BLAZING SADDLES
Directed by Mel Brooks
Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickins, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, and Harvey Korman
“He rode a blazing saddle. He wore a shining star. His job to offer battle to bad men near and far...” So begins Mel Brooks's western epic comedy “Blazing Saddles”. This was the third movie directed by Brooks, following the Oscar-winner “The Producers” in 1968 and the lesser-known “The Twelve Chairs” in 1970. In this movie he really landed in the style that he would exploit for the next two decades—Parody of Hollywood conventions. This is an epic send-up of Westerns, complete with all of the stereotypes needed, and then some!
One of the co-writers was the brilliant comedian Richard Pryor, who was originally supposed to star as Sheriff Bart but had to pull out because studios would not back the film with such a controversial person in the lead. The team of writers, which also included Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, and Alan Uger created one of the funniest and daring scripts in movie history. No subject is taboo, and no racial or ethnic group is off limits. By films end, laughs have been caused by stereotypes of African Americans, Jews, homosexuals, Germans, Native Americans, rednecks, Arabs, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped, and anyone with the last name Johnson. There's also quite a bit of fun poked at government officials and animals. This description may turn some people away, but let me state clearly that this film is NEVER offensive. There are sure to be some prudes who get their panties in a twist over some of the language, but anyone who really watches the film will realize that Brooks has aired out these tired stereotypes and exposed them for the biased judgments they are.
The plot goes like this. Bart (Cleavon Little) is an African American railroad worker in the old west. After attacking one of the white overseers he is sent to be hanged. While in the capitol Secretary of State Hedly Lamarr (Harvey Korman) finds out that the new railroad will be going through the town of Rock Ridge. He wants to scare away all of the townspeople and claim the land for himself. To do this he grants Bart a stay of execution and makes him the new sheriff of Rock Ridge, much to the racist townspeople's dismay. Bart has to win over the townspeople and stop Lamarr from stealing the town. He is aided by his new deputy, Jim (Gene Wilder), who was once the fastest gun in the West, but now resides at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
It sounds like the set up for any classic western, but it is infused with hilarious Mel Brooks wit and humor. In one instance, Bart must arrest Mongo, a villain who is strong like a bull, but smart like a tractor. He does this by invoking the spirit of Bugs Bunny and sending Mongo a candy gram that is filled with dynamite. As he walks away we hear a loud explosion and the closing music of a Merrie Melody cartoon. That's all, folks!
“Blazing Saddles” earned three Oscar nominations, but failed to win any of them. The first was for the wonderful Madeline Kahn, who earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of the Marlene Dietrich-inspired saloon sing, Lili Von Shtupp. Kahn is absolutely delightful in this part. She couldn't be funnier if she tried. Her big showcase is the song “I'm Tired”, in which she sings of how often she's been loved, and how she just wants to sleep now. Kahn lost the award to Ingrid Bergman for her performance in “Murder on the Orient Express”. Also nominated were Diane Ladd in “Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore”, Talia Shire in “The Godfather, Part II”, and Valentina Cortese in “La Nuit Americaine”.
The second nomination was for Best Film Editing. The editors were John C. Howard and Danforth B. Greene. They lost to “The Towering Inferno”. Other nominees were “Chinatown”, “Earthquake”, and “The Longest Yard”.
The third nomination was for Best Original Song for the title song, written by Mel Brooks and John Morris. The song “Blazing Saddles” is such an amazing song that it's hard to believe that it didn't win. It was sung by Frankie Laine, who is well known for his renditions of songs about the West. According to rumor, Mel Brooks did not tell Laine what the movie was about because he was worried that Laine would be offended and not sing the song. Or even worse, Laine may try to do it “funny”. The result is Frankie Laine singing his heart out and making the title ballad as powerful as any other great song from the Old West.
The winning song was “We May Never Love Like This Again” from “The Towering Inferno”. Other nominees were “Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)” from “Benji”, “Wherever Love Takes Me” from “Gold”, and “Little Prince” from “The Little Prince”.
This review was written on June 10, 2008
Directed by Mel Brooks
Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickins, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, and Harvey Korman
“He rode a blazing saddle. He wore a shining star. His job to offer battle to bad men near and far...” So begins Mel Brooks's western epic comedy “Blazing Saddles”. This was the third movie directed by Brooks, following the Oscar-winner “The Producers” in 1968 and the lesser-known “The Twelve Chairs” in 1970. In this movie he really landed in the style that he would exploit for the next two decades—Parody of Hollywood conventions. This is an epic send-up of Westerns, complete with all of the stereotypes needed, and then some!
One of the co-writers was the brilliant comedian Richard Pryor, who was originally supposed to star as Sheriff Bart but had to pull out because studios would not back the film with such a controversial person in the lead. The team of writers, which also included Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, and Alan Uger created one of the funniest and daring scripts in movie history. No subject is taboo, and no racial or ethnic group is off limits. By films end, laughs have been caused by stereotypes of African Americans, Jews, homosexuals, Germans, Native Americans, rednecks, Arabs, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped, and anyone with the last name Johnson. There's also quite a bit of fun poked at government officials and animals. This description may turn some people away, but let me state clearly that this film is NEVER offensive. There are sure to be some prudes who get their panties in a twist over some of the language, but anyone who really watches the film will realize that Brooks has aired out these tired stereotypes and exposed them for the biased judgments they are.
The plot goes like this. Bart (Cleavon Little) is an African American railroad worker in the old west. After attacking one of the white overseers he is sent to be hanged. While in the capitol Secretary of State Hedly Lamarr (Harvey Korman) finds out that the new railroad will be going through the town of Rock Ridge. He wants to scare away all of the townspeople and claim the land for himself. To do this he grants Bart a stay of execution and makes him the new sheriff of Rock Ridge, much to the racist townspeople's dismay. Bart has to win over the townspeople and stop Lamarr from stealing the town. He is aided by his new deputy, Jim (Gene Wilder), who was once the fastest gun in the West, but now resides at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
It sounds like the set up for any classic western, but it is infused with hilarious Mel Brooks wit and humor. In one instance, Bart must arrest Mongo, a villain who is strong like a bull, but smart like a tractor. He does this by invoking the spirit of Bugs Bunny and sending Mongo a candy gram that is filled with dynamite. As he walks away we hear a loud explosion and the closing music of a Merrie Melody cartoon. That's all, folks!
“Blazing Saddles” earned three Oscar nominations, but failed to win any of them. The first was for the wonderful Madeline Kahn, who earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of the Marlene Dietrich-inspired saloon sing, Lili Von Shtupp. Kahn is absolutely delightful in this part. She couldn't be funnier if she tried. Her big showcase is the song “I'm Tired”, in which she sings of how often she's been loved, and how she just wants to sleep now. Kahn lost the award to Ingrid Bergman for her performance in “Murder on the Orient Express”. Also nominated were Diane Ladd in “Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore”, Talia Shire in “The Godfather, Part II”, and Valentina Cortese in “La Nuit Americaine”.
The second nomination was for Best Film Editing. The editors were John C. Howard and Danforth B. Greene. They lost to “The Towering Inferno”. Other nominees were “Chinatown”, “Earthquake”, and “The Longest Yard”.
The third nomination was for Best Original Song for the title song, written by Mel Brooks and John Morris. The song “Blazing Saddles” is such an amazing song that it's hard to believe that it didn't win. It was sung by Frankie Laine, who is well known for his renditions of songs about the West. According to rumor, Mel Brooks did not tell Laine what the movie was about because he was worried that Laine would be offended and not sing the song. Or even worse, Laine may try to do it “funny”. The result is Frankie Laine singing his heart out and making the title ballad as powerful as any other great song from the Old West.
The winning song was “We May Never Love Like This Again” from “The Towering Inferno”. Other nominees were “Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)” from “Benji”, “Wherever Love Takes Me” from “Gold”, and “Little Prince” from “The Little Prince”.
This review was written on June 10, 2008
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