Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

SnoopyStyle Rabbi Avram Belinski (Gene Wilder) is sent from Poland to lead a congregation in San Francisco. When he arrives in Philadelphia, the naive Avram falls in with three con men who robs him and throws him off the wagon in Pennsylvania. He is hopelessly dependent on the kindness of strangers including a kind hearted robber Tommy Lillard (Harrison Ford) on his long road west.I never even heard of this movie. I am glad that I caught it on TV. Wilder and Ford make an odd couple. That's the point here. Wilder brings a bit of his humor while Ford is Han Solo without Chewbacca. This a funny buddy comedy.The running time of almost 2 hours is too long. It would be better to start the journey with Ford. That way they could build up the chemistry earlier. And they need more jokes. Gene Wilder's mannerism is great, but the movie should be more jam packed with jokes. It's hilarious when Harrison Ford starts yelling at Gene Wilder for not riding on Saturday. They make for a fun duo.

mark.waltz Whether or not this is supposed to be a comedy or a traditional western is difficult to decipher. Perhaps in somebody's mind the idea of a Western "Road" movie with a Polish Rabbi (Gene Wilder) and a bandit (Harrison Ford) seemed like a winner, but it unfortunately ends up being a western "Ishtar".With the intention of getting to a synagogue in San Francisco with his promised bride to be waiting (he thinks), Rabbi Wilder (87th in the class of 88) heads across the Atlantic and is hoodwinked out of his cash and prized Torah on his way out of Pennsylvania. The thought of confusing Jewish culture with the Amish had crossed my mind as being somewhat humorous, but here, it is stupid and even rather offensive.Then, Wilder combines traditional Jewish dances with those of Indians, and the result is tackier than a cauldron of beans being eaten around a camp fire. With only Wilder and Ford having any name recognition (only Ian Wolfe in a cameo as a monk is anybody familiar to veteran film goers), this is a lonely film for familiar faces. Wilder's bushy hair and wild eyed features seem like he still had make-up on from the black-face sequence in "Silver Streak". At least he is innocent here of any creative input in the film, which was directed by Robert Aldrich, who may be a master of the macabre and melodrama, but someone who knew absolutely nothing about comedy.

flicklover I had not seen this film in almost 15 years, I had really liked it as a kid. I pick up the DVD. I still think that it is a nice gem. A modest little comedy with 2 very endearing performances by Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford. Wilder plays a Polish rabbi that comes to America and needs to get to San Fransisco, he has a lot of bad luck along the way. He meets a bank robber played by Ford,and they develop a great friendship. The comedy is mostly Jewish, it helps to know some Jewish customs to really get the jokes. I find that the friendship makes the movie more than just a comedy. It is very endearing to watch Ford's character protect the rabbi in spite of being driven crazy by him. I would say that it is a great buddy movie. Anybody who likes both actors will be satisfied, especially with Wilder. He has a vulnerabilty that is instantly likable.Grade: B+

Ira Siegel You already know the basic story: Greenhorn rabbi (Wilder), hoping to make it to San Francisco after getting off the boat in Philadelphia from Poland, travels with travails across USA in 1850, and runs into a robber (Ford), who is really the rabbi's guardian angel. Should I give away any more of the plot points? NO!! Is there adventure? YES! Is there excitement? YES! Is there comedy? YES! Are there any hot babes? YES! Is there romance? YES! Are life lessons taught? Yes! Do you feel real good after watching this movie? YES! Wonderful performances by Wilder and Ford, and a great story. Sure, there are some things I would have liked to have seen done differently, but the sum here is greater than its parts. A must see for adults and children (although for kids under 10 years old, parents should probably watch it first to assure themselves that the entire movie is suitable for the kids).A carp: I do not recall the image quality of the theatrical version of this movie. The image quality of the DVD is acceptable, but clearly not great. YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS MOVIE ANY WAY!