Gene Wilder copies of Mel Brooks films, while "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" was not a commercial success, although it later gained a cult following and an Oscar nomination for Best Score, as well as a Golden Globe award nomination for Wilder. When Woody Allen offered him a role in one segment of "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)", Wilder accepted, hoping this would be the hit to put an end to his series of flops. "Everything ... " was a hit, grossing over $18 million in the United States alone against a $2-million
Burt Reynolds reuniting him with Welch, and made a cameo in "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex*(*But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972). He also returned to the stage, appearing in "The Rainmaker" at the Arlington. Reynolds played the title role in "Shamus" (1973), a modern-day private eye, which was a solid box office success. Reynolds described it as "not a bad film, kind of cute." He was in "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing" (1973) co-starring Sarah Miles. The film is best remembered for the scandal during filming where Miles' lover committed suicide; it was a minor hit. He was