Overview
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.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
Mel Brooks - Director
Cleavon Little
Gene Wilder
Slim Pickens
Harvey Korman
Madeline Kahn
Mel Brooks
Burton Gilliam
Alex Karras
David Huddleston
Liam Dunn
Details
- Format: DVD (Special Edition, AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Widescreen)
- Run Time: 93
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 085391895923
- Genre: COMEDIES
- Rating: R (MPAA)
- Release Date: June 2004
Movie Reviews
Notes:
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.
Reviews:
"...This cowboy-tweaking smash was great in its day..." - 07/03/1997 USA Today, p.3D
"...Brooks' success left an unmistakable scent on movies from AIRPLANE! To AMERICAN PIE..." - 01/11/2002 Entertainment Weekly, p.36
"[I]t's still unfailingly hilarious, and it's practically overflowing with real heart and warmth..." - 07/01/2004 Premiere, p.111
"Gene Wilder is ingenuous..." - 09/01/2004 Sight and Sound, p.94
"In a hilarious assault on good taste, BLAZING SADDLES stars Cleavon Little as an unlikely sheriff and Gene Wilder as the wacko Waco Kid..." - 07/01/2006 Widescreen Review, p.64