Blazing Saddles: Farting By the Campfire
Never give a saga an even break!
Most people would say that 1974 was Francis Ford Coppola’s year, as the director delivered not one but two classic films, The Godfather, Part II and The Conversation. However, I would also say that anyone who is too serious-minded to forget about Mel Brooks is truly missing something. This was the year when he made Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, two near-masterpieces that had a lasting influence on many comedies that were to follow them. Never underestimate something as basic as a group of cowboys sitting by the campfire, eating beans and farting uncontrollably.
The film had its predecessor in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), a comedy that didn’t go quite this far in spoofing the western genre, but nevertheless had many good ideas. Just like Brooks, those filmmakers adored this American genre to the degree that they were able to make fun of it in a loving, highly effective way. The year is 1874 and a town called Rock Ridge is in danger of extinction. The powerful State Attorney General, Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), wants to get rid of everyone in Rock Ridge in order to benefit from the construction of a new railroad line that needs to go through the town. Of course, Lamarr doesn’t own the land but tries to force the people to sell it to him. They refuse, but Lamarr manages to talk the idiotic Governor (Brooks) into appointing a new sheriff in Rock Ridge – a black one. Lamarr is counting on the townsfolk to be so offended that they either lynch the sheriff or run him out of town, thinking that will make it easier for him to take over the land. The new sheriff is Bart (Cleavon Little), a prisoner who sees a chance to improve his condition; he’s convinced that he can defeat the racism in Rock Ridge (although when a sweet old lady tells him, “Up yours, nigger!” he’s not so sure anymore…). A former gunslinger, Jim (Gene Wilder), once known as the legendary Waco Kid, makes his acquaintance and sees an opportunity to do something other than emptying a bottle of whiskey a day; he decides to help Bart. However, Lamarr is not about to give up; he prepares a major assault on the town.
The story is not important, that’s for sure; the writers even show their contempt of a regular storyline by derailing the tale completely in the end, having the characters run amok all over the Warner studio lot. Anachronisms also play an important part; Korman’s name is for instance very similar to that of a certain 1940s movie star. This is goofy stuff, and proudly so; the critics were divided upon the film’s release. But it is also antiracist in the most hilarious way possible; Brooks chooses not to preach, but prefers writing meaty, disarming characters and daring jokes that show the preposterousness of racism. Little is incredibly charming as the bright, laidback new sheriff; his friendship with Wilder is warm and funny. Madeline Kahn is outstanding, spoofing Marlene Dietrich in Destry Rides Again (1939); no other star has been able to combine genuine sexiness with this height of hilarity. Brooks cracks me up as the childish Governor and the Jewish Indian… and then there’s Korman, the true star of the film. There is not one of his sequences as the scheming, diabolical Attorney General that isn’t outright hilarious. He has great rapport with Brooks in particular.
The film gains from high production values. The music has an important part, not least the title song, which immediately gives the impression that this is another western. You couldn’t be more wrong.
The YouTube clip shows a meeting between Korman and Pickens.
Blazing Saddles 1974-U.S. 93 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Michael Herzberg. Directed by Mel Brooks. Screenplay: Norman Steinberg, Mel Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Unger. Songs: Mel Brooks, John Morris. Cast: Cleavon Little (Bart), Gene Wilder (Jim), Harvey Korman (Hedley Lamarr), Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston… Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise. Cameo: Count Basie.
Trivia: Pryor was allegedly considered for the part of Bart. Production also began with Gig Young as Jim, but he was replaced after suffering a breakdown. Hedy Lamarr allegedly sued Brooks for using her name in the film. According to the director, John Wayne turned down an offer to make an appearance, saying “I can’t do a movie like that, but I’ll be first in line to see it!”.
Quote: “You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons.” (Wilder to Little)
Published by Stefan Hedmark 2007-10-01 11:36
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