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 | Railroad | Governor | Western Spoof

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 9	8:00 PM	AMC
Fri. July 10	12:00 AM	AMC
Fri. July 10	6:00 PM	AMC

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)
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)
• 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)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1975) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 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:

During the hanging scene, Boris the Hangman can be seen getting ready to hang an older gentleman in a wheelchair, which Hedley Lamarr refers to as "the Dr. Gillespie killings". This is a reference to Lionel Barrymore's character of Dr. Leonard Gillespie, which he played in fifteen different movies between 1938 and 1947. Lionel Barrymore was confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis, so the Dr. Gillespie character was always played from a wheelchair. This was Mel Brooks' way of finally killing off the Dr. Gillespie character.

Goofs:

Continuity: The desk and chair in Gov. LePetomaine's office changes throughout the movie. This was possibly done on purpose as a joke by the filmmakers.

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:

References "ABC's Wide World of Sports" (1961)

Soundtrack:

Camptown Races

Hey! The sheriff is a ni... BONG!!!!

Remember the days when humanity could laugh at itself? Blazing Saddles is a film that takes us all back to a more innocent era. An era where PC was just a couple of letters stuck together. I'll get this out of the way first: To all of you pc commies out there... the racism in this film is there to MAKE THE WHITE PEOPLE THE BUTT OF THE JOKES!!!! There is not a single person of color in this film who plays a negative character. The rednecks are what this film is really making fun of. I think most people realize this (hence the 7.7), but there are still a few who don't.

This is such a funny film. From the opening scene along the railroad tracks to the shot of Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little riding off into the sunset in a limo, the film provides an endless stream of laughs. Every time a person views this film, they can notice something truly hilarious that they may have missed the last time. Mel Brooks doesn't always hit the mark with his comedy, but this film was by far his best effort.

Cleavon Little and Harvey Korman give the best performances in my opinion. I think Cleavon Little stole every scene in every film I saw him in. He died way too young, and I wish he could have acted in more films. Korman's Hedley Lamar character is a real hoot. By the end of my most stressful days at work, I often find myself talking to everyone in his voice. So evil, and so calculating! He and Slim Pickens played off each other flawlessly.

Good luck catching an un-edited version of this classic anywhere but on the DVD. Forget about any kind of an effective remake, either. Not in this day and age.

Don't miss this film! 10 of 10 stars.

So sayeth the Hound.