Silver Streak (1976)

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

Colin Higgins (writer)

Release Date:

3 December 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

It's the Most Hilarious Suspense Ride of Your Life!

Plot:

On a long-distance train trip, a man finds romance but also finds himself in danger of being killed, or at least pushed off the train.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Chicago | Police | Book | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Gene Wilder	...	George Caldwell
Jill Clayburgh	...	Hilly Burns
Richard Pryor	...	Grover Muldoon
Patrick McGoohan	...	Roger Devereau
Ned Beatty	...	Bob Sweet
Clifton James	...	Sheriff Oliver Chauncey
Ray Walston	...	Mr. Edgar Whiney
Stefan Gierasch	...	Prof. Schreiner / Johnson
Len Birman	...	Chief Donaldson
Valerie Curtin	...	Plain Jane
Lucille Benson	...	Rita Babtree
Scatman Crothers	...	Ralston
Richard Kiel	...	Reace
Fred Willard	...	Jerry Jarvis
Delos V. Smith Jr.	...	Burt (as Delos V. Smith)
Mathilda Calnan	...	Blue-Haired Lady (as Matilda Calnan)
Nick Stewart	...	Shoe Shiner
Margarita García	...	Mexican Mama-San
Jack Mather	...	Conductor
Henry Beckman	...	Conventioneer
Steve Weston	...	Conventioneer
Harvey Atkin	...	Conventioneer
Lloyd White	...	Porter
Ed McNamara	...	Benny
Raymond Guth	...	Night Watchman
John Daheim	...	Engineer #2 (as John Day)
Jack O'Leary	...	Fat Man #1
Lee McLaughlin	...	Fat Man #2
Bill Henderson	...	Red Cap
Tom Erhart	...	Cab Driver
Gordon Hurst	...	Moose
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Gain	...	Police Detective (uncredited)
J.A. Preston	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Cal Wilson	...	Silver Streak Steward (uncredited)

Directed by
Arthur Hiller

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Colin Higgins		writer

Produced by
Edward K. Milkis	....	producer
Thomas L. Miller	....	producer
Martin Ransohoff	....	executive producer
Frank Yablans	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh

Film Editing by
David Bretherton

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Alfred Sweeney

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Makeup Department
Joan Phillips	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack B. Bernstein	....	production manager
Peter V. Herald	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Kleven	....	second unit director
Jack Roe	....	assistant director
L. Andrew Stone	....	second assistant director (as Lively Andrew Stone)

Art Department
Sidney H. Greenwood	....	property master (as Syd Greenwood)

Sound Department
Harold M. Etherington	....	sound mixer (as Hal Etherington)
William Hartman	....	sound editor
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Don Mitchell)
Edward Rossi	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Fred Cramer	....	special effects
Jay King	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	process consultant

Stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunt coordinator
Janet Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunt double: Jill Clayburgh (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunt double: Gene Wilder (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lee McLaughlin	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lowell Crisp	....	electrician
Curtis Foster	....	lamp operator
Norman Harris	....	gaffer
Richard Moran	....	key grip
Ralph Woolsey	....	director of photography: second unit

Casting Department
Karen Hazzard	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Phyllis Garr	....	wardrobe
Michael J. Harte	....	wardrobe (as Michael Harte)

Editorial Department
Hugh K. Cummings	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Kenneth J. Hall)
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Jim Martell	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Mattie Caruthers	....	script supervisor: additional photography and second unit
Marie Kenney	....	script supervisor
Phill Norman	....	title designer
Paul Schultz	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Frank Yablans Presentations
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Brea, California, USA

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Trivia:

Although you do not see his face, the baggage valet at the very beginning of the movie is 'Morgan Freeman' (recognizable by his distinct voice).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After stealing the car from the lot in Kansas City, it's obvious that the background behind George and Grover is a backdrop screen like the ones used in movies during the 1940s. The scene is clearly shot inside a studio.

Quotes:

George Caldwell: You're very beautiful, Hilly.
Hilly Burns: I like you too, George.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Ben Stiller Show: With Dennis Miller (#1.10)" (1992)

The best movie starring Pryor and Wilder

Though Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder have made about 5 films together this one really shows the chemistry between them.

Gene Wilder is a somewhat average guy that gets involved in a mysterious murder by accident. In the attempts to get rid of him by the criminals he's forced to seek the support of various different individuals, of which Richard Pryor and the cow-farming lady flying the WOI airplane are the most remarkable characters.

Though both Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, as well as Ned Beatty, give the movie the label "comedy", Patrick Mc Goohan and Richard "Jaws" Kiel give it a real thriller character at the same moment: they keep up their performance of tough killers without a sense of humor effortlessly.

The movie itself starts somewhat slowly, but just when you start to feel disappointed because you think you're watching a soft romantic road(train)-movie, a hilarious rat-race is about to start!

Always agreeable to watch whenever it's broad-casted again...