Review of Silver Streak (1976) by Mike K — 14 May 2009

Gene Wilder stars as George Caldwell, a pleasant, laid-back book editor hoping for some peace and quiet en route from L.A. to Chicago aboard the Silver Streak. On the train he quickly gets entangled with his sexy neighbor in the adjoining compartment, a secretary for a controversial writer out to discredit a nefarious art collector and prove his Rembrandt paintings are forgeries. Unfortunately for the writer and for George's relaxing trip, the Rembrandt faker and his heavies are on the train as well, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on the manuscript.

There begins the rocky train ride and George's numerous run-ins with the baddies, who throw him off the train no less than three times; but the honest, romantic, and intrepid George always manages to find a way back onto the Silver Streak and into his imperiled lady's arms. By the time of his second toss from the train he has joined forces with Richard Pryor's Grover, a smooth-talking thief whom George inadvertently rescues from police custody. George and Grover instantly click the way only Wilder and Pryor can; the comedy gets better, and the stakes get even higher as the Silver Streak becomes a runaway train barreling straight for the heart of Chicago.

Silver Streak takes its time to get started, as movies used to back in the 'seventies, but with easy-going Gene Wilder at center stage I never mind the wait. He reflects such a genuine, sweet presence on the screen with such integrity; pair him up with Pryor and you've got that once in a lifetime duo that both warms your heart and makes you cry laughing.