1980 Stir Crazy

Gene Wilder was one of the most popular comic performers of the time; he had stolen scenes in Blazing Saddles, and starred in Mel Brooks other comedy classic, Young Frankenstein. Here he was paired up for the second time with another popular comic performer, Richard Pryor, and Stir Crazy became a hit.

The madcap duo play a pair of unemployed guys framed for a bank robbery and put in prison for 125 years. Their plan is to get out, which they attempt with some wonderful comic ,moments.

Sydney Poitier directs this film, and it is easy to tell that he is an actor allowing his cast to perform, opening up the camera and letting these two bounce off each other. It works, the movie is loose and frenetic and very funny.

On a budget of $10m, it took $101m and continued the couples hit movie form after Silver Streak in 1976; this led to the studio wanting more and the duo agreed to make another classic comedy; however, this did not happen until 9 years later with another hit film, See No Evil, Hear No Evil.

Gene Wilder also made the successfully sexy Woman In Red in 1984. It did not hit as big as Stir Crazy, but he has definitely left a legacy; Mr Wilder has gifted us with some memorable comic moments.