“The Chaplain was a great part”, said Brooks, adding that the role is serious but gets laughs.
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During their gig in Denver, the band rounded off their classic hit The Scientist with a touching rendition of the Willy Wonka song Pure Imagination – sand by Wilder. “When it happens, it’s still tremendous”, Brooks said. It’s a big shock.
Theaters nationwide are bringing a few of Gene Wilder’s most beloved films back to theaters this weekend. I like him, but I don’t care for that director. Brooks said that Wilder was such a wonderful part of his life.
He met Wilder backstage when Brooks’ wife was doing a play.
Gene asked Mel an honest question on why people we laughing at him and Mel decided to make a joke, suggesting Gene look in a mirror and blame God! And I took the script and said, ‘Gene, we got the money. But if you go to some movies, can’t they just stop and talk, just talk, instead of swearing? And he burst into tears and held his face and cried. “It was a wonderful moment”.
Now, Conan O’Brien is also paying tribute by posting a video of his 2005 interview with the star of such films as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Wilder, best known for playing “Willy Wonka” in the 1971 American musical fantasy film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”, passed away at the age of 83 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
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Wilder was nominated twice for an Oscar: Once for portraying “Leopold Bloom” opposite Zero Mostel as “Max Bialystock” in THE PRODUCERS; the second time for co-writing YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN with Brooks. “He blessed every film we did together with his special magic and he blessed my life with his friendship”.
