Silver Streak

1976
PG
1h 54m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

23K

YOUR RATING

Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh, and Richard Pryor in Silver Streak (1976)

Trailer for this off the rails comedy starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor

Play trailer3:08

1 Video

59 Photos

Buddy Comedy Action Comedy Crime Romance Thriller

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

23K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:08

Silver Streak

Photos59

+ 53

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Originally meant to be filmed in the United States. However, the National Rail Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) was fearful of adverse publicity, and refused to cooperate. As a result, the producers were forced to work with the Canadian Pacific Railway, using thinly disguised CPRail equipment and shooting exteriors along the CP Rail right-of-way.

Goofs
As George and Grover arrive in "Kansas City," a long shot of the city clearly shows the Calgary Tower, a unique and unmistakable landmark with no equivalent in Kansas City.

Quotes
George Caldwell: 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.

Alternate versions
When Silver Streak was first shown on TV, it had scenes that were not in the home video version, such as:
There's an extra scene of George and Rita talking. She inquires as to if he was riding hobo on the train.
A longer scene of Rita and George taking off in the airplane.
At the beginning when George arrives at the train station, the taxi driver comments that since George is going from Los Angeles to Chicago and a train that he must be a sucker for boredom.
A scene where the Silver Streak is pulling into the Kansas City station, which takes place right before Grover and George rush in.

Connections
Edited into The Fall Guy (1981)

User reviews145

Featured review

fast track to fun

If you can get through the meandering first 15 minutes, you should enjoy the rest of this adventure comedy. Wilder is heading from LA to Chicago by train when he falls into a fling with Clayburgh. During foreplay he sees her boss outside the window, falling off the train. She doesn't believe him, and when he tries to look into it further, he's chucked off the train as well...but alive. He finds his way back to the train with the help of crack-up wacko farm lady Benson. More problems ensue when he catches up with Clayburgh as the killers reveal themselves. Pryor is later thrown into the mix as a good-hearted thief who helps Wilder in his quest. For 1976, this was pretty well advanced in terms of racey dialogue and stunts, and still holds up nicely today. The most memorable thing is Wilder's classic line when falling off the train. Sadly, you're reminded of the age of the film because of so many of the cast members that have died, and how it makes you think that others probably aren't far off. But it also makes you think of how great they all were as an ensemble that provided a good amount of laughs and suspense.