reese carries out the order and doesn't hit the intended target, instead by killing Stevens. After the murder the two men find out that Caldwell isn't dead and Reese tries to go after and kill him once and for all but then gets shot with a spear-gun to the chest on the top of the train and Caldwell falls off again. After that happens he goes to a local Sheriff's department to report the casualties and an all points bulletin is set for him all across the country. Caldwell then steals the Sheriff's car and then meets a thief named Grover (Richard Pryor) who tries to help him get back on the train and succeeds. Then we formally meet a man named Roger Deverau (Patrick McGoohan) who is the architect of this whole murder plot who then admits to the whole thing and tries to evade police by using the train to get away from them, and the rest I will not spoil. The writing and comedic timing for this movie is very well thought out, Hiller's direction has the proper balance of three different genres, the chemistry between Wilder and Clayburgh is very good and convincing, as well as the relationship that both the Wilder and Pryor characters is the most hilarious aspect of the movie, and the chase scenes involving the train are very well staged which is no wonder why this movie got an Oscar nomination for its sound effects. The one I wished that would have happened is that Colin Higgins who wrote the screenplay for the movie would have allowed me to get to know the characters a little more although I related to them a lot in their respective situations. It isn't a great movie but it is a very funny movie that is totally worth remembering.

(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.

Admittedly, this is a movie that features some spectacular stunts, scenery and special effects. But on the other side of the ledger, the screenplay is somewhat deficient in wit – a lack that it crudely attempts to make up with unsubtle double entendres and an incredible train-board romance. Given the wild improbability of the plot, Gene Wilder labors to make it a bit more plausible by restraining his usual penchant for gross over-acting. He is assisted by a fine cast, led by Jill Clayburgh, who is actually quite appealing – despite director Arthur Hiller's constant attempts to sabotage her performance by treating her with numerous unattractive close-ups. Also in the cast: Ray Walston as a straight villain, Ned Beatty and Richard Pryor (who makes a welcome but somewhat late entrance when the film is three- quarters over). Unfortunately, Patrick McGoohan has been dubbed in the print I saw, and this totally undermines all his scenes. But the movie is still a must-see for railroad buffs.

This crowd-pleasing suspense comedy was chosen for a Royal Film Premiere in 1977, and marked the first - and best - teaming of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. 'Silver Streak' was written by Colin Higgins, author of the splendid 'Harold & Maude' and directed by Arthur Hiller, responsible for - yuck - 'Love Story' ( also 1971 ). Had it been made fifteen years earlier, it most likely would have starred Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint or Grace Kelly. Wilder plays 'George Caldwell', a mild-mannered book editor who boards the Silver Streak express in Los Angeles, hoping for some peace and quiet. He does not get it. Firstly, sexy secretary 'Hilly Burns' ( the late Jill Clayburgh ) gives him the come on, and after they have made love he spots a dead man falling past his compartment window. Nobody believes him, especially when the 'victim' - 'Professor Schreiner' ( Stefan Gierasch ) - turns out to be still alive. The Professor is in the possession of 'the Rembrandt letters' proving beyond a doubt that a major art swindle has taken place, and that Roger Deveraux ( Patrick McGoohan ) is behind it. Schreiner has been murdered, and replaced by an impostor. After finding evidence, George is attacked by 'Reace' ( Richard Kiel, a year before menacing Roger Moore's 007 in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' ), and thrown bodily from the train...'Silver Streak' goes through several stylistic changes of gear, but they all work. The allusion to Hitchcock continues as George is suspected of having murdered federal agent 'Sweet' ( Ned Beatty ). Its about an hour into the picture when our hero steals a police car, only to find small-time thief 'Grover' ( Pryor ) is a passenger. Immediately, they establish a comedic rapport, becoming probably the screen's funniest comedy duo since Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Scenes like the one where George impersonates a black man in order to board the train would not probably have worked with anyone else. As international crook 'Devereau', McGoohan is both smooth and menacing ( as one would expect ). Another plus is Henry Mancini's music, that opening theme will stick in your head for days afterwards.Higgins stayed in pseudo-Hitchcock territory for his next picture ( which he directed ) 'Foul Play', starring Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, and Dudley Moore. Wilder and Pryor did a further four pictures together, the best of which was 'Stir Crazy' ( 1981 ). They re-teamed with Hiller in 1989 for the dire 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil'.Comedy, adventure film, love story, disaster movie - 'Silver Streak' is all these things, and more. In some ways, its the ultimate '70's movie.