Remembering Gene Wilder

An absolute gem of a documentary. Lovingly done. Much of it narrated by Gene himself. Stories of his upbringing, his family, his successes, his collaborators, and his loves. Beautifully directed. With tender stories told by Mel Brooks, Rain Pryor (Richard Pryor's daughter) and his last wife Karen. I was not aware of his later years. They are described with some detail. A tragic ending for a man whose quick wit, comedic timing, and athletic ability failed him towards the end. The song he listened to while fading away will surely bring a tear to your eye. Alzheimers is a horrific disease. Born Jerome Silverman, he died Wilder. A must see for all fans of this comic genius! Very highly recommended.

If you're looking for a celebration of Gene Wilder's life and career, as well as confirmation of his legacy as a beloved performer, this quickly paced 2023 documentary from director Ron Frank and writer Glenn Kirschbaum will probably suit your needs just fine. All his most famous work and personal details are covered - the fabled collaborations with Mel Brooks, his later commercial successes with Richard Pryor, his brief and tragic marriage to Gilda Radner - as well as none-too-revealing snippets of interviews with colleagues and friends like Brooks. There's even voiceover narration from Wilder himself from his audiobook of his 2005 memoirs. Still, the film felt lacking in providing what particularly drove his creativity and ambition and how he handled professional failures after he peaked with "Young Frankenstein". Other than "The Producers", little was shared of his more obscure films, his first two marriages, and his estranged daughter. His final years, however, were covered respectfully with his happy fourth marriage to hearing specialist Karen Boyer and his 2016 death from Alzheimer's. This film felt more like a conventional tribute than a revealing life journey.

Lots to enjoy here for Gene Wilder fans. Recent interviews with the likes of Mel Brooks, Harry Connick Jr. (I must've missed the movie he did with Wilder...) and Alan Alda (ditto...) It was bittersweet watching the clips of Wilder's interviews he gave in the years leading up to his death. 2016 was a terrible year for celebrity deaths and Wilder's affected as many people as David Bowie's and Prince's deaths did.

The fault of the documentary comes from its focus on the movies. The Frisco Kid is given way too much screen time...while Silver Streak barely gets a mention and nothing from The Woman in Red is featured. These two movies were important in his resume as they co-starred Richard Pryor and Gilda Radner. Two people who were quite significant in Wilder's life. Bombs like Sunday Lovers, Funny About Love, and Another You were not mentioned but probably should have been as proof that not everything Wilder was in was gold.

Besides The Frisco Kid, the movies that get the most attention are The Producers, Willy Wonka, and Young Frankenstein. The latter is probably peak Wilder for his career as the story was his idea and he co-wrote the screenplay with Brooks.

Willy Wonka was a troubled production from Quaker Oats Cereal and did not perform well initially at the theater (its status as a beloved children's movie grew due to re-releases in the mid '70s, annual television airings in the mid to late '70s, and video in the '80s). Wilder gave the movie an edge that stayed with children after the viewing. Not much is made of this.

Basically, this is a celebration of his life, and for that reason it's worth seeing. It just could have been a bit more consistent in its rundown of his movies and dug deeper into his characterizations. But that would have probably made for a much longer documentary--which he deserved. There will never be another Gene Wilder.

I find it ironic that sometimes it takes something serious, like a documentary, to showcase the somewhat less than serious abilities of someone gifted at comedy, like actor-writer-director Gene Wilder (1933-2016). But that's just what viewers can expect from director Ron Frank's reverent but often-hilarious tribute to this iconic talent, one whose accomplishments in film, on television and on stage haven't always received the kind of recognition that they deserve. As documentaries go, this offering largely plays it straight in terms of its content and structure, exploring Wilder's roots in Milwaukee and chronicling his rise to fame, told in chronological sequence. But, despite this conventional approach, "Remembering Gene Wilder" offers viewers much. The film features a number of recent interviews with such collaborators as Mel Brooks, Carol Kane and Eric McCormack, as well as friends Alan Alda and Harry Connick Jr., Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz, wife Karen Wilder and an array of Hollywood production professionals. It also includes ample clips from Wilder's films, including "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), "The Producers" (1967), "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (1971), "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972), "Blazing Saddles" (1974), "Young Frankenstein" (1974) and "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" (1989), along with his guest appearances on television's Will & Grace (2002-2003). And then there's plenty of archive video and still photograph footage of Wilder's family, friends, influences and co-stars, those who helped shape him and that he, in turn, helped shape. Most importantly, though, this offering examines what made Wilder unique as an artist and as a private individual, someone known for his singular vision as a comedic (yet vulnerable) actor and as a compassionate, generous colleague toward those he loved and worked with. There's also a touching segment examining his profound but bittersweet marriage to wife and co-star Gilda Radner (1946-1989), a heartbreaking love story that brought out these personal qualities in abundance and in a very high-profile way. The result is a surprisingly eye-opening look at its subject, revealing sides of Wilder personally and professionally that many outside of his inner circle may not have known. The overall approach of this offering may not be particularly inventive, but the result is well worth a watch nevertheless.

I loved this film. The writer and director matched Gene Wilder's wit, heart, and humanity with their own. They brought Gene Wilder to life. It's a wonderful celebration of Wilder's life and art. I laughed throughout and it inspired me to see some of the films I've missed. Reminded me of the one I loved the most: The Fresco Kid. The interviews with people he worked with, including some child actors, were a wonderful added dimension. And the film brings some important lessons about life's difficulties. Not writing more. No spoilers. But watch this. You will be so glad you did. This film left its mark on me.