Seeing Richard Pryor's name -- not my favourite comedian, but his angry/bemused stand-up shtick was bloody funny -- reminded me of something from Tuesday night:
Probation officer: "Next!"
Enter Pryor holding up his waiting room ticket - No.32.
-- Another You
This dud was no doubt an attempt to recreate the successful -- I think -- pairing of Gene Wilder and Pryor. Maybe even a generous producer was cajoled into giving the hard-to-work-with Pryor a gig as his career disappeared down the toilet. Generous producer? Yeah, right.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Silver Streak, which was the first time they appeared together in a film.
However, Stir Crazy milked the first and while it started out well enough, without the strong(ish) support cast of Silver Streak -- Patrick McGoohan, Jill Clayburgh, Ned Beatty, Ray Walston, Scatman Crothers -- relied too heavily on Wilder and Pryor, ultimately falling flat. It had the feel of a telly movie.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil was an obvious attempt to wring blood out of a turkey. You'd think they would have gotten the message.
They didn't. Ignoring the fact I'd never even heard of Another You, the 25 minutes I spent watching found me continually searching for sign of Pryor's crack-cident, and the rest of the time wondering why Gene Wilder looked about 80.
But maybe I made a mistake. Maybe the remaining hour and a half was pure comedy gold.
Planet Paranoid!
Posted by: Scott | 26 March 2004 at 01:39
Yeah i enjoyed 'Silver Streak' hysterically funny. I think that giant guy was in that and was spotted by James Bond producers to play 'jaws'.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 26 March 2004 at 04:59
PARANOID?!? Who's been saying I'm paranoid?!? The truth is out there. Wake up and smell the scandals, Wickstein!
Yeah, not a bad film, Brett. That's Richard Kiel, he'd been around for a while -- he was in The Mean Machine and I remember him in a bit part in The Nutty Professor, that was the early sixties -- so I don't think he would have been spotted just in SS. But you never know.
Scatman Crothers - "Goddamned hippees!"
Posted by: Tony.T | 26 March 2004 at 13:00
On the train with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder:
Pryor - what do they want you for?
Wilder - murder
Pryor - drop me off anywhere along here okay? I don't mess with the Big M!
Posted by: Uncreative Tim | 26 March 2004 at 13:32
One of two possibilities, Unca Tim....
1) Your name is Charlie Williams and I did my apprenticeship with you in the Pilbara in the early 80's.
2) You're my brother.
because they both used to say that.
Or...
3) You're neither.
PS: The other line frequently quoted whenever we arrived anywhere - "Hellllllooooo Chi-Cago!"
Posted by: Tony.T | 26 March 2004 at 13:48
I'm neither. Where is the Pilbara?
Mr Williams and your brother must be good judges. Silver Streak is a very good quotable film. "Hello Chicago!" Just after the train has crashed into the Chicago station.
Posted by: Uncreative Tim | 26 March 2004 at 15:13
Although a great line, I was never a "I don't mess with the Big M!" quoter but definately a "Helllloooo Chi-Cago!" quoter by the great Scatman Crothers. Still say it to this day.
Stir Crazy was almost as good, but died in the arse 3/4 of the way.
See No Evil Hear No Evil - saw a couple of minutes. Evil that studios can put out such shit.
When channel surfing, I think they did another one in the late 90's but it was far too horrible to watch.
Posted by: Richard T | 26 March 2004 at 16:51
Pilbara? Head to Perth. When you get there, turn right. Keep going.
Hmmm, must be Dave DeWaal. Could have sworn it was someone called Richard. And they don't have Big M in WA, they have Browns Choc something.
Posted by: Tony.T | 27 March 2004 at 22:58
nice directions Tony, Head to Pilbara and THEN keep on going, cos there's nothing to keep anybody there. Apart from a graveyard.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 28 March 2004 at 00:54