You are reading

Museum of the Moving Image to screen tribute series to Gene Wilder, starts Saturday

willy_wonka_wilder_3_wb550x238-detail-main

Oct. 5, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan

The Museum of the Moving Image will be hosting a Gene Wilder tribute series, screening some of his most famous works.

Wilder, an actor, screenwriter, director, and author known for his comedic flair, died in August. The tribute series will allow visitors to the museum to remember him in some of his greatest roles, such as Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and Young Frankenstein, which he co-wrote.

Screenings of Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein will be screened this weekend on October 8 and 9, respectively. Willy Wonka will run for the weekend of November 25 through 27, and there will be additional activities along with the screenings.

During Thanksgiving weekend, the museum will be offering “Sweets on Screen” workshops from 11:30 to 3:30 Friday through Sunday, aimed at children. The workshop will allow visitors to make their own media projects inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, including candy animation, designing a candy factory film set, and more.

Blazing Saddles was released in 1974 and is a satirical take on the Western genre. In it, Wilder and his friend work to fight off an encroaching railroad development and save their town of Rock Ridge.

Young Frankenstein was also released in 1974 and follows Wilder’s character, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, on his journey to Transylvania after inheriting his grandfather’s estate. Once there, he soon begins exploring and recreating some of his grandfather’s experiments.

Both films were directed by Mel Brooks.

Wilder’s most famous role, however, was the titular character in the 1971 hit Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which saw him leading a tour of children through his candy factory with stops for tastings and musical numbers along the way.

Tickets for the screenings cost $12 for adults and $7 for children, or are free to museum members. For more information on the Wilder series and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.movingimage.us/programs/2016/10/09/detail/gene-wilder-tribute/.