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A clever satire commenting on racism in America. Mel Brooks’ Western satire Blazing Saddles (1974) is full of meta references and 4th wall breaks as well as endless social commentary on America’s racism in the fields of film, Hollywood, Westerns, and politics. Blazing Saddles is Mel Brooks’ cynical, yet delightful world view on full display. It’s hard to believe Mel Brooks directed both Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles in 1974. What an accomplishment! While Blazing Saddles is surely Brooks’ most lowbrow, slapstick, and vulgar film, it transcends its simplistic surface with deep-seated thoughtfulness for its racial commentary. Brooks and Richard Pryor wrote a script brimming with creativity as they lambaste racist politicians and townsfolk alike. They make the hateful characters the dumb morons, who are incompetent. Meanwhile, the black characters are wise and clever, just like the white allies to the minority’s plight. Cleavon Little is amazing as the dashing, innovative, and charming lead. He plays a black sheriff named Bart in a racist town of hateful whites. Little is always fun to watch in his Gucci cowboy suit, brilliant smile, and optimistic attitude. His casual demeanor makes his character instantly likable as he rides on his steadfast horse into the fray of racist ambushes the victory with his improvised solutions. Little even rides past Count Basie himself playing some triumphant jazz for the audience. Likewise, Gene Wilder is wonderful as Jim the Waco Kid. His quick draw gags and drunken stupor as cool, but Wilder wins you over with his sympathetic candor for Cleavon Little’s situation and his drunken sob story. Wilder may be in a ridiculous comedy, but he is so memorable as Jim because he plays the character straight as if Blazing Saddles were a real Western drama. Furthermore, you will fall in love with the gorgeous Madeline Kahn, not just for her ravishing beauty as the stunning Lili von Shtupp, but also for her casual comedic performance. Her over the top German accent is too funny and her forced seduction sequences are genuinely hilarious. She was such a talented actress. I highly recommend Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Clue to see peak Madeline Kahn. On the other hand, Harvey Korman is riveting as the villainous Hedley Lamarr. Everyone confusing his name for Hedy Lamarr gets funnier every you hear it! He gets several long lists and monologues that are captivating for their superfluous nature and comedic intentions. He aptly portrays the incompetent politician with cruel ambition and callous methods. Similarly, Slim Pickens is perfectly cast as the redneck racist goon for Korman’s Lamarr. His racist spouting is almost as funny as his allusions to anachronistic events. Pickens is given my two favorite lines in Blazing Saddles with, “What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports is going on here?!” and “I work for Mel Brooks!”. I laughed the hardest at these two frustrated exclamations from Pickens’ exasperated character Taggart. I have to mention the director Mel Brooks appears in three separate roles within Blazing Saddles. He’s outrageous as the horny governor with cross eyes and no understanding. He’s the tolerant Native America as well as the random World War pilot looking fellow in the villains sign up lineup. Brooks always makes me laugh whenever he’s on screen. Lastly, Dom DeLuise has a cameo role as the musical director Buddy Bizarre during Blazing Saddles’ bonkers finale. His incredulous declaration of, “This is a closed set!” is too funny. I love his little dance and watery mistake. DeLuise never fails to make me laugh. I absolutely recommend Blazing Saddles as it delivers nonstop laughter with its goofy jokes and poignant commentary. Mel Brooks may pull apart Hollywood by reminding the audience constantly that they are just watching a movie, but he always remembers to entertain you with silly comedy of the highest caliber.Read full review
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Mel Brooks is the kind of funny that is disappearing from our society today. I have watched this movie at least a hundred times and will watch at least a hundred more. I use lines from all of his movies. Because they are as funny now as they were when he made them. And I hope more people open there eyes and ears and see it for what it is a very funny and well made movie
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This is a movie that could never be released I. The theaters today. A film where everyone respected each other but still made fun of each other.
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This was the first film that my father played when we purchased our move theatre in 1974 , what’s blast . Mel Brooks isa comic Genius end of story .
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Great sound and color in this 40th Anniversary Edition. Great interview extra of Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder and others. A little nostalgia tossed in.
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