Wow! Such a good movie.

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Excellent, a Must See

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Admittedly, this is a movie that features some spectacular stunts, scenery and special effects. But on the other side of the ledger, the screenplay is somewhat deficient in wit – a lack that it crudely attempts to make up with unsubtle double entendres and an incredible train-board romance. Given the wild improbability of the plot, Gene Wilder labors to make it a bit more plausible by restraining his usual penchant for gross over-acting. He is assisted by a fine cast, led by Jill Clayburgh, who is actually quite appealing – despite director Arthur Hiller's constant attempts to sabotage her performance by treating her with numerous unattractive close-ups. Also in the cast: Ray Walston as a straight villain, Ned Beatty and Richard Pryor (who makes a welcome but somewhat late entrance when the film is three- quarters over). Unfortunately, Patrick McGoohan has been dubbed in the print I saw, and this totally undermines all his scenes. But the movie is still a must-see for railroad buffs.

Although they did 4 films together, it is this film SILVER STREAK (1976) that is probably my favorite pairing of the 2 famous comedy icons Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor! Also, it is one of my personal favorite 70s movies. It is their first outing together and it is sublime from start to finish. A perfect mix of action, comedy, drama, mystery, and thriller (and even a touch or romance), it's one of those rare movies where every element works. "Silver Streak" stars the aforementioned Gene Wilder in probably my favorite ever role of his. Wilder plays George Caldwell, a nebbishy magazine writer on a cross-country train trip to Chicago trying to get to his sister's wedding. Once on board, the first night George meets Hilly (played with immense sex appeal and radiance by Jill Clayburgh). The duo hit it off immediately and as they are making love in Hilly's cabin, George thinks he witnesses a man being thrown off the train. Hilly tries to convince that it's only in his mind. The morning after, George sees a book on Rembrandt and on the back of it is the author, Prof. Schreiner, who Hilly is assistant to and who George recognizes as the man he thought he saw being murdered. George investigates and the mystery begins!During his investigation, George meets several memorable characters: a mysterious man named Devereau (played with panache and class by Patrick McGoohan of 'The Prisoner' fame) and his 2 cronies Whiney (played by the great character actor Ray Walston) and Reace (played by the iconic Richard Kiel of Bond movie fame), Rita (played by vet Lucille Benson, reprising her offbeat snake-lady-in-the-middle-of- nowhere role from "Duel"), travelling salesman Bob Sweet (reliably played by vet Ned Beatty), train conductor Ralston (played with comic aplomb by the iconic Scatman Crothers), country Sheriff Chauncey (hilariously played by Clifton James reprising his bumpkin- sheriff role from "Live and Let Die"), and last but not least thief Grover (essayed by the great Richard Pryor in a scene-stealing role). George teams with Grover at about the film's halfway mark to finish solving the mystery and this where the Wilder-Pryor chemistry begins.Much as I enjoy their zanier comedies, I think it's here where Wilder and Pryor's chemistry shines the most. Not too OTT, neither trying to upstage the other, but rather complementing each other's rather opposing comedy styles to create a memorable pairing. Also, Wilder and Clayburgh have great romantic chemistry, with Clayburgh being at her absolute hottest in this film!Of course, this is really Wilder's film all the way as he is the film's protagonist and is in virtually every scene of the film and we are following George's journey. "Silver Streak" is most probably reminiscent of the Hitchcock classic "North by Northwest" (man falsely accused of murder, on the run, train action, mistaken identity, international intrigue), but also there's the reminder of several James Bond films of the 70s (with actors like Kiel and Clifton playing similar roles from those), and of course is kind of a microcosm and preview of the buddy-comedy-action film that would become so prevalent in the 80s. A memorable, fun comedy-mystery from the 70s. Watch it, you won't be disappointed!

Ordinarily I don't care for either Gene Wilder or Richard Pryor but this material is fresh and refreshing. There are references to Hitchcock everywhere - Number 17, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps and North by Northwest to mention only a few. And doing something in the Hitchcock vein with suspense and comedy as partners is a great idea - not remaking a Hitchcock movie which seems to be the fad nowadays.Mancini's score is superb, the best of the best, and the actors are all in top form. Ray Walston has one of the funniest lines I've heard recently. It keeps the audience guessing what's going to come up and surprising them time and time again. Curtis Stotlar

George (Gene Wilder) is a small-time publisher whose virgin-ride on Silver Streak becomes the ride of his life. He not only finds love on the train (he also makes love, by the way!), but also gets involved in a murder case that leads to him being thrown out of the train thrice! Gene Wilder, the actor also formed a partnership with Richard Pryor after the movie and they starred in three other films not seen by me but my father who loves Pryor's comic timing. So, Silver Streak has a legacy of its own.The movie starts of as a sex-comedy, with incessant innuendos, then momentarily to a love story only to throw a suspense-murder angle and then turning back to action-comedy. The high point in this is the action-comedy sequence between Pryor and Wilder, as both guys are subtle and cool. Thank God Pryor did not become a loud stereotype, like the actors from the Tyler Perry movies.The action scenes towards the end could have had some humor as the movie throws in too much action and forgets the humor which it had during most of the previous scenes. Jill Clayburgh is disappointing and unconvincing though and made her character look somewhat self-centered. The antagonist seemed a bit too stilted to be menacing and had a queer accent. Also, some scenes were random and could be done away with i.e. the scene where George has to milk a cow was just there for the naughty humor and nothing else.Silver Steak is a good film and has its moments. ( I don't know whether this was intended to be a joke, but I found the part hilarious where Jill's character Hilly asks George what he is doing with a pencil, right after the scene where the undercover agent tells him that the Vitamin E would 'sharpen his pencil'. ) My Rating: 6/10