Silver Streak (1976 Arthur Hiller)

As much to commemorate Gene Wilder as Hiller, who also died recently. Colin Higgins' screenplay is not top drawer, viz. 'I just saw a dead man outside the train window.' 'It may have been a reflection.' (Of what?? A dead man in their compartment??) 'Oh, OK then.' And borrows from The Lady Vanishes. Most of the cast seem to be just cruising through. Wilder reportedly didn't get on well with Prior and maybe that's coming over.

Best bit probably is the farmer lady who flies Wilder to the train's next stop in her biplane, and Jill Clayburgh is fine in a fairly thankless role (the moment MacGoohan punches her is totally gratuitous and doesn't suit the tone).

At one point in a Wilder-Clayburgh close-up I commented "Wow. What a lot of hairspray" and Q retorted "On which one?"

Also led to a debate about how much actors are directed, and that sometimes it's better to have a director who's had acting experience (though I can think of many outstanding ones who hadn't).