35 replies to this topic

[Dr. Tynan]

What is it rated in the UK?

[Matt O'S oo4]

Originally posted by Jaelle
Exactly Triton.  I think it's entirely wrong to call BLAZING SADDLES racist, I don't think you guys get it.  You're praising the film for having no sensitivity about racism the way films of the 30s or 40s had no such consciousness but nothing could be further from the truth.  To the contrary, BLAZING SADDLES is definitely politically conscious about race, its makers were profoundly liberal civil libertarians and injected their humor with parodies of race jokes toward blacks, Jews, hispanics, Native Americans, etc.

It's the same sort of humor in ALL IN THE FAMILY.  Remember that this was the 70s when *consciousness* about race issues was very, very sharp and infused a lot of the films and TV back then -- in a far better way than they do today, imo.  The entire point of the racial jokes in BLAZING SADDLES is to *ridicule* racism itself.  You're taking the jokes literally.  I recall listening to a young woman who saw an episode of ALL IN THE FAMILY saying how she was incredibly offended at the show --  she took Archie Bunker's racist talk as if the show's writers and producers were *seriously* writing those jokes from an uncritical, thoughtless perspective.  When the truth was entirely the opposite.

BLAZING SADDLES is a favorite comedy of mine but my favorite Mel Brooks comedies are THE PRODUCERS and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

Wow.

If it weren't for 009, I'd ask you out for dinner.

I am more than impressed Jaelle!

Did anyone know that Gene Wilder was not the originally cast as the The Wako Kid?

Anyone know who it was?

004

"We'll kill the first born male child of every household"

Hedly: *Thinks for a moment and the slightly shakes head* Too Jewish.

[Jaelle]

Originally posted by Matt O'S. (oo4)
Wow.

If it weren't for 009, I'd ask you out for dinner.

How old are you?

[Triton]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt O'S. (oo4)


Wow.

If it weren't for 009, I'd ask you out for dinner.

I am more than impressed Jaelle!

Did anyone know that Gene Wilder was not the originally cast as the The Wako Kid?

Anyone know who it was?

004

"We'll kill the first born male child of every household"

Hedly: *Thinks for a moment and the slightly shakes head*  Too Jewish. [/quote]

I know that Mel Brooks wanted Richard Pryor to play Bart and that Pryor contributed to the screenplay. Warner Brothers torpedoed the idea because Pryor was too controversial because of his drug use and Cleavon Litte was cast.

Intrigued by your question, I decided to search the Internet and found the following at the Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures web site:"Blazing Saddles" at Vasquez Rocks

[quote]
Brooks had wanted the raw stand-up comic Richard Pryor for the lead role of Sheriff Bart, but studio executives wouldn't allow it because of Pryor's reputed drug problems, according to Brooks' interview on the DVD version. So Brooks brought in Cleavon Little, a well-liked Broadway actor, whose theatrical skills are evident in skits and musical numbers like, "I get no kick from champagne." ("He had a sly, sweet way of delivering his lines," Brooks said.)  

Brooks had also wanted an older actor to play the washed-out drunken ex-gunslinger, The Waco Kid. Old song-and-dance man Dan Dailey was Brooks' first choice, in part because Dailey could ride a horse, but Dailey turned it down because he was having health problems. John Wayne also declined, thinking the script too dirty. Brooks cast Gig Young, and the company started shooting

[Matt O'S oo4]

Originally posted by Jaelle


 How old are you?

Why do you ask?

Are you hungry?

004

(Sad how they work people of such talent like Jaelle, isn't it? She should be able to get out more often!)

Ah, blah.

[CommanderBond]

I dont think they could get away with it just as much as Fleming could get away with LALD.