What a great movie! The master of sarcasm, Mel Brooks, made a movie called Blazing Saddles. A soul stirring lesson in how it really used to be for the black man in the American west, it starred Cleavon Little as a black rail worker thrown to his expected "death" as Sheriff Bart; Alcoholic gentle man, Gene Wilder as the Waco Kid, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn and a host of other actors and actresses dedicated to the irreverence of Mr. Brooks.
The Austinist review seemed to place it's wacky slap to everything decent in the proper perspective...
We can't remember the first time that we encountered this Mel Brooks pièce de résistance; whether it was fore or aft our introduction to History of the World: Part 1 and Young Frankenstein is of no consequence at this juncture, as Blazing Saddles is truly the cement shoes that plunged us into the deep river of anti-politically correct absurdity that flows from Mr. Brooks' brain. The n-word is thrown about with reckless abandon, sexual innuendo (which we didn't completely catch in our formative years) is layered thicker than saddle sores on a two dollar whore and the laughs are drawn faster than a six shooter from an ornery bandit's holster.
As a social commentary and loving spoof of 1960's westerns, Blazing Saddles succeeds in not only making fun of itself, but also in making fun of everything and everyone thinkable, which is the true genius of it. No one is spared, thereby creating an air of comfort for all audiences, who can freely chuckle at every slanderous word and political jab, knowing that there is an accompanying wink and smile. Laying the groundwork for the likes of the Farrelly Brothers, the fireside symphony of bean-induced flatulation is enough to make a grown wo/man cry, and that is just one freakin' scene. Now imagine it at the Ritz, with a theater full of (most likely) intoxicated people, with unlimited access to a gigantic cauldron of beans!!!
I was fortunate enough to watch it this past Saturday night on HDNET Movies. In glorious high definition and uncut or censored. AMC does this stupidity; cutting out the word, "nigger" and every other cuss word. Don't they understand that the entire movie depends on Brook's sarcasm and use of racism to make it work? This movie was Mel's masterpiece, although History of the World Part 1 comes in a close second. It must me seen as it was originally made. Get it and watch it. You'll take a different view of racism...
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