NEVER GIVE A SAGA AN EVEN BREAK.

Most people would say that 1974 was Francis Ford Coppola’s year, as the director delivered not one but two classic films, The Godfather, Part II and The Conversation. However, if you’re too pretentious to remember Mel Brooks you’re certainly missing something. This was the year when he made Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, two near-masterpieces that had a lasting influence on many comedies that were to follow them. Blazing Saddles had its predecessor in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), a comedy that didn’t go quite this far in sending up the western genre, but nevertheless had many good ideas. Just like Brooks, those filmmakers adored this American genre and knew exactly how to make fun of it in a loving, highly effective way. 

And hey, never underestimate something as basic as a group of cowboys sitting by the campfire, eating beans and farting uncontrollably.

A new sheriff is appointed
The year is 1874 and a town called Rock Ridge is in danger of extinction. The powerful State Attorney General, Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), wants to get rid of everyone in Rock Ridge so that he can benefit from the construction of a new railroad line that needs to go through the town. Lamarr doesn’t own the land but tries to force the people to sell it to him. They refuse, but Lamarr manages to talk the idiotic Governor (Brooks) into appointing a new sheriff in Rock Ridge – a black one. Lamarr is counting on the townsfolk to be so offended that they either lynch the sheriff or run him out of town; that would make it easier for him to take over the land. The new sheriff is Bart (Cleavon Little), a prisoner who sees a chance to improve his condition; he’s convinced that he can defeat the racism in Rock Ridge (although when a sweet old lady tells him, “Up yours, nigger!” he’s not so sure anymore…).

A former gunslinger, Jim (Gene Wilder), once known as the legendary Waco Kid, makes his acquaintance and sees an opportunity to do something other than emptying a bottle of whiskey a day; he decides to help Bart. However, Lamarr is not about to give up and prepares a major assault on the town.

Derailing the tale completely
The story is not important, that’s for sure; the writers even show their contempt of a regular storyline by derailing the tale completely in the end, having the characters run amok all over the Warner studio lot. Anachronisms play an important part; Korman’s name is obviously very similar to that of a certain 1940s movie star. This is goofy stuff, and proudly so. The critics were divided upon the film’s release, but the film is now considered a classic. It is also hilariously and effectively antiracist; Brooks chooses not to preach, but prefers writing colorful, disarming lead characters and daring jokes that show the preposterous nature of racism.

Little is incredibly charming as the bright, laidback new sheriff; his friendship with Wilder is warm and funny. Madeline Kahn dominates her scenes, spoofing Marlene Dietrich in Destry Rides Again (1939); few stars know how to combine genuine sexiness with comedy the way she does. Brooks cracks me up as the childish Governor and a very Jewish Indian… but then there’s Korman, the true star of the film. There is not one of his scenes as the scheming, diabolical Attorney General that doesn’t deliver big laughs. He has great rapport with Brooks as shamelessly dirty politicians.

The film gains from high production values. The music plays an important part, not least the title song, which immediately gives the impression that this is just another western. You couldn’t be more wrong.

Blazing Saddles 1974-U.S. 93 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Michael Herzberg. Directed by Mel Brooks. Screenplay: Norman Steinberg, Mel Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Unger. Songs: Mel Brooks, John Morris. Cast: Cleavon Little (Bart), Gene Wilder (Jim), Harvey Korman (Hedley Lamarr), Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston… Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise. Cameo: Count Basie.

Trivia: Pryor was allegedly considered for the part of Bart. Production also began with Gig Young as Jim, but he was replaced after suffering a breakdown. Hedy Lamarr reportedly sued Brooks for using her name in the film. According to the director, John Wayne turned down an offer to make an appearance, saying “I can’t do a movie like that, but I’ll be first in line to see it!”.

Quote: “You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons.” (Wilder to Little)

Last word: “I envisioned a race riot. I thought everybody would come after me and kill me for what I said about the Chinese, and the blacks, and the Jews. I thought if this was shown in Waco, Texas, the whites would storm the screen and cut it to ribbons. Because we were kind of hoisting the black sheriff up on our shoulders and made him a hero. But Texas liked it as much as New York.” (Brooks, Entertainment Weekly)

IMDb