Blazing Saddles is one of comedy’s greatest movies. Made by acclaimed filmmaker Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles uses comedy in order to work past racial prejudice and give a positive message, even if you don’t realize it because you’re laughing too hard. The fact that the word “nigger” was used 46 times in the movie hasn’t stood the test of time, as people have gotten overly sensitive, and the culture has become too PC to be able to handle messages anymore. But Richard Pryor and Mel Brooks wrote this script with that exact message in mind.
Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script with Mel Brooks, said it was important to have the word “nigger” in the movie because he wanted to show the bigotry and not censor the script. I feel like that’s the opposite of what people do today. They’re afraid of showing any sort of message in any kind of context. But I digress. This is getting off topic…
Blazing Saddles is funny for so many reasons. Every character is not only just beautifully written, but the way they are acted makes it even better. I don’t think Mel Brooks wrote to make the faces that he did when he was playing the part of the Governor. But it’s a timeless character now. And Mongo wouldn’t be Mongo if it weren’t for the way that he walked and carried himself. That’s just good casting right there.
And like any other Mel Brooks movie, the gags are endless. From people mispronouncing Hedley Llamar’s name, to Madeline Khan’s speech impediment. There’s even little easter eggs you might not catch unless you’ve seen it way too many times. Like Mel Brooks standing in line as one of the bad guys when they’re lined up to sign up for Hedley’s gang. (See if you can spot him…)
So, yeah. Definitely go and see Blazing Saddles. It’s a “must see”. It’s been designated “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2006. That’s how important Blazing Saddles is. You’re not just watching comedy, you’re watching history. And as always, keep on watching, with a smile on your face…
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