The Doc. REMEMBERING GENE WILDER Reminds Us of a Comic Genius and Genial Gent

The delightful and warm hearted documentary, "Remembering Gene Wilder" pays tribute to Wilder as an actor, writer, director, groundbreaker and all around memorable mensch.  Any list of the top 10 funniest movies of the 20th C would have to include several which credit Wilder as an actor, writer or director. Gene and me, we share a lot in common you see.  We're both funny, articulate and we were both born and raised in Milwaukee. Ghee, Gene...I'm sorry never to have met you but my tells me you went to high school with her. She said you were always kind and well liked. This doc. has numerous clips from the many movie roles that are blazoned in our hearts. Who doesn't laugh at the farts around the campfire in "Blazing Saddles". Young or old, who doesn't love "Young Frankenstein" or is that Franken STEEN? And, who doesn't cherish your cherubic performance in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" Personally, my favorite was your role as the fox in "The Little Prince." A funny thing happened on the way to starring in "The Producers" with Zero Mostel. "The Producers" was Wilder's first movie for both Wilder and Brooks and the start of a beautiful friendship and productive collaboration. Wilder had a minor role in the Broadway play "Mother Lode" as a virtual unknown. The cast included the acclaimed Broadway actress, Anne Bancroft.  Bancroft's then boyfriend and future husband, Mel Brooks was a Borscht Belt comic and aspiring writer. Bancroft knew the script Brooks was working on and told him Wilder would be perfect for the Leo Bloom character which became a fait accompli. The doc. has  interviews from famous celebrity friends, Mel Brooks, Carol Kane and Alan Alda. These interviews sound more like testimonials in their praise and love for him. Richard Pyro's daughter, Rain, describes the deep friendship that formed between them. The hit comedy films they did together broke racial barriers with humor as in "Stir Crazy" directed by Sidney Poitier. Interspersed are candid, de facto interviews by Wilder offering keen insight into his life. Wilder speaks about his love for his wife, SNL original cast member, Gilda Radner. Radner passed not long after they were married. Gene's widow Karen Boyle talks about their happy marriage and the pain of losing him to Alzheimers. REMEMBER GENE WILDER is an entertaining homage of a multi-faceted talent who will be remembered in his work in film and with enduring love by those who were fortunate to know him for the remarkable human being he was. "I never used to believe in fate. I used to think you make your own life, and then you call it fate." (G Wilder)