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Gene Wilder death: Star of Willy Wonka dies aged 83
BBC ^ | 30 August 2016 | BBC

Posted on 08/30/2016 3:33:43 AM PDT by Bikkuri

US actor Gene Wilder, remembered by many for his lead role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died at the age of 83, his family has confirmed.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: actor; comedian; died; genewilder
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To: toddausauras

I liked his young rabbi headed west in “The Frisco Kid”.


21 posted on 08/30/2016 5:38:03 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: GreenHornet
Originally, character actor Gig Young was supposed to play the part. Unfortunately, Young had a serious drinking problem which was affecting him on the set, so he was fired from the film and Wilder was brought in at the last minute as his replacement.

Ironic since the character The Waco Kid had a drinking problem.


22 posted on 08/30/2016 6:01:17 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: mothball

Another funny exchange from the same scene:

Bart: What do you like to do?

Jim: I dunno. Play chess. Screw.

Bart: Let’s play chess.

Sad, but Blazing Saddles could never be made in Hollywood today. The n-word count is off the chart by PC standards, and quite frankly, they could never find actors who could match those in the original.


23 posted on 08/30/2016 6:30:26 AM PDT by ExNewsExSpook
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To: ExNewsExSpook
Sad, but Blazing Saddles could never be made in Hollywood today. The n-word count is off the chart by PC standards, and quite frankly, they could never find actors who could match those in the original

A lot of people don't realize this, but Richard Pryor co-wrote the script, which is probably the reason why that word was used throughout the movie. It was Pryor's intention to play the part of the sheriff himself, but the studio refused to give him the part because they felt he was too controversial. It would have been the first pairing of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

24 posted on 08/30/2016 6:35:58 AM PDT by GreenHornet
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To: ExNewsExSpook

Hilarious. You’re right about that. They could never make anything like that today. People don’t see the humor in stuff like that. They just want to get offended.


25 posted on 08/30/2016 6:41:28 AM PDT by mothball
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To: GreenHornet

Y’know, Prior was a genius but I am so glad they went with Clevon Little instead. He was just so smooth and handsome and sophisticated that it really showcased the absurdity of everyone else all the better. And I just can’t see Prior effortlessly seducing Lily Von Shtoup the way Little did. A dazzling urbanite indeed.


26 posted on 08/30/2016 7:25:25 AM PDT by To Hell With Poverty (No one in the field is voting for Frail, Pale and Belongs in Jail.)
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To: GreenHornet

You are correct. The studio was also concerned about Pryor’s reliability, based on his long history of drug use. In fact, Gene Wilder related a story about the making of Blazing Saddles; one day, there was supposed to be a writer’s meeting and Pryor failed to show.

A few hours passed. Finally, Mel Brooks received an apologetic phone call from Pryor, who was in Cleveland.

“Cleveland,” Brooks asked, “what are you doing in Cleveland?”

“I have no idea.”

Casting Cleavon Little as Bart was both safe and inspired. Hard to imagine anyone else in that role. Little was a terrific actor who died far too young from cancer.


27 posted on 08/30/2016 7:29:58 AM PDT by ExNewsExSpook
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To: toddausauras

IMHO, See No Evil Hear No Evil is funnier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFy5KDRiXDg


28 posted on 08/30/2016 8:15:51 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: Bikkuri
The sheep scene in Woody Allen's "Everything you wanted to know about sex" was great. You could tell every thought he was thinking just by watching his eyes.
29 posted on 08/30/2016 8:39:40 AM PDT by BubbaBasher ("Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals" - Sam Adams)
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To: Bikkuri

He voiced “Letterman” on “ The Electric Company” as I had long forgotten. Joan Rivers was the narrator and Zero Mostel voiced the villain Spellbinder.


30 posted on 08/30/2016 3:23:25 PM PDT by SMGFan (Sarah Michelle Gellar is on twitter @SarahMGellar -- Yes, I know, she now supports HRC :()
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Impy; GOPsterinMA; NFHale; ExTexasRedhead; stephenjohnbanker

One of the great comics of the 1970’s has left this world. RIP, he gave a lot of memorable performances.


31 posted on 08/30/2016 3:55:36 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (The barbarians are inside because there are no gates)
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To: Clintonfatigued; fieldmarshaldj; Impy; NFHale; stephenjohnbanker

Gene Wilder. Gene Wilder... Comedy was your calling. RIP.


32 posted on 08/30/2016 6:47:06 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
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To: ExNewsExSpook

“Sad, but Blazing Saddles could never be made in Hollywood today. The n-word count is off the chart by PC standards, and quite frankly, they could never find actors who could match those in the original.”

Not to mention the occasional use of the f-word (faggot).


33 posted on 08/30/2016 7:47:40 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, and always a wise thing to say.)
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To: Bikkuri

Gene was brilliant in Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (that’s “Fronkensteen”). And as long as those films - and the many others he did - survive, in a way he will always be with us.

R.I.P.


34 posted on 08/30/2016 7:48:51 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, and always a wise thing to say.)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

35 posted on 08/30/2016 7:49:00 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Yo-Yo

My name is Jim but most people call me...Jim.


36 posted on 08/30/2016 7:54:13 PM PDT by kevao (Biblical Jesus: Give your money to the poor. Socialist Jesus: Give your neighbor's money to the poor)
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To: mothball

Well, it got to the point that every piss-ant prarie punk who thought he could shoot a gun would ride into town to try out the Waco Kid. I must have killed more men than Cecil B. DeMille. It got pretty gritty. I started to hear the word “draw” in my sleep. Then one day I was just walking down the street when I heard a voice behind me say, “Reach for it, mister!” I spun around, and there I was, face to face with a six-year-old kid. Well, I just threw my guns down and walked away.

The little bastard shot me in the ass. So I limped into the nearest saloon, crawled inside a whiskey bottle, and I’ve been there ever since.


37 posted on 08/30/2016 7:54:36 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, and always a wise thing to say.)
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To: dfwgator

Comments like this are the reason that, IMO, Free Republic needs a “like” button. :)


38 posted on 08/30/2016 7:56:31 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, and always a wise thing to say.)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

Not to mention the occasional use of the f-word (faggot).
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Kansas City ‘Faggot’ is still ok...<: <:

Throw them a rope.
NO STUPID, it is for the hand truck - that costs 10 bucks can get plenty more like you (or something like that)

OOOLALA...itsh twoo itsh twoo

Of course they would be able to leave the Irish being banned from the ‘new town’....


39 posted on 08/30/2016 8:00:32 PM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98)" "If you see a civilian in cammies -- bump into him")
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To: NTHockey

Good call…I hope TCM does a tribute they probably will. Wilder was just great.


40 posted on 08/31/2016 2:55:10 AM PDT by toddausauras (Trump 2016)
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