Silver Streak (1976)

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

Colin Higgins (writer)

Release Date:

3 December 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

It's the Most Hilarious Suspense Ride of Your Life!

Plot:

On a long-distance train trip, a man finds romance but also finds himself in danger of being killed, or at least pushed off the train.

Plot Keywords:

Airplane | Racial Slur | Blackface | Coffin | Roadblock

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. May 17

8:00 AM

MAX

Cast

Gene Wilder	...	George Caldwell
Jill Clayburgh	...	Hilly Burns
Richard Pryor	...	Grover Muldoon
Patrick McGoohan	...	Roger Devereau
Ned Beatty	...	Bob Sweet
Clifton James	...	Sheriff Oliver Chauncey
Ray Walston	...	Mr. Edgar Whiney
Stefan Gierasch	...	Prof. Schreiner & Johnson
Len Birman	...	Chief Donaldson
Valerie Curtin	...	Plain Jane
Lucille Benson	...	Rita Babtree
Scatman Crothers	...	Ralston
Richard Kiel	...	Reace
Fred Willard	...	Jerry Jarvis
Delos V. Smith Jr.	...	Burt (as Delos V. Smith)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | West Germany:12 | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Brea, California, USA

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Trivia:

Robert Vaughn received the script in the mail, and loved it. He wanted to play Roger Devereau, but was dismayed to discover that Patrick McGoohan had already accepted the part. He contacted Arthur Hiller and discovered that it was sent by mistake. He was invited to watch the production, and became friends with star Gene Wilder.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Towards the end of the film, you can see a reflection of the crew pushing the train as it "leaves" the station.

Quotes:

Roger Devereau: Keep your foot ON THE PEDAL!

Movie Connections:

Edited into "The Fall Guy" (1981)

Uncle Alfie Would've Liked It

Have you ever watched a motion picture and found yourself thinking that it could almost be a Hitchcock film? It has happened to me several times; for example, while looking at such wonderful Hitchcock-like thrillers as "The Spiral Staircase" ('46), "Charade" ('63), "The Prize" ('63) and "Arabesque" ('66). I'm not sure whether the 1976 comedy thriller "Silver Streak" deserves to be called Hitchcock-like--it is a bit too lighthearted and comedic for such an appellation--but it sure does bear some similarities to, say, "North by Northwest." As in that classic Hitchcock thriller, we here have a businessman (Gene Wilder) who witnesses a murder, becomes embroiled in intrigue on a cross-country train ride, finds himself accused of homicide himself and falls in love with a mysterious blonde (Jill Clayburgh, very appealing and sexy here). Wilder plays things fairly straight--he's even kinda suave and seductive--in the film's first half, but after teaming up with heartland thief Richard Pryor, more comedic elements sneak in (especially that hilarious blackface routine). Patrick McGoohan, one of my favorite modern-day actors, makes just as terrific a villain here as he did a spy a decade earlier, and Bond fans will be pleased to note that Richard "Jaws" Kiel and Clifton James also make amusing appearances. By turns suspenseful, funny and exciting, "Silver Streak" barrels along to a smashing conclusion, and all in all is a highly pleasing entertainment package. I think that Uncle Alfie would've liked it. And if you knew of my high regard for the Master of Suspense, you'd realize that this is high praise indeed.