Gene Wilder Looks Back on Long Career, Reveals he Hates Burton's "Chocolate Factory"

[JamesG]

Gene Wilder on Today's "Dirty" Movies and Why Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is "An Insult"
June 14th, 2013
by Alex Suskind







Gene Wilder doesn't think he's funny -- at least not in real life.

"People say, 'What a comic, what a funny guy,' and I'm not -- I am really not -- except in a comedy film," said the actor, who made a rare public appearance Thursday night (June 13) at the 92Y in New York City. "I also make my wife laugh once or twice in the house, but nothing special."

It's a bit odd to hear Wilder, known for playing comedic roles in films, including Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, to say something like this. Then again, Wilder always was a dramatic actor at heart, studying at renown institutions the Old Vic, in England, and Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, in New York, before earning acclaim in his now classic comedies.







Last night, Wilder spoke about his career in and outside of show business, with Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osbourne. The actor touched on everything from his early acting days to his roles in movies like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to why he hasn't appeared on-screen in more than 20 years, opting instead to write books.

"I like writing books," said Wilder, who is about to release his second novel, Something to Remember You By.

"I'd rather be at home with my wife. I can write, take a break, come out, have a glass of tea, give my wife a kiss, and go back in and write some more. It's not so bad. I am really lucky."







Before he became an author and celebrated actor, Wilder began his professional career in 1966, with a supporting role in the TV adaptation of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

One year later, he appeared in the crime drama Bonnie and Clyde as Eugene Gizzard. While that movie went on to become an American classic, it was an encounter he had soon after that that would help launch his career.

"I got my first Broadway show and I had a funny part. And my co-star Anne Bancroft said, 'Would you like to meet my boyfriend, Mel Brooks?' And I said, 'Oh, I'd like that very much,'" Wilder recalled. "He was in the dressing room, and I walked in and there was Mel. He was wearing this beautiful merchant marine pea jacket, and I said 'Hello, Mr. Brooks. You look so handsome in that pea jacket.' He said, 'Yeah, they used to call them urine jackets but they didn't sell!'"







After that, Brooks cast Wilder as Leo Bloom in The Producers, a role that ended up securing him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Wilder would work with Brooks again six years later, on the Western comedy Blazing Saddles, and then a third time, on Young Frankenstein.



For Saddles, Wilder played the gunslinger Jim, or "The Waco Kid." However, that wasn't the original plan.

As Wilder tells it: "Mel didn't want me to do that part; he wanted me to do Hedley Lamarr. I said, 'I wouldn't be any good doing that, Mel. What about The Waco Kid? He said 'No, no, I got two people who want that.' He brought in one of them -- I won't mention names -- but he had an outfit on, and Mel walked with him to the jail cell and foam started coming out of his mouth. Mel said 'Keep doing what you're doing' -- he thought he was a method actor -- and he kept foaming at the mouth.

Eventually, Mel had to call an ambulance. Then he picked up the telephone and called me and said 'Can you come here right now?' A day later I was on a plane, and a day after that I was upside-down in a jail cell."







Saddles marked another important turn in Wilder's career, as it was the first time he worked with Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the film. Wilder would go on to star in four movies with the comedian: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Another You.

The on-screen chemistry between the two actors was palpable. However, Pryor's drug habit off-screen made things difficult.

"'Silver Streak' was very good, we got along really swell. But when we did 'Stir Crazy,' he'd come in 15 minutes late, 30 minutes late, 45 minutes late, an hour late. [Director] Sidney Poitier was going nuts," Wilder said.



Unfortunately, by the late '80s, Pryor's health was in rapid decline, which was very difficult for his friend and co-star to watch.

"He had a heart issue, and he wanted to smoke. The doctor said, 'I am telling you, if you smoke, you will die. Don't smoke.' When I went to see him, he had cigarettes and a lighter, and he couldn't walk without stumbling. He couldn't really do much, except he knew how to put the cigarette in his mouth. I didn't know what I could say to him to stop him from smoking cigarettes."







Another You, which Wilder also starred in with Pryor, was the final movie in which Wilder appeared; his last three credits are all TV movies: Murder in a Small Town, Alice in Wonderland, and The Lady in Question.

So what made him leave acting? As Wilder has previously explained, he wasn't interested in the way in which films were headed. At the 92Y, he elaborated on this -- and even left open the possibility of acting once again.

"After a while, films were so dirty. Once in awhile, there was a nice, good film, but not very many," Wilder said. "If something comes along and it's really good and I think I'd be good for it, I'd be happy to do it. Not too many came along. I mean, they came along, but I didn't want to do them. I didn't want to do 3D, for instance. I didn't want to do ones that were just bombing and swearing. If someone says 'Ah, go f*ck yourself,' if it came from a meaningful place, I'd understand it. But if you go to some movies, can't they just stop and talk once in awhile?"







Since Wilder seems open to it, perhaps it's time that someone came and wrote a part just for him -- one that doesn't involve unnecessary swearing, explosions, or 3D, of course. Also, it probably shouldn't be a remake, either, a trend Wilder seems less than impressed with.

Take, for instance, the 2005 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wilder, of course, is best known for portraying chocolatier Willy Wonka in Mel Stuart's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. But he did not mince words about Tim Burton's take on the beloved Roald Dahl tale.

"I think it's an insult. It's probably Warner Bros.' insult," Wilder said. "Johnny Depp, I think, is a good actor, but I don't care for that director. He's a talented man, but I don't care for him doing stuff like he did."







If you consider the types of films Hollywood is putting out now, it might be tough for Wilder to find the right part. Then again, he seems content on what he's doing now.

In fact, earlier in the evening, Robert Osbourne had asked Wilder about his thoughts on working in Hollywood. Not surprisingly, his immediate reply was "Yuck! I don't like it."

http://news.moviefone.com/2013/06/14...actory-insult/

[PrettyinPink55]

I had no idea he was a trained dramatic actor and also a novelist!!! How interesting!!

I also refuse to watch the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate factory just because I don't believe anything could ever possibly take the place of the original.

[Marvo301]

I much prefer Wilder's Willie Wonka film over Burton's Charlie film!

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I much prefer Wilder's Willie Wonka film over Burton's Charlie film!

I do too...the 2005 film, despite being more in the book...it's VERY dark!

[robyrob]

I love the old Gene Wilder movies - especially Blazing Saddles - I didn't really care for the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate factory either.

[isiahthomas]

I haven't seen a lot of his movies but i did like See No Evil Hear No Evil and Stir Crazy that he did with Richard Pryor. I saw his The Woman In Red with Kelly Lebrock(she's hot). She used to be married to Steven Seagal. He directed The Woman In Red. The soundtrack is also pretty good and Stevie Wonder did all the songs. He did a couple of duets with Dionne Warwick on there. How old is Gene?

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I haven't seen a lot of his movies but i did like See No Evil Hear No Evil and Stir Crazy that he did with Richard Pryor. I saw his The Woman In Red with Kelly Lebrock(she's hot). She used to be married to Steven Seagal. He directed The Woman In Red. The soundtrack is also pretty good and Stevie Wonder did all the songs. He did a couple of duets with Dionne Warwick on there. How old is Gene?

I saw See No Evil, Hear No Evil in the theater when it was released, watched it again recently and it was even funnier than I remembered.

[Torgo]

There's a great interview that pops up on Turner Classic Movies every once in awhile- it's Alec Baldwin interviewing Wilder at Wilder's house. It's really interesting.

[80sTrivia]

He certainly has had a long and successful career!

[DVDLover]

Originally Posted by Torgo

I saw See No Evil, Hear No Evil in the theater when it was released, watched it again recently and it was even funnier than I remembered.

That is my favorite Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor movie

[angiefan]

he was a wonderful willy wonka.

[Schmoopie]

The original is and will always be the best. I've seen "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" a few times and the only time I really laughed was during that "Agustus Gloop" song. That was pretty funny but the rest was lame. Johnny Depp was kind of creepy. At least Gene Wilder softened considerably toward the end and even during the tour he was likeable.