Remembering Gene Wilder is a beautiful documentary on the actor, comedian, and director Gene Wilder. More than just clips and footage you’ve already seen, the moving documentary shows how he got his comedic start to begin with and what inspired him to write Young Frankenstein. My no spoilers rule will hopefully motivate you to seek out these tidbits.
The documentary was inspiring on very important two prong levels using spokespeople like Mel Brooks, Alan Alda, Harry Connick, Jr. and Carol Kane (who (humble brag) discussed a move I just had my film class watch: Hester Street) to highlight Gene’s tremendous humanity.
First, we seriously need to go full tilt retro on our media options and choices, from television to films, to get back to mixture of comedy and morality. If Hollywood wants to prove it’s not an incestuous sex trafficking den, they need to make sure the movies financed are in a ratio of comedy to drama/horror/violence of 90% to 10. I dare to look at what it is now and will do so and add an addendum, but I’m guessing it’s the opposite ratio. On tv. we need to put on reruns of Mr. Rogers and Andy Griffith to show that kindness breeds kindness. Seeing the hilarious clips of Gene made me realize how far we’ve strayed from smiles, laughs and the subsequent emotion, true concern and caring.
Second, Gene Wilder wasn’t lucky to have had two great loves in his life (Gilda and his second wife), he deserved them because he was a mensch. More important than his genuine human story, I was moved to be grateful for the people in my life with whom I truly feel simpatico with a quid pr quo of getting each other on that extra special level, people that I treat as I would a baby, with care and realization that that are preciously unique.
Writer Glenn Kirschbaum and Director Ron Frank obviously get what I mean and I hope they continue to seek highlighting the people who deserve our attention, angelic souls like Gene Wilder.
