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:

Blackface | Racial Slur | Sports Car | Porter | Beating

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | 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:

The climatic train crash at the end of the film was shot in an airplane hanger.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the train enters the station after the cars have been uncoupled, it crosses all the way to the right hand side and enters the station on the last approach track, but when it cuts to the next two shots tracks even further to the right of the train are visible.

Quotes:

George Caldwell: What do you think?
Grover Muldoon: I think you better make a right up here and then a sharp left. I'm coming over.
[climbs over the seat. George suddenly swerves the car, causing Grover to lunge forward]
Grover Muldoon: Jesus Christ, man, is that how you murdered your victims? Put them in a car and bounced them to death?
George Caldwell: Sorry.
Grover Muldoon: Sorry, my ass. You dangerous... Proves one thing though, you don't do this for no living.
George Caldwell: No I don't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kiss Daddy Goodnight (1988)

A very solid effort for the comedic duo of Wilder and Pryor

This is THE film to see, if you're a fan of either Gene Wilder or Richard Pryor. Although Pryor's stay in the film is rather short, it is perhaps his greatest comedic work outside of his monumental stand up routines. A combination, the Lady Vanishes, and slap stick, this film succeeds because it blends these elements together in a way that makes the flow easy and entertaining. These are situations and reactions to them, that we the audience can envision ourselves partaking in. They don't get crazy mad cap like in an Abbot and Costello film, and yet they don't take themselves too seriously either. A great end to the film, with a truly amazing crash through Chicago Union Station by a runaway Locomotive.