Mongo is presented as a larger-than-life bully, someone Bart couldn't possibly match physically. Gene Wilder petitioned Brooks to cast him as the Waco Kid, but Brooks wanted an older, grizzled actor with lines in his face. The film is as much a sly satire of classic Westerns as it is a slapdash spoof in the year 1874, a ruthless attorney general, Hedysorry, HedleyLamarr (Harvey Korman), wants to exploit the land of a small Wild West town called Rock Ridge so he can manipulate the track of the intercontinental railroad, thus becoming richer and more powerful.But the "white, God-fearing" citizens of Rock Ridge are unwilling to budge, no matter how many times Lamarr's goons go on the attack, leaving "people stampeded, and cattle raped." What does that matter while Alex Karras is knocking a horse cold with a right cross to the jaw? If you can't handle the humorous heat, get out of the Chuckle Hut Comedy Club, etc. For more from history's most clueless decade, learn these 20 Slang Terms From the 1990s No One Uses Anymore. According to Brooks, most of the letters complaining about it were from white people. Cleavon Little was a Cali resident who went to New York to study at Julliard, before winning a Tony Award in 1970 forPurlie on Broadway. Commentator: Mel Brooks (co-writer/director). 4 0 obj After seeing the film, chairman of Warner Bros. Ted Ashley did not know Brooks had final cut of the film, so he gave him various notes. Madelines final gig was a big arc as Pauline Fox on the show Cosby, appearing in over 80 episodes. Roger Ebert gave the film four stars out of four, calling it a "crazed grab bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing except hit us over the head with a rubber chicken. 19. Spaceballs is a lot more than a Star Wars parody. 8. The resulting brawl between townsfolk, railroad workers, and Lamarr's thugs literally breaks the fourth wall and bursts onto a neighboring movie set where director Buddy Bizarre is filming a Busby Berkeley-style top-hat-and-tails musical number; into the studio commissary for a food fight; and spilling out of the Warner Bros. film lot onto the streets of Burbank. BLAZING SADDLES CHORDS by Frankie Laine @ Ultimate theme plays on the soundtrack. To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life. The townspeople demand that Governor William J. Taggart and his men arrive to kill Bart, but Jim outshoots them and forces their retreat. William J. Brooks refuses to watch the broadcast TV edit of the film because he believes all the comedy has been stripped out of themovie. Cleavon was a hard-working and driven man, but unfortunately dealt with stomach disorders for much of his life. But watching it in 2019, it's kind of fascinating to consider my initial reaction to the film, as a nave 13-year old busting a gut as much at jokes that still hold up as I laughed, in shock, at the use of profanities and slurs (which I won't repeat here without the help of some asterisks) that I simply couldn't believe were in a mainstream studio comedy. "[11], Brooks described the writing process as chaotic: "Blazing Saddles was more or less written in the middle of a drunken fistfight. That would probably get a lot of support. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. Was the 'Most Loved Line' in 'Blazing Saddles' a 'Mistake'? ", , it's easy to forget cutting jokes like that, which are vastly more subtle than the infamous campfire scene where all the cowboys fart after eating a healthy helping of beans. As he settles into his seat, he sees onscreen Bart arriving on horseback outside the theatre. Well, Cleavon won the role of Sheriff Bart over stand-up legend Richard Pryor, originally slated for the part. He's just been informed that, as preparation for getting the 90-year-old filmmaker on the phone, the interviewer he's speaking to has consumed a large amount '"[18], Principal photography began on March 6, 1973, and wrapped in early May 1973. Vincent Canby wrote:[24]. There is a certain amount of warmth that comes with hearing him recount his favorite scenes, but it makes for a bit of a choppy commentary. That said, you're talking about the text or framing of the joke, not the essence. Brooks said that Lamarr "never got the joke. In order to grab their land, Hedley Lemar (Harvey Korman), a politically connected nasty person, sends in his henchmen to make the town unlivable. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Blazing Saddles Stirred for 10 seconds while glancing at an unopened bottle of vermouth. Bart subdues Mongo, an immensely strong and dim-witted yet philosophical henchman sent to kill him, then outwits German seductress-for-hire Lili Von Shtupp at her own game, with Lili falling in love with him. ml.[,{/P(1Ud^79,Kg=-p,/-G1BSx{b})BEB They'll be very aware if there's no shade. A Look Behind The Scenes Of Blazing Saddles Including The Infamous Line That Was Not Meant To Be Said By Taylor McAdams - July 14, 2019 1974 brought 30 Blazing Saddles Quotes for Satire Thatll Never Get Old On one hand, it's not wrong to suggest that Blazing Saddles is an equal opportunity offender no group leaves this movie unscathed. Related Topics: Commentary Commentary, Mel Brooks. Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), in her video essay application to Harvard Law School. Warner Bros. executive John Calley was the inside supporter of the film. Stand-up comedians (primarily those who are older and white, which is clearly a weird coincidence) often rail against the notion that younger, more diverse audiences aren't too excited at the prospect of laughing at humor targeting wide cultures of people by utilizing hoary stereotypes. Wilder talked about how theyd go at it for hours trying to figure out the best lines for Genes character, it was a collaborative effort through and through. (The way that Little cracks up at this is one of the film's most charming and likely unplanned elements.) Brooks said that he was flattered and chose to not fight it in court; the studio settled out of court for a small sum and an apology for "almost using her name." The partnership between him and Wilder is also legendary, reminiscent of longtime comedy duos like Lewis and Martin, or Crosby and Hope. On the American frontier of 1874, a new railroad under construction will have to be rerouted through the town of Rock Ridge in order to avoid quicksand. to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter! Blazing Saddles (1974) Commentator: Mel Brooks (co-writer/director) 1. is an equal opportunity offender no group leaves this movie unscathed. Milton Waddams (Stephen Roots) trying to get his beloved stapler back. ", The film was almost unreleased. 37 Movies Every Man Over 40 Should Be Able to Quote, 20 Slang Terms From the 1990s No One Uses Anymore. Mel Brooks: the DGA Interview", "Death of a Drive-In: Pickwick Theater Shuts Down, Ending an Era for Burbank Moviegoers and Film Makers", "Screen: 'Blazing Saddles', a Western in Burlesque", "The 47th Academy Awards (1975) Nominees and Winners", "Film Hall of Fame Inductees: Productions", "Writers Guild Awards Winners: 1995-1949", Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (19661974), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blazing_Saddles&oldid=1151871831, Films with screenplays by Norman Steinberg, United States National Film Registry films, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Online Film & Television Association Awards. From the libretto of the La-La Land Records soundtrack album, Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screenplay, "John Alvin, 59; created movie posters for such films as 'Blazing Saddles' and 'E.T. 3. Synopsis: The Ultimate Western Spoof. In 1963, Gene co-starred in a stage production opposite Anne Bancroft, who introduced him to her husband, Brooks. Once through the tollbooth, the raiders attack the fake town and its population of dummies, which have been booby-trapped with dynamite. And thats just how NFL quarterbacks used to feel about Alex Karras, because he had his start as an NFL lineman and not just any lineman; he was an amazing five-time all-pro player and a first-round draft pick! (The Dom DeLuise cameo has one good line, where he asks not to be punched in the face, but the gay jokes in his scene are rough to watch now. If you shoot Mongo, youll just make him mad! The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: A television pilot titled Black Bart was produced for CBS based on Bergman's original story. Obviously. 2 0 obj While addressing his group of bad guys, Harvey Korman's character reminds them that, although they are risking their lives, he is "risking an almost certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor!" Sure enough, even though it was released nearly 50 years ago, it remains a trailblazing cult classic still enjoyed by movie buffs and comedy lovers all over the world. Mel Brooks wastes no time establishing Hedley Lamarr as the villain of Blazing Saddles, who swears hes a genius but the jury is out. Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) tossing out her catchphrase. Gene Wilder would give Cleavon LIttle pointers for acting in front of the cameras, and the two became good friends. In order to grab their land, Hedley Lemar (Harvey Korman), a politically connected nasty person, sends in his henchmen to make the town unlivable. Blazing Saddles Bandleader Count Basie has a cameo as himself, appearing with his orchestra. Bart blocks Lamarr's escape and shoots him in the groin. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Some of his many hit films include Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Its very strange. Alright, lets giddyup! document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { He also created the hit series Get Smart with Buck Henry. Slim Pickens, born Louis Burton Lindley Jr., began acting in 1946. However, he started out in the rodeo business, eventually trying his hand at acting in hopes of landing some cowboy rolesand thats exactly what happened. But law and order is the last In 1983, she starred as Madeline Wayne on the short-lived sitcom Oh Madeline!. And some of that vulgar humorspecifically the many sex jokes, such as the gag in which the modern Frankenstein's fiance is swayed to sleep with the monster based on hisuhsizeis clearly of its time. Stirred for 10 seconds while glancing at an unopened bottle of vermouth." Brooks: Blazing Saddles would never "I explained that I was a happily married man and that I needed someone who could straddle a chair with her legs like Marlene Dietrich in Destry Rides Again. This was in part due to its "simplistic framing" and the casting of Harvey Korman, known for The Carol Burnett Show (CBS, 1967-1978), which was similarly "low on characterization and story, instead opting for a high volume of one-liners and visual gags. [13] The role of Sheriff Bart went to Cleavon Little, and Pryor remained as a screenwriter instead. } He also won a Primetime Emmy for his appearance on the sitcom Dear John in 1989. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Sort of. Did you know jazz legend Count Basie appears in the film? Instead of Bart and the Waco Kid riding off on their horses into the sunset, they ride part of the way before getting off their horses and entering a fancy black car that drives them the rest of the way. "[21][2] This lawsuit would be referenced by an in-film joke where Brooks' character, the Governor, tells Lamarr that "This is 1874; you'll be able to sue HER. Hedy Lamarr famously sued the production for using the name Hedley Lamarr for Harvey Kormans character (a case of life imitating art because the movie includes a joke about him suing her). Wilder also directed and wrote a number of his own movies. Blazing Saddles' Most Loved Line Was a Mistake Captain Renault (Claude Rains) to Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) when Rick points a gun at the captain's heart. Blazing Saddles GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY It was a mob scene. Dr. Considering the massive fuss that was caused concerning this groundbreaking and record making film, it is no surprise many wanted to know what really went on behind the scenes. In order to grab their Not only was I the loudest, but luckily I also had the right as director to decide what was in or out. The guy would have been hung, probably the same day. The audience does feel Brooks passion for his film in the commentary, particularly in the less technically interesting scenes where he summarizes what happens in a scene (which is usually not the one playing at the time). Then, the Waco Kid soothingly reminds Sheriff Bart that he's dealing with "the common clay of the New West. Eventually, while in the shower, Brooks came up with the title Blazing Saddles. His next title was The Purple Sage in reference to a 1912 Zane Grey novel, but the executives thought it was too archaic. Richie left after the first draft and then Norman, Mel and I wrote the next three or four drafts. And then does something really, really dumb. "[32] John Simon wrote a negative review of Blazing Saddles, saying, "All kinds of gagschiefly anachronisms, irrelevancies, reverse ethnic jokes, and out and out vulgaritiesare thrown together pell-mell, batted about insanely in all directions, and usually beaten into the ground. His first notable role was the classic 1964 Kubrick film Dr. Strangelove, and If you havent seen this one, do yourself a favor and check it out; its a dark comedy about nuclear war that is unfortunately always relevant. (The Dom DeLuise cameo has one good line, where he asks not to be punched in the face, but the gay jokes in his scene are rough to watch now.). Van Wilder (Reynolds) dishing out some grade-A life advice. But we knew that a lot of farts had never been done in amovie., It was the first movie I ever made that got to Texas. So much of the film is a cartoon version of the Western genre; even its depiction of sexuality, as Hedley Lamarr recruits the voluptuous Lili Von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn, who got an Oscar nomination), is delightfully outlandish, in an antiquated way. 'Blazing Saddles' At 45: The Legendary Comedy Is Both Hilarious The Best 'Blazing Saddles' Quotes, Ranked by Fans WebMel Brooks Blazing Saddles Script Pdf This is likewise one of the factors by obtaining the soft documents of this Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles Script Pdf by online. Sure, youve probably heard many of the stories before (such as how Brooks took notes from a studio head and promptly tossed them out after the screening), but theyre still nice to hear again in a more casual, conversational tone. President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) breaking up a physical altercation. It became the studio's top moneymaker that summer. On one hand, it's not wrong to suggest that. Mel Brooks: Why 'Blazing Saddles' Is the 'Funniest Movie Ever Cinematographer Joseph Biroc used two cameras for most of the scenes so the takes would edit together easier. Apps; Business; Entertainment; Gadgets; Science; Social; A Look Behind The Scenes Of Blazing Saddles Including The Infamous Line That Was Not Meant To Be Said. The following year she teamed up with this crew for Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. "The head of distribution said, 'Let's dump it and take a loss.' garnered Brooks an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.) The Common Clay of the New West. Obviously. They ended up cutting nothing and releasing the film as itwas. I don't hear no singing. The Black Knight (John Cleese)to King Arthur (Graham Chapman), after losing both arms in the heat of combat. Last week I watched Blazing Saddles [51], The film was first released on DVD in 1997,[52] followed by a 30th Anniversary Special Edition DVD in 2004 and a Blu-ray version in 2006. This was before the days of Airplane! Larry the cameraman (Chris Elliott)after Phill Connors (Bill Murray)drives off a cliff with Punxastawney Phil. 16. Most Westerns of the era wouldn't go that blue, whether or not it's actually funny. Ari is an editor specializing in news and lifestyle. And then, you've got no movie. WebBlazing Saddles Complete Script 2 ultimately blazing saddles is a very funny comedy about american racism the story takes place in 1874 as a railroad is being built. Well, they got that wrong, because you're obviously white.". Sheriff Bart is one of the characters that is truly sharp as a tack. let infinite_scroll_device_constants = JSON.parse('{"TopAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-desktop-is1","Template":"ad_pos_bs-desktop-is1","SlotSizes":"[728,90]","placeholder":"bs-ad-top-desktop_placeholder-"},"LeftBottomAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-desktop-isl","Template":"ad_pos_bs-desktop-isl","SlotSizes":"[300, 250]","placeholder":"bs-ad-left-bottom-desktop_placeholder-"},"RightBottomAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-desktop-isr","Template":"ad_pos_bs-desktop-isr","SlotSizes":"[300, 250]","placeholder":"bs-ad-right-bottom-desktop_placeholder-"},"RightRail1":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-desktop-rr-sticky","Template":"ad_pos_bs-desktop-rr-sticky","SlotSizes":"[[300, 250], [300, 600], [160, 600]]","placeholder":"bs-RR1-ad-desktop_placeholder-"},"RightRailIntro":{"Path":"","Template":"","SlotSizes":""},"UdmId":"12245","NativoDivPath":"","Across33Id":"","FanPlacementId":"","ObWidgetId":"AR_5","AdsLazyLoadingDelay":"700","AbTestPercentage":"10","VidazooPixelId":"5ed3b5e8e35b7200048a2c83","TaboolPerScreenMode":""}'); Blazing Saddles. Blazing Saddles is a 1974 American satirical western black comedy film directed by Mel Brooks, who co-wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg and Alan Uger, based on a story treatment by Bergman. Location and lead actor aside, Blazing Saddles is a continuation of a formula Brooks employed in his breakout 1968 hit The Producers: take the wind out of evils sails by turning it into a punch line. we need 'Blazing Saddles' now more than He survived another four months before dying at the age of 81. The movie was a huge hit with this crowd, and word soon got back to the executives the next day. "[31] Jan Dawson of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "Perhaps it is pedantic to complain that the whole is not up to the sum of its parts when, for the curate's egg that it is, Blazing Saddles contains so many good parts and memorable performances. WebBlazing Saddles (1974) - full transcript The Ultimate Western Spoof. Many call Blazing Saddles the funniest movie ever made. With his talent he should do much better than that. Even Brooks' best overall film, Young Frankenstein, delves into plenty of vulgar humor, just gussied up in black-and-white and in the style and flourish of James Whale's seminal horror film Frankenstein. WebThe setting is important too, Blazing Saddles was set in the late 1800s in the American Frontier. Search, discover and share your favorite Blazing Saddles GIFs. Thanks for the laughs, Harvey. Coming off a successful career in television and two smaller pictures (The Producers in 1968 and The Twelve Chairs in 1970), Mel Brooks took a chance on a western comedy. But she sure made her mark on the history of the comedy genre. Mongo is presented as a larger-than-life bully, someone Bart couldn't possibly match physically. ", "No, it's a cardigan, but thanks for noticing! Then, the Waco Kid soothingly reminds Sheriff Bart that he's dealing with "the common clay of the New West. It featured Louis Gossett Jr. as Bart and Steve Landesberg as his drunkard sidekick, a former Confederate officer named "Reb Jordan". 7. xhr.send(payload); [15][16], Johnny Carson and Wilder both turned down the Hedley Lamarr role before Korman was cast. The studio settled out of court for only a couple thousand dollars, and Brooks personally apologized for almost using her name. He contends that Lamarr never got thejoke. They're the only two passengers. Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), being Deadpool. Brooks adopted this technique and has since used it for all of hisfilms. WebBlazing Saddles (1974) Come on, boys! There were five of us all yelling loudly for our ideas to be put into the movie. The title of the film went through various names. We learn in her big song that after all the hearts shes conquered, shes just over it now. His family reported that Gene died while listening to one of his favorite songs, Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Ella Fitzgerald. WebBlazing Saddles Lines That Youll Never Forget 15. By Taylor McAdams - [2], The orchestrations were by Morris and Jonathan Tunick. let infinite_scroll_general_constants = JSON.parse('{"TrafficSourceName":"mobile_single_page","A9PubId":"97ffba2c-b3ce-4eed-a256-16877174179b","PlayBuzzId":"","MinuteMediaId":"d78e1f27-6ae7-1ce6-2d8a-4f1d4f276a59","PrimisString":"","Connatix":{"Id":"","PlayerId":""},"CedatoId":"","VidazooId":"60a501bfba9bbf00048eec11","Rise":{"WrapperId":"60994fec4a06ce00014a0e24","Org":"5e415a71acebdc000190e321"},"Avantis":{"Id":"","TagId":""},"FbMode":{"Psl":"d7ecee","SubDomain":""},"AffiliateMode":{"Psl":"b6ca9a","SubDomain":"a709o2as"},"DynamicMode":{"Psl":"5486fa","SubDomain":"w9z5ajk4"},"LightMode":{"Psl":"12da3f","SubDomain":"9t7cxd13"},"GeneralMode":{"Psl":"fe0e8b","SubDomain":""},"BroadMode":{"Psl":"ef96ff","SubDomain":""},"NaturalMode":{"Psl":"6097df","SubDomain":""},"InclusiveMode":{"Psl":"71f658","SubDomain":""}}'); Its safe to assume that his Sheriff Bart will be watched for generations still to come. So, when they ask for a new sheriff to protect them, Lamarr convinces the state governor (Brooks) to send a black railroad worker, Bart (Cleavon Little), in the hopes that the Rock Ridge denizens will be so infuriated by his presence that they'll abandon their homestead. So Bart turns into a live-action version of Bugs Bunny, presenting Mongo with an exploding "candygram" and exiting a local saloon as the. The best GIFs are on GIPHY. Brooks then suggested Black Bart, but the executives would not approve it. Harold Lee (John Cho) reacting to Neil Patrick Harris (Neil Patrick Harris), well, stealing his car. The appropriate way to describe Mel Brooks, still trucking well past age 90, is courtesy of an anecdote the late critic Roger Ebert once imparted: he was on an elevator with Brooks soon after the release of his breakout 1967 hit The Producers, and a woman criticized it for being vulgar. Originally, Brooks wanted Pryor to play Bart, but Warner Bros. nixed the idea because of his reputation for usingdrugs. Here is what's close to the argument comedians will make in defense of their own un-PC comedy in the 21st century: comedy is, to offend. "[30] Gary Arnold of The Washington Post was negative, writing that "Mel Brooks squanders a snappy title on a stockpile of stale jokes. ", "Excuse me. Blazzing Saddles GIFs - Find & Share on GIPHY Steve Zissou (Murray) defending his crew from pirates. Mostly, it succeeds. Everybody in Texas loved it. WebBlazing Saddles best scene Oh! "I feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life. All Rights Reserved. Blazing Saddles Synopsis: The Ultimate Western Spoof. It cant' be more than 114. Mel Brookss film is a critique of consumption, and how it has ruined space, our world, and the movies. A town where everyone seems to be named Johnson is in the way of the railroad. <> Brooks' response: "Lady, it rose below vulgarity." Yet when I watched. Maybe they loved it from bothsides., Its still paying for my beans, invideo.. Beyond acting, Wilder was married to infamous SNL goddess Gilda Radner, but, terribly, she died of cancer in 1989 at just 42 years old, which severely affected him. Is it your favorite Mel Brook film? Eventually, Brooks cast Gig Young because he was a grizzled alcoholic in real life and fit the part. Eggsy (Taron Egerton), schooling his bartender on the one-and-only way to make a martini. Well after the films initial release on February 7, the studio made 250 new prints to re-release it in the middle of the year because Warner Bros. did not have a major release for the summermonths. Login . It's here that Brooks totally leaves behind any semblance of storytelling in a film with a lot of fourth-wall-breaking, this is akin to the cast literally escaping from the movie screen itself in favor of a lot more gags, only some of which work. (For your trivia nights: This legendary line was improvised. Brooks offered the other leading role, the Waco Kid, to John Wayne; he declined, deeming the film "too blue" for his family-oriented image, but assured Brooks that "he would be the first one in line to see it. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Blazing Saddles (Blu-ray, 1974) at the best online prices at eBay! [37][38] Its total rentals in the United States and Canada totalled $47.8 million from a gross of $119.5 million, becoming only the tenth film up to that time to pass the $100 million mark.[39][40]. But while being suspended, he went into pro wrestling. Blazing Saddles Jim (Gene Wilder), demonstrating his irrepressibly shaky hand to Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little). The film is as much a sly satire of classic Westerns as it is a slapdash spoof in the year 1874, a ruthless attorney general, Hedysorry. Woody Allen's comedy, though very much a product of our Age of Analysis, recalls the wonder and discipline of people like Keaton and Laurel and Hardy. 2.87K subscribers Subscribe 6.8K 952K views 6 years ago The great comedic timing of Mel Brooks and Harvey Korman is spectacular. I'm the greatest. is both a spoof and weirdly loving homage to Westerns, some of the film's easiest roots are represented in the face-off scene between Sheriff Bart and Mongo, played by ex-NFL star Alex Karras. WebA great memorable quote from the Blazing Saddles movie on Quotes.net - Olson Johnson: All right, we'll give some land to the n*ggers and the chinks, but we DON'T WANT THE IRISH. is a bit of a comedown from the Hollywood-set fight, it also closes with another gag that's both very funny and, in its own way, a solid dig at Westerns. ), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004). Much of the use of slurs here has that same cadence the actors deliver them in ways that are meant to suggest laughter from the audience, but their presence is mostly meant to shock. That Guy. Today, the film itself is immortalized on the 100 Years100 Laughs list, presented by the American Film Institute. Brooks' response: "Lady, it rose below vulgarity." [23], While Blazing Saddles is now considered a classic, critical reaction was mixed upon initial release. Something I certainly wouldn't have noticed or cared much about at age 13 there's, more humor targeted at the gay community in this movie than I remembered, and much of it is cartoonish, a bit cruel, and pretty stale. )As much as the final scene of Blazing Saddles is a bit of a comedown from the Hollywood-set fight, it also closes with another gag that's both very funny and, in its own way, a solid dig at Westerns. 17. But as much as Blazing Saddles is both a spoof and weirdly loving homage to Westerns, some of the film's easiest roots are represented in the face-off scene between Sheriff Bart and Mongo, played by ex-NFL star Alex Karras. } ); Blazing Saddles Ashley wanted all instances of the N-word removed, he wanted to lose the farting scene as well as Mongo (Alex Karras) punching out the horse, and he wanted the scene of Lili Von Shtupp in the dark with Bart taken out. Watch this!, he says. Some people ask how a white man, Mel Brooks, could write such shocking, alarming dialogue in a film. 11 Facts About Blazing Saddles on Its 45th Anniversary He said Blazing Saddles, his Western spoof about a black sheriff in a racist town, could never be made today. "[26], Critics often perceived Blazing Saddles as inherently "un-cinematic,"[27] defying some expectations for Hollywood filmmaking in the era, often displaying production style associated with Broadway theater and US television variety shows.