In the same way many of us turn to photographs and mementos of loved ones that we have lost, to help us hold on to their memories and aid us in dealing with our grief, we also turn to the works of a beloved entertainer when when we have to say goodbye to him or her. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone, especially those of us that have already spent the last few days watching our favorite clips and films from Gene Wilder, that this weekend Blazing Saddles and Willy Wonka will both return to movie theaters across the country in tribute to the late comedian.
Deadline reports that due to overwhelming requests by fans that both Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, perhaps Wilder’s most iconic film and role, will be shown in 200 theaters, and Blazing Saddles, the classic and hilarious Mel Brooks directed western parody that co-starred Wilder as The Waco Kid, will be shown in 60 theaters.
AMC Theaters will be showing both movies at 55 locations, with tickets for each at only five dollars. Willy Wonka will start at 5 pm, and Blazing Saddles at 7:30 pm. So if you weren’t really looking forward to that Labor Day BBQ anyway, or if it happens to get rained out, you now have a rather economical and superb double feature to bail you out.
But more importantly, it’s a way not to mourn the death of Gene Wilder, but to celebrate the joy he brought all of us.
We’re still remembering Gene Wilder here, so help us out by sharing your favorite scene from each of these movies by popping in to our comments section below.
Images: Paramount Pictures/Warner Bros.
