Ross622 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.

TheLittleSongbird Of the Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor collaborations (quality-wise their collaborations were variable, when they worked the films were great, when not so much it was disappointing), 'Silver Streak' is one of the best.Maybe 'Silver Streak' goes on a little too long and while intriguing and fun still the first half drags a little and lacks the zip of the second half once Richard Pryor shows up an hour into the film. Otherwise, 'Silver Streak' has very little to complain about. It's a good-looking film, very nicely photographed with sumptuous locations that suit the film brilliantly.Henry Mancini's score is his typically distinctive quirkiness, jauntiness and lavish orchestration. The script is clever and often very funny, Pryor especially really makes the most of his material which is a lot of fun.Really enjoyed the story in 'Silver Streak'. It particularly gets going once Pryor appears, but the mix of Hitchcockian thriller that reminds one of 'The 39 Steps' and 'The Lady Vanishes' and often hilarious screwball antics. The direction is strong, lets the comedy flow and gives the thriller aspects a lot of atmosphere.Gene Wilder is understated but shows his comic genius adeptly. Pryor brings so much fun and energy here, while Patrick McGoohan is a suitably sinister villain. Jill Clayburgh is at her loveliest and is charming. Imposing Richard Kiel and Ned Beatty also shine.In conclusion, an immensely enjoyable great ride that doesn't derail. 9/10 Bethany Cox

lagudafuad Silver Streak is the first collaboration between Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor and it is as funny as they come. The movie itself starts off in thriller mode, leaving you the watcher with a form of suspense as you eagerly wait to see what will come off the pairing of Gene Wilder and Jill Clayburgh. Then over an hour passes and Richard Pryor is introduced and then the movie twist to a comedy Thriller mash up and then you find yourself eagerly waiting for what Gene and Richard would do next.Set in America but actually done in Canada with the help of a Canadian director Arthur Hiller, this movie set was done on a fictional railroad named "AMRoad." The plot follows the story of a book editor named George Caldwell (Gene Wilder) who was travelling by train from Los Angeles to Chicago to attend his sister's wedding. The train he boarded was called the Silver Streak and it was on board the train that George met a vitamin salesman who ended up not being who he says he was. Bob (the vitamin salesman) told George to try hook up with a girl on the train, as he found that the girls on trains will hookup with anyone. George took the advice and met and hooked up with Hilly Burns (Jill Clayburgh).Hilly on the other hand works for a Professor, who was about to release a book on Rembrandt. The Professor's enemy and the antagonist of the movie Devereau was ready to do anything to make sure the book never gets released and the only person standing in his way happens to be George, who saw a dead body that looked like the Professor being thrown off the train.Now George and a thief he ran into named Muldoone (Richard Pryor) have to find a way to get on the train that George got thrown off and save Hilly from Devereau.Although Gene and Richard still went on to make three other movies together none was as funny or well received than their first duo together, Silver Streaks. The screenplay is where the movie catches your attention, with more than half of the shots done in a train, which can be clustery the cinematography was actually good. The movie script was well written that the incidents that lead to Gene's in and out of the train actually makes you feel sorry for him other than be disgusted by the characters incompetence to stay on the train.Silver Streak was a critical acclaim movie and also a box office success, it found itself on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs as number 95, and it is one movie that you will enjoy owning the DVD.www.lagsreviews.com

Tim Kidner Arthur Hiller's 1976 film is the epitome - and one of the best and at times, the worst - example of what Hollywood came synonymous for in the 1970s.Ending with one of those truly great action set-pieces, when such were actually filmed and not with a computer mouse and starting out with the oh-so-smooth Gene Wilder getting his wicked way with the delectable Jill Clayburgh, an awful lot happens in-between.Taking - and featuring huge chunks of influence from James Bond (inc 'Jaws', the iron-toothed giant), Hitchcock (crime capers on moving trains, espionage, intrigue) and loads of over-the-top big Americanism, this is a rail-road coaster of a ride. You can see bits that have helped influence later films, too and the start of the delicious pairing between Wilder and black comedian Richard Pryor, which spilled out over into the future Stir Crazy and Blazing Saddles.Yes, a lot of it is nonsense - this is essentially Sunday afternoon TV fun, now. There's clever innuendo, dumb stunts, big scenery and baddies. It does pop up on Film 4 and Sky Movies every once in a while, showing that it is still has a place and though obviously looking pretty dated now, you can't go far wrong with this one.