Discussing
What Gene Wilder Knew

Gene Wilder's comically flailing characters remind us how difficult it is to muster grace. Thankfully, we need only receive it.

This was a fun romp down memory lane, with a great point about control and the flesh. Wilder's talent and grasp of the classic "tirade" was enjoyable no matter the character or storyline.

I did want to offer that in Willy Wonka, Wilder's outburst toward Charlie is measured and intentional. It's deceptively staged as out of control, but it is designed to test the integrity he already knows Charlie has. In that character, we do not see a lack of control, but rather a coach or 'god' like figure who invites us on a fantastic journey to experience our hearts and character in real time - while drawing out the best of what He already intended our lives to demonstrate. It is a picture of discipleship and grace, packed into a 90 minute romp through a carefully planned wild experience to test the soul. ;-)

In Reply to Nate (comment #29090)
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Good point about Wonka, Nate. Perhaps he stands further apart from Wilder's other characters than I initially thought. He sure sells that outburst though!

I was going to make the same point about Wonka that Nate made. Wonka is the God-figure in the film, everything that happened was carefully orchestrated by Wonka, from which children found the tickets to giving them enough rope to predictably hang themselves in the factory.

Your take on Young Frankenstein is spot on, though. ".. the spasms of the discomfited soul" is one of the best phrases I've read in a long time, Josh.

In Reply to Tim (comment #29097)
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Thanks Tim. As for Wonka, maybe I'm not giving enough credit to the happy ending in that one.

Hi Josh,

I'm just seeing this one, a year after it was published.
Your two commenters above made good points and you accepted them with grace.

For me, it was also a walk down memory lane.
My husband and I have made it a point to make sure that our kids (all born in or after 1997) know the wonders of Robin Williams, The Smothers Brothers, Foster Brooks... just to name a few. (and some music greats like Rich Mullins, Elvis, etc. [I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but you can't not know who he was!])
When Gene Wilder died I realized we had missed making sure the kids knew him.

Now reading your post, I realize I MUST show the kids the inspiration for one of my favorite quotes EVER! "Come here little chicken. I don't want to hurt you, I just want to eat you."

And I agree with Tim... “.. the spasms of the discomfited soul” is one of the best phrases I’ve read in a long time

In Reply to Tara (comment #30575)
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Thanks Tara!