History Film / SilverStreak

* SaltAndPepper: George and Grover.

While getting intimate with Hilly, George sees the body of Hilly's employer, Professor Schreiner, falling from the roof of their car. When George attempts to investigate, he too is thrown off the train. Eventually making his way back onto the train, George tells Bob Sweet what happened, and Sweet reveals that he's actually an FBI agent who's been tailing international art dealer Roger Devereau (
[=McGoohan=]), whom he believes to be the one responsible for Schreiner's death. Schreiner's new book on Rembrandt would have exposed several of Devereau's prized pieces as frauds. Devereau's henchmen [[spoiler: kill Sweet]] and attempt to kill George, who escapes the train hoping to inform the authorities. Unfortunately, Devereau has already framed George for [[spoiler:Sweet's death]]. Evading the police with the aid of a thief named Grover T. Muldoon (Pryor), George must find a way back aboard the Silver Streak in order to stop Devereau and rescue Hilly.

* GenreBusting: It's a comedy-suspense film with a romantic subplot, hints of Blaxpoitation, and a disaster movie ending.

* HiddenDepths: Bob Sweet, who at first seems to be a womanizing buffoon, is actually [[spoiler: an undercover government agent chasing the BigBad. In fact, given his first conversation with George, he may even be the ChessMaster.]] Hinted at by how much he knows about Devereau.

* GiantMook: Reace, played by 7'2 Creator/RichardKiel.

A 1976 American comedy/action/mystery film directed by Creator/ArthurHiller, written by Colin Higgins, and starring Creator/GeneWilder, Creator/JillClayburgh, Creator/RichardPryor, and Creator/PatrickMcGoohan.

* CoolOldLady: Lucille Benson (who specialized in that kind of role) as Rita Babtree, the crop-duster pilot who gives George a lift after he's ejected from the train the first time.

** [[spoiler: If it hadn't been for the sheer coincidence of Reace showing up just after Sweet buzzed the porter, Ralston from George's cabin, his plan to have Devereau, Whiney, and Johnson locked up would've succeeded and the letters would've been saved, not to mention the runaway train situation at the end would've been prevented. Instead, he answers George's door as they go through a tunnel and is mistakenly shot by Reace who thinks he's killing George.]]

* ChessMaster: Devereau certainly fancies himself as one, although his supposed mastery is mostly one IndyPloy after another. Bob Sweet (a.k.a. [[spoiler: Agent Stevens]]) is also a ChessMaster, of the CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass variety.

* RuleOfThree: George is thrown off the train three times. [[RunningGag Each time]] he expresses his frustration with a loud "SONOFABITCH!!!"

A 1976 American comedy/action/mystery film directed by Creator/ArthurHiller, written by Colin Higgins, and starring Creator/GeneWilder, Jill Clayburgh, Creator/RichardPryor, and Creator/PatrickMcGoohan.

George Caldwell (Wilder) is a book editor traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago via a passenger train nicknamed the "Silver Streak". On board, he meets a vitamin salesman named Bob Sweet (Creator/NedBeatty) and a secretary named Hilly Burns (Clayburgh), whom he quickly romances.

* MoodWhiplash: George and Hilly share a romantic and flirty dinner, retire to bed with more champagne and clear intentions of having sex, then complete with ScareChord, a figure, "shot through the head" falls off the train outside the window.

* LingerieScene: The first time we (and George) see Hilly, she's in a mini-slip as George accidentally opens the door between their adjoining compartments while she's dressing.

* LingerieScene: The first time we (and Geogre) see Hilly, she's in a mini-slip as George accidentally opens the door between their adjoining compartments while she's dressing.

-->'''George:''' ''(over his shoulder, running for the train)'' '''George!'''

-->'''George:''' (over his shoulder, running for the train) ''George!''

-->'''George:''' "Pure pussy"? Tell that to the judge!

* OnlySaneMan: George is a simple book editor with a love of gardening, who suddenly finds himself caught in a web of intrigue between government agents, art forgers and a random criminal who becomes his partner as he tries to stop the plot.

-->'''George:''' ''(as he fumbles with the stuck door latch)'' I'm not doing it on purpose.

-->'''George:'''' ''(as he fumbles with the stuck door latch)'' I'm not doing it on purpose.