Remembering Gene Wilder is a documentary directed by Ron Frank. It had its debut at the 2023 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival before getting a wide release in 2024. Later, it was streamed to Netflix.
The documentary film follows Gene Wilder’s career. We hear about his first roles as a stage actor, his serendipitous meeting with Mel Brooks, his role as Willy Wonka, his first time directing, and his continuing evolution as a comedian and actor. Through his own words, we hear about his favorite roles and his writing style. We see his love for filmmaking, reacting to his co-stars, and working with his favorite collaborators. We also get insights into his personal life and the struggles he faced with his health later on.
I will never forget when I was a child and my parents rented Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory from Blockbuster. I was mesmerized by the visuals, stunned by the music, shocked by the story, and, of course, amazed by the actor portraying Willy Wonka. Wilder instantly won my heart, and from there, I saw many of his other roles. Going into this, I learned so many things about his life that I truly did not know.
From interviews with his frequent collaborator Mel Brooks, second wife Karen Boyer, and others, we get a clear picture of his amazing film career. I do wish it had explored a bit more of his early life and childhood, but it jumps right into his stage career and segways into his early roles.
That being said, it was an excellent dive into Wilder’s life. We hear insights into how he got certain roles and how he missed out on working with John Wayne. It was a fascinating exploration of the actor as we hear about his favorite roles and how they impacted him.
The most impactful moments were hearing from Wilder himself. Through his personal recordings and clips from interviews, we hear his insights into his career. He had so much praise for his directors, fellow actors, and writers, which he delivered with such a natural sincerity. It was amazing to hear. This is what won me over to the documentary and had me hooked.
If you are a fan of comedy, cinema, or biopics, this one is definitely worth watching. Gene Wilder’s life is worth exploring, and you see the failures, the triumphs, the love, the loss, and the incredible life of a man who just wanted to make audiences laugh. You laughed, cheered, and even shed a few tears.
Check out the trailer below:
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence, Strong foul language, Inappropriate humor
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