Wilder

RIP Gene Wilder, 83, who had an impressive Hollywood run, almost exclusively in comedies. Born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, he changed his name, choosing it because of his love of Thornton Wilder’s great play, Our Town. Although many consider him a comedian, he thought of himself as an actor. He did his best work with Mel Brooks: The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974). Of their relationship, he said: “We are not interested in polite titters, we want the audience rolling on the floor and falling about. Mel works on his feet — it’s a hit and miss, hit and miss, hit and miss. Then in the editing he will take out the misses!” They often succeeded. I’ll never forget the guffaws I let out during that madcap, irreverent western, or the fact that several people walked out of the theater, offended by the vulgarity. Wilder also had great commercial success partnering with Richard Pryor in four films. I like parts of Stir Crazy (1980), but that period of his canon did not get to me the way the Brooks’ collaborations did, although it cannot be denied that millions love those movies. He received a nomination for best supporting actor for The Producers, in which he was a perfect foil for Zero Mostel. He also received a nomination for Best Screenplay for Young Frankenstein (“Fronkensteen”). He won an Emmy for a guest appearance on Will and Grace. His memoir is titled Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art. Well done, sir. Thank you. Here’s he is with his character’s creation, played by Peter Boyle. (Facts from Wiki & IMDb)

I don’t ask people to “like” my content. I’d rather they do it of their own accord. Here is a novel use of the procedure. The guy in the picture below has promised to turn himself in to police if he receives 15,000 likes. Gotta love the endless, fascinating variety that life brings.

My thanks to Marina, who donated a number of books in Russian, among them several Sidney Sheldon translations, two of which were bought by Wolf, and two others by sisters, one of whom also went for non-fiction on combating burn out; and to Frank, who chose an obscure novel whose title escapes me. Thanks also to the work crew that provided the day’s entertainment, the chopping down of a tall, dead tree that was turned to mulch.

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