Leo Bloom. The Waco Kid. Willy Wonka. These are just a few of the roles played by Gene Wilder, the subject of a new documentary celebrating the life and work of the beloved actor.
But if it weren’t for the gumption of one Mel Brooks, he may have never had that amazing career. Brooks cast Wilder as the anxious accountant Leo Bloom in his feature directorial debut, 1967’s “The Producers.” He met Wilder through his then-girlfriend, Anne Bancroft, who was performing with Wilder in a stage adaptation of “Mother Courage,” and thought he would be great for the part.
Not everyone agreed, however. According to Brooks, after seeing the first round of dailies, financier and distributor Joe Levine told the director to find a different actor for Bloom – someone who “looks like a leading man.” The way Brooks tells it, he told Levine sure thing, you got it – and then did the exact opposite, keeping Wilder on the film. And if you’ve ever seen “The Producers,” I’m sure you’d agree he made the right decision.
“Remembering Gene Wilder” is full of fun anecdotes like this one and features interviews with Brooks, Carol Kane, Alan Alda, and many other screen legends. It not only delves into what made Wilder such a special performer, but what drew people to him in his personal life as well. The film gives space to his partnerships with those such as Brooks and Richard Pryor, his tragic marriage to comedian Gilda Radnor, his relationship with the love of his life Karen, and his last difficult years suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The film opens in Atlanta on March 22 at the Tara Theatre. Ahead of the screening, Rough Draft Atlanta spoke to “Remembering Gene Wilder” writer Glenn Kirschbaum and director Ron Frank about working on the film and keeping Wilder’s legacy alive.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
When was the first time you remember seeing Gene Wilder on screen?
Ron Frank: The…
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