Pure Imagination: Remembering Gene Wilder in Video, August 30, 2016 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #960)

The theatrical artist and funny man lovingly known to generations as Gene Wilder (right) has passed beyond our living realm to firmly stay fixed in our hearts and memories forever.

I grew up with Gene Wilder’s films.  Some of his most notable roles were where he was:

1) the everyman beset by unusual film noir spoof circumstances in Silver Streak (1976) with Jill Clayburgh and Richard Pryor, etc.;

2) the geniusly demented doctor in Young Frankenstein (1974) creating a creature with whom he would one day share a physiological/psychological connection, with a great ensemble cast including Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, etc.;

3) the “recovering alcoholic gunslinger Jim, the Waco Kid”  in a fractured western saga in another Mel Brooks directed outing called Blazing Saddles (1974) wherein “The film satirizes the racism obscured by myth-making Hollywood accounts of the American West, with the hero being a black sheriff [portrayed by Cleavon Little] in an all-white town.”;

4)   and of course, the mystical candy man Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) where pure imagination, goodness, and honor are nurtured and thrive.

So below, I share some of these wonderful performances with you in video clips.  Enjoy!

 

“Silver Streak – Trailer” in a video by FHEfoxconnect

 

“Young Frankenstein (1974) Movie Trailer” in a video by JPBazinet

 

“Blazing Saddles – Original Theatrical Trailer” in a video by Warner Brothers

“Gene Wilder – Pure Imagination (Lyrics)” in a video by króliczy zwierz

 

Pure Imagination lyrics from elyrics.com (lyrics by burkul)

come with me, and you’ll be,
in a world, of pure imagination.
take a look, and you’ll see
into your imagination.
we’ll begin, with a spin,
traveling in the world of my creation.
what we’ll see, will define explanation.
if you want to see paradise,
simply look around and view it.
anything you want to do it.
wanna change the world,
there’s nothing to it.

there is no, life I know
to compare with your imagination
living there you’ll be free
if you truly wish to be.
if you want to view paradise
simply look around and view it
anything you want to do it
wanna change the world
there’s nothing to it.

there is no, life i know
to compare with pure imagination.
living there you’ll be free,
if you truly wish to be.