A madcap spoof of the classic Hollywood Western, BLAZING SADDLES is also one of the most gleefully anti-P.C. films ever produced by a major studio. When the sheriff of a small frontier town is killed, convict Bart (Cleavon Little) is appointed the first black sheriff of all-white Rock Ridge by the evil Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), who hopes this will chase the townspeople from their homes. The naive Sheriff Bart soon catches on, realizing from the less than cheery welcome that the townspeople (who all seem to be named Johnson) aren't prepared for a black sheriff and that he was never meant to succeed at all. Enlisting the help of the sensitive town drunk (Gene Wilder), formerly the Waco Kid, Bart embarks on a plan to save Rock Ridge. A scathing spoof that deals with racism, sexism, and bodily functions, BLAZING SADDLES offers a contrast between picture and words that is shocking, subversive, and hilarious. Director Mel Brooks makes two memorable appearances--as both the sleazy governor and a Yiddish-speaking Sioux Indian chief--while Madeline Kahn does a sidesplitting Marlene Dietrich imitation as the town floozy. Featuring fabulous comic turns by Alex Karras and Slim Pickens, BLAZING SADDLES is raunchy, lovable, and uproarious.
Theatrical release: February 7, 1974
BLAZING SADDLES is number 6 on the American Film Institute's list of "America's 100 Funniest Movies."
Richard Pryor, one of the screenwriters of the film, went on to become one of the most famous African-American comic actors of the silver screen.
The film was not released until 9 months after the production was completed. It was originally set to run 125 minutes but was trimmed to 93 minutes before it was released in theatres.
Excerpt: "It's not Hedy. It's Hedley. Hedley Lamarr"--Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman)
"What the hell are you worried about? This is 1874. You'll be able to sue her."--Governor Lepetomane (Mel Brooks)
"My name is Jim. But most people call me...Jim."--Jim (Gene Wilder) to Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little)
"Yeah, but I shoot with this hand."--Jim
"If you shoot him, you'll just make him mad."--Jim to Sheriff Bart, about Mongo (Alex Karras)
"Excuse me while I whip this out."--Sheriff Bart
"I got it! I know how we can run everybody out of Rock Ridge...We'll kill the firstborn male child of every household."--Taggart (Slim Pickens)
"Too Jewish."--Lamarr
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!"--Mexican bandit
"You'd do it for Randolph Scott."--Sheriff Bart
"Randolph Scott!"--the townspeople
"I didn't get a 'harrumph' out of that guy!"--Governor Lepetomane
"Give the governor a 'harrumph!'"--Lamarr
"Harrumph!"--Reporter
"You watch your ass."--Governor
"Can't you see that's the last act of a desperate man?"--Sheriff Bart
"We don't care if it's the first act of HENRY V, we're leaving!"--villager
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Mono - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentaries - 1. Mel Brooks - Writer/Director
Documentaries - 1. "Cast/Crew Reunion"
2. "Intimate Portrait: Madeline Kahn"
Additional Scenes
Additional Programs - 1. "Black Bart" (1975 TV Pilot Inspired by BLAZING SADDLES)
Costume Designer
Vittorio Nino Novarese:
Director of Photography
Joseph Biroc: American Director Of Photography
Production Designer
Peter Wooley: Production Designer
Choreographer
Alan Johnson: Director/"Solarbabies"
Review 1:
"...This cowboy-tweaking smash was great in its day..."
Source: USA Today
p.3D 07/03/1997
Review 2:
"...Brooks' success left an unmistakable scent on movies from AIRPLANE! To AMERICAN PIE..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.36 01/11/2002
Review 3:
"[I]t's still unfailingly hilarious, and it's practically overflowing with real heart and warmth..."
Source: Premiere
p.111 07/01/2004
Review 4:
"Gene Wilder is ingenuous..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.94 09/01/2004
Review 5:
"In a hilarious assault on good taste, BLAZING SADDLES stars Cleavon Little as an unlikely sheriff and Gene Wilder as the wacko Waco Kid..."
Source: Widescreen Review
p.64 07/01/2006
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