Blazing Saddles (1974)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers:

Mel Brooks (screenplay) &
Norman Steinberg (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

Never give a saga an even break!

Plot:

To ruin a western town, a corrupt political boss appoints a black sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Spoof | Governor | Western Spoof | Railroad

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Cleavon Little	...	Bart
Gene Wilder	...	Jim
Slim Pickens	...	Taggart
Harvey Korman	...	Hedley Lamarr
Madeline Kahn	...	Lili Von Shtupp
Mel Brooks	...	Governor William J. Lepetomane / Indian Chief
Burton Gilliam	...	Lyle
Alex Karras	...	Mongo
David Huddleston	...	Olson Johnson
Liam Dunn	...	Rev. Johnson
John Hillerman	...	Howard Johnson
George Furth	...	Van Johnson
Jack Starrett	...	Gabby Johnson (as Claude Ennis Starrett Jr.)
Carol Arthur	...	Harriett Johnson
Richard Collier	...	Dr. Sam Johnson
Charles McGregor	...	Charlie
Robyn Hilton	...	Miss Stein
Don Megowan	...	Gum Chewer
Dom DeLuise	...	Buddy Bizarre
Count Basie	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karl Lukas	...	Cutthroat #1 (as Karl Lucas)
John Alderson	...	Gum Chewer (uncredited)
Don Ames	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Tom Anfinsen	...	German Soldier (uncredited)
David Armstrong	...	Pressman (uncredited)
Anne Bancroft	...	Extra in Church Congregation (uncredited)
Alex Brown	...	RR Worker (uncredited)
Eldon Burke	...	Desperado (uncredited)
David Cadiente	...	Mexican (uncredited)
Patrick Campbell	...	MC at Lili Von Shtupp's show (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	Outlaw #1 (uncredited)
Ray Chabeau	...	German Soldier Dancer (uncredited)
Donald Chaffin	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Aneta Corsaut	...	Tourist Mother (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	Townsman #2 (uncredited)
George Dockstader	...	Politician (uncredited)
Ross Dollarhyde	...	Desperado (uncredited)
Stewart East	...	Pressman (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso	...	Mexican (uncredited)
Elly Enriquez	...	Mexican (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Abel Franco	...	Mexican bandit (uncredited)
Ben Frommer	...	Convict (uncredited)
John Furlong	...	Tourist Man (uncredited)
Rick Garcia	...	Mexican Bandit (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	Outlaw #4 (uncredited)
Rosemary Johnston	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Madge Journeay	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
M.J. Kane	...	Leopold (uncredited)
Sally Kirkland	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Patrick Labyorteaux	...	Henry (uncredited)
Tex Lambert	...	KKK Member (uncredited)
Jack Lilley	...	Overseer (uncredited)
Craig Littler	...	Tex (uncredited)
Jay Loft-Lyn	...	RR Worker (uncredited)
Ralph Manza	...	Extra in commissary playing Hitler (uncredited)
Jimmy Martinez	...	Scared Mexican Man (uncredited)
Bert May	...	German Soldier Dancer (uncredited)
Fred McDougall	...	Desperado (uncredited)
Rod McGaughy	...	Desperado (uncredited)
Bill McIntosh	...	Desperado (uncredited)
Clyde McLeod	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Troy Melton	...	Member of the Press (uncredited)
Ira Miller	...	Baker Man (uncredited)
Jessamine Milner	...	Elderly Woman (uncredited)
Richard Monahan	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Outlaw #3 (uncredited)
Hal Needham	...	Outlaw (uncredited)
Daniel Núñez	...	Mexican (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	...	(uncredited)
Jack Perkins	...	Tomato Man (uncredited)
Alan Peterson	...	German Soldier Dancer (uncredited)
Booty Reed	...	RR Worker (uncredited)
Tony Regan	...	Pressman (uncredited)
Danny 'Big Black' Rey	...	Bart's Father (uncredited)
Robert Ridgely	...	Boris the Hangman (uncredited)
Rodney Allen Rippy	...	Bart (age 5) (uncredited)
Hank Robinson	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Darrell Sandeen	...	KKK Man (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	...	Outlaw #2 (uncredited)
Marrietta Schmidt	...	Woman in Ladies Room (uncredited)
David Sharpe	...	Man in Suit (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	...	RR Worker (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	Townsman who falls from chair (uncredited)
Tim Sullivan	...	Dancer (uncredited)
George Tracy	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Jerry Trent	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Frankie Van	...	Fighter (uncredited)
Richard Vitagliano	...	Anal Johnson (uncredited)
Al Ward	...	Man at Pond (uncredited)
Janice Whitby	...	Tour Guide (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	...	Townsman #3 (uncredited)
Bill Zuckert	...	Official (uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Brooks

Writing credits
Mel Brooks		(screenplay) &
Norman Steinberg		(screenplay) &
Andrew Bergman		(screenplay) &
Richard Pryor		(screenplay) &
Alan Uger		(screenplay)
Andrew Bergman		(story)

Produced by
Michael Hertzberg	....	producer

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)

Film Editing by
Danford B. Greene		(as Danford Greene)
John C. Howard

Casting by
Nessa Hyams

Production Design by
Peter Wooley

Set Decoration by
Morris Hoffman		(as Morey Hoffman)

Makeup Department
Alan Fama	....	makeup artist (as Al Fama)
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist (as Lola 'Skip' McNally)
Terry Miles	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William P. Owens	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John C. Chulay	....	first assistant director
Leonard S. Smith Jr.	....	second assistant director (as Leonard Smith Jr.)

Art Department
Sam Gordon	....	property master

Sound Department
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	sound
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recordist
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound re-recordist
Richard Tyler	....	sound re-recordist
Raul A. Bruce	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Douglas Pettibone	....	special effects

Stunts
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eldon Burke	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
William H. Burton	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Cadiente	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dottie Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Barbara Chrysler	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paula Dell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bennie E. Dobbins	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Dockstader	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ross Dollarhyde	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts (uncredited)
Andy Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chad Evans	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lila Finn	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Fisher	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Gatlin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rosemary Johnston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harold Jones	....	stunts (uncredited)
William T. Lane	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walt La Rue	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Lilley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred McDougall	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rod McGaughy	....	stunts (uncredited)
S.J. McGee	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill McIntosh	....	stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton	....	stunts (uncredited)
John T. Mitchell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Minor Mustain	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Sawaya	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunts: man dragged by horse (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Stromsoe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
April Tatro	....	stunts (uncredited)
Marvin Walters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (uncredited)
George P. Wilbur	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Wills	....	stunts (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Wyatt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Orville Hallberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas S. Dawson	....	wardrobe (as Tom Dawson)
Vittorio Nino Novarese	....	special costume designer (as Nino Novarese)

Editorial Department
Carroll Timothy O'Meara	....	assistant editor (as C. Timothy O'Meara)
Steve Potter	....	assistant editor (as Stephen Potter)

Music Department
Eugene Marks	....	music editor (as Gene Marks)
John Morris	....	conductor
John Morris	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Tunick	....	orchestrator
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Tommy Morgan	....	musician: harmonica (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title designer
Alan Johnson	....	choreographer
Julie Pitkanen	....	script supervisor
Herbert Winters	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Crossbow Productions
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1975) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1988) (2007) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanvideo (????) (Finland) (video)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1994) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Black Bart (USA) (working title)
Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles or Never Give a Saga an Even Break (USA) (poster title)
Tex X (USA) (original script title)
The Purple Sage (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Yiddish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2004) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Finland:K-12 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:12A (re-rating: 2008) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Crossbow Productions

Trivia:

Supposedly, this movie officially marks the first time the sound of farting has ever been used in a film (at least according to the film makers in the DVD Documentary). According to Mel Brooks, they came up with the idea after watching numerous old westerns where cowboys only consume black coffee and plates of beans, thus concluding that such a food combination would inevitably lead to farting.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bart arrives in Rock Ridge and the "Welcome Sheriff" banner retracts, it flips once, leaving some of the writing still visible. When Bart walks over to unfurl it again, it is neatly closed with no writing visible.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lyle: Come on, boys! The way you're lollygaggin' around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was a hundert an' twenty degree. Can't be more than a hundert an' fourteen.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Peter's Progress (#7.16)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

I Get a Kick Out of You

Trailblazing "Saddles"

A few years ago, Broadway producers decided to adapt a Mel Brooks comedy and made a bundle. Could it happen again with 'Blazing Saddles?' The movie already has four great songs; a half-dozen more of similar caliber would make for a strong score. 'Blazing Saddles' has a ready-made cast of over-the-top characters, strong audience identification, and some minor problems for a theatrical production (like blowing up the phony Rock Ridge) which are easily overcome.

But 'The Producers' was a cult film that never made it to Main Street and needed the second act of a Broadway musical to give it a place in popular culture. 'Blazing Saddles' could never open again as big as it did in 1974. In the summer of Watergate and Patty Hearst, here was one bit of madness people could enjoy. And it wasn't just random kookiness, but a film that broke barriers and courted controversy like no other major-release film of its time. No other movie had characters that were basically likable if stupid throwing around the 'N' word before. In fact, it hasn't happened since (and I doubt it would on Broadway today.) The whole notion of white people and black people living together was not new, but the approach of 'Blazing Saddles' was certainly new. In order to live together, we have to laugh together first. The only way this film was not a trailblazer was in that it blazed trails untaken by any film that came after.

Was Cleavon Little then a civil rights pioneer for the 1970s, in a way Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were the decade before? He's very good, bringing a lightness to the role that's equal parts Shaft and Bugs Bunny. Richard Pryor was one of the film's writers and Brooks' first choice for Sheriff Bart, but Pryor wouldn't have played the role in the same smooth way. Little is an amiable actor, one step ahead but never cocky about it. He makes for a sympathetic center, and he is flash in those corduroy threads.

Little didn't work much after 'Blazing Saddles,' which makes no sense. It was only the highest-grossing Western of all time, and Little was the lead actor in it. Maybe institutional racism wasn't the sole cause. After all, he had a distractingly rock-solid cast around him, particularly Harvey Korman as Attorney General Hedley Lamarr. Growing up in the '70s, it was a shock the first time I saw the unedited 'Blazing Saddles' with all the casual vulgarity spewing from the mouth of Tim Conway's slapstick buddy on the ultra G-rated 'Carol Burnett Show.' 'You will be only risking your lives, whilst I will be risking an almost-certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor,' he tells his gang before they ride off to pillage Rock Ridge. If only the Academy didn't penalize comedies so, that might have been true.

Madeline Kahn did get nominated for Lili Von Shtupp, and deserved her Laurel and Hardy handshake for sure. Her Baba Wawa meets Marlene Dietrich performance is a comic masterpiece, and it takes guts to wear that dead-weed lingerie in which she performs 'I'm So Tired.' Slim Pickens (Taggart), Burton Gilliam (Lyle), Dom DeLuise (Buddy), and Brooks himself as 'the Gov' all shine, and the level of comic acting remains high all the way to the smallest roles, like the guy playing Hitler ('They lose me right after the bunker scene') and the cowboy who chews gum in line ('I didn't know there was gonna be so many people!')

Gene Wilder is a little young and ironic for the bitter ex-gunslinger known as the Waco Kid, but he grows into the role well enough. Certainly he was in tune with what Brooks was doing more than Gig Young or Dan Dailey would have been (Brooks' earlier choices for the part, with Young making it all the way to the first day's shooting before it was discovered he wasn't just acting the part of a hopeless drunk.)

'Blazing Saddles' doesn't make the IMDb top 250, but it's still one of the most significant video titles because it rewards repeat viewings so well. The wholeness of the film's comic spectacle is too dense to be absorbed in one viewing, especially when you are laughing too hard. It's a cultural landmark, yes, but it's even funnier now than it was 30 years ago, one of the funniest comedies that exist today. Making it into a musical now would almost be demeaning, but I suspect it will happen anyway.