Gene Wilder gave up acting because modern films are just ‘bombs and loudness’

He wasn't a fan of Tim Burton's take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory either

Gene Wilder, who died on Monday aged 83, gave his last interview on 12 June, 2013 to Turner Classic Movies.

It was a very candid one too, in which he discussed his career and filmography and why he quit feature films way back in 1991.

“Once in a while, there was a nice, good film, but not very many,” he said of his long hiatus from acting. “If something comes along that’s really good and I think I would be good for it, I’d be happy to do it.

“But not too many came along. I mean, they came along for the first, I don’t know, 15, 18 films, but I didn’t do that many. But then I didn’t want to do the kind of junk I was seeing.

“I didn’t want to do 3D, for instance. I didn’t want to do ones where it’s just bombing and loud and swearing. So much swearing going on. If someone says ‘Ah, go f— yourself,’ well, if it came from a meaningful place, I’d understand it. But if you go to some movies, can’t they just stop and talk, just talk, instead of swearing? That put me off a lot.”

Tim Burton’s version of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory falls among these modern films dismissed by Wilder.

“I think it’s an insult,” he said of the reboot.

“Johnny Depp, I think, is a good actor, but I don’t care for that director. He’s a talented man, but I don’t care for him doing stuff like he did.”

Though he also gave memorable performances in several Mel Brooks comedies, Wilder will forever be remembered for his outlandish turn as Willy Wonka, typified by this classic, nightmarish tunnel boat ride scene.