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Silver Streak Movie Review

Silver Streak is a 1976 mystery comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. It’s one of the most underrated and fun flicks from this period.

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“You stupid, ignorant son of a bitch, dumb bastard.

Jesus Christ. I’ve met some dumb bastards

in my time, but you outdo them all“

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A book editor on a rail trip from Los Angeles to Chicago thinks that he sees a murdered man thrown from the train. When he can find no one who will believe him, he starts doing some investigating of his own. But all that accomplishes is to get the killer after him. I’d expected a comedy going in, but what I got was a mystery with comedic, romantic and thriller elements. It’s a genre mish-mash that more often than not really worked.

In style and approach, Silver Streak most resembled ‘The Pink Panther’ movies. It’s a very irreverent, comedic take on the detective mystery and thriller genres that made for one highly entertaining, charming movie. It’s one of those films that they just don’t make anymore unfortunately.

Gene Wilder proved that he was a gifted comedian here. His line delivery and his facial expressions are both excellent and he managed to elevate his somewhat underwritten role with so much charisma and talent. Richard Pryor is also phenomenal and he steals the show whenever he is on screen with his amusing lines and also an intense bout of charisma and likability. There is this blackface sequence that was brilliantly constructed and just hilarious.

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The two are absolutely fantastic together that it was a shame that they weren’t even more utilized for this movie as Pryor only appears midway through the story. Their chemistry was evident in every moment. As for the others, Jill Clayburgh is wonderfully charming in a smaller, but important role while Ned Beatty was excellent as the policeman in the first act. The other two highlights include Patrick McGoohan as the memorable big baddie and Clifton James as the hilariously incompetent and bored sheriff.

Silver Streak is quite funny at times, though the humor is too sporadically used for the film to be considered a full comedy. The silliness and unrealistic situations abounded throughout, but those made the movie fun and funny constantly. It also functions as a genuinely delightful adventure in a way as the protagonist gets thrown off the train numerous times, resulting in a couple of memorable escapades with the helicopter flight stealing the show in particular.

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This was also a film that looked incredible as it was actually filmed on location unlike many genre flicks today. This resulted in a gorgeous-looking movie that utilized its montane terrain gloriously, not to mention that the train setting was brilliantly realized, making for one of the most underrated train movies out there. The score by Henry Mancini is another standout aspect here as it was beautifully timeless and cozy. The action-heavy third act was annoying and unnecessary for what was first and foremost a comedy, but other than that, this is a very strong, consistently charming picture that needs more love today.