Blazing Saddles

Who: Bill
What: Blazing Saddles
Where: Turner Classic Movies, April 2008
Why: In the mood for laughs

I had long been familiar with Blazing Saddles, Mel Brooks’s 1974 parody of the famed western movie genre. But I had never seen it in its entirety. So when the Turner Classic Movies channel recently aired this film, I knew the time had come to finally see it. I was not disappointed. In fact, it is a virtual guarantee that you will laugh out loud. But, be forewarned that you will probably find the humor outrageously hilarious or outrageously offensive. Or both. Either way, it is a virtual guarantee that you will laugh out loud at some point.

The story is set in the Old West, circa 1874. The citizens of Rock Ridge have been terrorized by thugs, who are determined to scare them away so that a new railroad can be routed through the small town. When this fails, the corrupt state Attorney General (Harvey Korman) convinces the Governor (Mel Brooks) to appoint a new sheriff, who happens to be black (Cleavon Little). But this plan backfires when the quick-witted new sheriff named Bart teams up with an alcoholic gunslinger named Jim aka “The Waco Kid” (Gene Wilder). As the townspeople drop their prejudices, the whole town comes together to fend off the bad guys and keep their town.

In an ordinary Western, this story would be full of Intense Drama. But not in Blazing Saddles. No, the story is only the jumping off point for Wild Comedy. As such, there is occasional dialogue that could be offensive to some viewers. But again, it is all done as satire and not to be taken literally, especially when Bart and Jim go to a movie theater to watch the end of the film they’re in. This is 1874?! Not when they end up in 1974 Hollywood! It gives new meaning to the “Wild West”.

In addition to those already named, look for appearances by Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, and John Hillerman (Higgins on Magnum PI). Also look for Alex Karras, best known at the time as a former Defensive Tackle for the Detroit Lions and less than ten years from co-starring in the sitcom Webster.