I first heard about "Blazing Saddles" in San Francisco from a young black guy who had just seen it. He loved it. So did I when I finally saw it.
This movie actually could not have been made then either. Brooks sat in a meeting pencil in hand while an executive listed for him all the scenes he had to remove. Brooks wrote down every word. When he left the meeting, he rolled up his notes and threw them in the waste basket. Of course, these were every funny scene in the movie.
Lesson? Pay no attention to those who tell you what not to say.
Also, let's not forget Richard Pryor, who co-wrote it.
”Not to tell an old family secret, but my grandmother was Dutch.”
For my money that might be the funniest line in the movie (and that’s stiff competition). If Pryor didn’t write it I’ll eat my hat — totally sounds like him.
That is one version. I believe Pryor did his part in the writing, but it is claimed that the Studio refused because of his known drug issues and uninsurability to okay him for the cast. I wouldn't trust any source with the word "wiki" in it. I will add that Cleavon Little seems to have done a great job. I don't think Brooks did it "behind Pryor's back."
We now have an answer to Cleavon Little's query in "Blazing Saddles": "Where the white wimmin at?"
They're aligning themselves with avowed Socialists (really Communists) in New York City and everywhere else that the disease of wokeness has infected the population.
There’s also the bit where Taggart suggests that he and his gang clear out Rock Ridge by killing all the firstborn sons. Hedley LaMarr looks interested, but rejects the idea because it’s “too Jewish.”
Back when I was compelled to sit through mandatory 'diversity' training, I'd often think to myself how much better off the nation would be if we were to laugh at ourselves again - and "Blazing Saddles" did just that.
I'll always love Mel Brooks for his films. Lloyd, thank you for this reminder of a truly great filmmaker.
Most films today are trash. "Oppenheimer" was quite good, but most are pretty bad. The MCU and DCU should just go away. I blame Spielberg, who turned out very profitable crap films (Hey, he turned the Holocaust into a feel good film).
We need a new generation of Kubricks, or Hitchcocks, to reinvigorate this art form. Let's hope that "Space Balls 2" will kick it off. We all know that the Star Wars franchise needs a good farce of it.
I wonder whether Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove could be made today. General Jack D. Ripper? President Merkin Muffley?
Sadly A Clockwork Orange is now seen as being all too prophetic. And film critics debate whether the music credit should be to Walter Carlos or Wendy Carlos.
What I find impressive about Kubrick is the breadth of his talent. "Full Metal Jacket" bears nothing in common with "2001: A Space Odyssey", or any of his other great films.
Quentin Tarantino films? If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.
Outstanding, Lloyd. Please be informed that the Thought Police will be knocking on your door shortly. Professor Hayward will come later, as soon as he sets foot in Canada or the Left Coast from his latest tour of other places ,at which time he will be de-personed like Beria for the crime of allowing you to publish this unlawful remembrance of someone who survived the stupid world we live in for, so far, 100 years. Shame on Mel. He should be sent to NY, where Mamdanni will teach him a thing or two. Smile! April Fool's Day is everyday in America now. Don't believe me? Just ask any Democrat in Congress.
I love Mel Brooks. I have a collection of all his movies. When he goes, to me it will be on the same level as Mel Blanc. A Huge loss to multiple generations. To think that he was in Bomb disposal on D-Day, there was a chance, a real chance 80+ years ago we would have never heard of him.....
Stationed in Saarbrücken and Baumholder, [Mel Brooks'] battalion was responsible for clearing booby-trapped buildings and defusing land mines as the Allies advanced into Nazi Germany. Brooks was tasked with land-mine location; defusing was done by a specialist.
Just consider the changes in Hollywood films over the years. When Paul Robeson sang "Old Man River" in the 1936 James Whale production of Showboat, the lyrics were "darkies all work on the Mississippi". https://youtu.be/df4VdyGIqJ8?si=2p3EjaB8GX2eOuiN
In the 1950s remake of Showboat, the lyrics became "colored folks work on the Mississippi". Later stage productions even went to "here we all work on the Mississippi".
IIRC the original stage play used the N word. I believe Robeson fought for the change to "darkies".
For me, Mel Brooks at his best can be found on the 2000 Year Old Man albums. I purchased the complete CD collection and downloaded them. Its envelope pushing satire still holds. Carl Reiner playing the serious David Susskind-like interviewer is pitch perfect.
You are right that Brooks's movies (and Animal House and Airplane and Caddyshack) could not be made and distributed today. What people forget is that they could not have been made and distributed very many years before they were either. Another gang of fun hating dogmatists acted as the guardians of decency then, just as the politically correct do today, and limited what could be done in movies well into the 1960s. There was a window of a couple of decades or so when more things could be done, and it was fun.
I had almost forgotten about Animal House and the scene where they visit the black nightclub. “Do you mind if we dance wif your dates?” That was when the craziness started in the 70s: “What are you majoring in?” Reply: “Primitive cultures.”
I think you are talking about the Hays Code, effective from 1934 to 1968. Prior to the code, films would show an actress in a bubble bath with obviously not wearing anything. Things like that.
Another question - could novels by Mark Twain or Harper Lee be published today? They also committed major sins against contemporary standards of proper racial language, and have, in fact, been banned from a number of school libraries.
There was a documentary with Mel Brooks - I think it was American Masters. In an interview, Mel Brooks clearly acknowledged that he could not make most of the movies he made in previous years today. He said we stopped laughing at and with each other. As for the evils in the world, the best way to deal with them is to mock and make fun of those evils. Challenging those evils empowers those evils, mocking and laughing at them - not so much.
I was 17-18 years old when I watched Blazing Saddles. But for me, it hasn't aged well (maybe I haven't either, but I have my health). And I feel that way about the rest of his films. I was a fan, now I'm an admirer of someone who has accomplished a lot.
I will say that he has annoyed me from time to time with his politics, but I never thought he was pushing them on me when I watched his films.
I first heard about "Blazing Saddles" in San Francisco from a young black guy who had just seen it. He loved it. So did I when I finally saw it.
This movie actually could not have been made then either. Brooks sat in a meeting pencil in hand while an executive listed for him all the scenes he had to remove. Brooks wrote down every word. When he left the meeting, he rolled up his notes and threw them in the waste basket. Of course, these were every funny scene in the movie.
Lesson? Pay no attention to those who tell you what not to say.
Also, let's not forget Richard Pryor, who co-wrote it.
”Not to tell an old family secret, but my grandmother was Dutch.”
For my money that might be the funniest line in the movie (and that’s stiff competition). If Pryor didn’t write it I’ll eat my hat — totally sounds like him.
I believe Pryor was supposed to star in it, but Mel brought in Cleavon Little behind Pryor's back. It's discussed on Pryor's wiki bio.
That is one version. I believe Pryor did his part in the writing, but it is claimed that the Studio refused because of his known drug issues and uninsurability to okay him for the cast. I wouldn't trust any source with the word "wiki" in it. I will add that Cleavon Little seems to have done a great job. I don't think Brooks did it "behind Pryor's back."
We now have an answer to Cleavon Little's query in "Blazing Saddles": "Where the white wimmin at?"
They're aligning themselves with avowed Socialists (really Communists) in New York City and everywhere else that the disease of wokeness has infected the population.
And the islamos who when they are ascendant over the commies will rape them and enslave them if they don’t kill them.
All three is the usual practice
There’s also the bit where Taggart suggests that he and his gang clear out Rock Ridge by killing all the firstborn sons. Hedley LaMarr looks interested, but rejects the idea because it’s “too Jewish.”
Back when I was compelled to sit through mandatory 'diversity' training, I'd often think to myself how much better off the nation would be if we were to laugh at ourselves again - and "Blazing Saddles" did just that.
I'll always love Mel Brooks for his films. Lloyd, thank you for this reminder of a truly great filmmaker.
Most films today are trash. "Oppenheimer" was quite good, but most are pretty bad. The MCU and DCU should just go away. I blame Spielberg, who turned out very profitable crap films (Hey, he turned the Holocaust into a feel good film).
We need a new generation of Kubricks, or Hitchcocks, to reinvigorate this art form. Let's hope that "Space Balls 2" will kick it off. We all know that the Star Wars franchise needs a good farce of it.
A right fit and proper farce of the world's politicians would be fun.
I wonder whether Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove could be made today. General Jack D. Ripper? President Merkin Muffley?
Sadly A Clockwork Orange is now seen as being all too prophetic. And film critics debate whether the music credit should be to Walter Carlos or Wendy Carlos.
What I find impressive about Kubrick is the breadth of his talent. "Full Metal Jacket" bears nothing in common with "2001: A Space Odyssey", or any of his other great films.
Quentin Tarantino films? If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.
But you have to see at least one. When Joseph Heller was asked why he had never written another book as great as Catch-22, he replied, "Who has?"
Outstanding, Lloyd. Please be informed that the Thought Police will be knocking on your door shortly. Professor Hayward will come later, as soon as he sets foot in Canada or the Left Coast from his latest tour of other places ,at which time he will be de-personed like Beria for the crime of allowing you to publish this unlawful remembrance of someone who survived the stupid world we live in for, so far, 100 years. Shame on Mel. He should be sent to NY, where Mamdanni will teach him a thing or two. Smile! April Fool's Day is everyday in America now. Don't believe me? Just ask any Democrat in Congress.
Heyward is moving pretty fast, so he may be safe.
He should do a movie on mandami
Too old.
I love Mel Brooks. I have a collection of all his movies. When he goes, to me it will be on the same level as Mel Blanc. A Huge loss to multiple generations. To think that he was in Bomb disposal on D-Day, there was a chance, a real chance 80+ years ago we would have never heard of him.....
I'm currently reading his memoir, very entertaining. I had no idea he served in WW2.
From Wiki:
Stationed in Saarbrücken and Baumholder, [Mel Brooks'] battalion was responsible for clearing booby-trapped buildings and defusing land mines as the Allies advanced into Nazi Germany. Brooks was tasked with land-mine location; defusing was done by a specialist.
In one interview, Brooks demonstrates hands-on knowledge of how to defuse a mine. As I recall, it involves a sticking a bayonet into the ground.
For decades after WW2, Brook checked every toilet tank he visited because the retreating Nazis had booby trapped the toilets they left behind.
That’s a fun book
Always need a good laugh these days. I was chuckling all the way through that read. Thanks Lloyd, that got 'er done. ;-)
Just consider the changes in Hollywood films over the years. When Paul Robeson sang "Old Man River" in the 1936 James Whale production of Showboat, the lyrics were "darkies all work on the Mississippi". https://youtu.be/df4VdyGIqJ8?si=2p3EjaB8GX2eOuiN
In the 1950s remake of Showboat, the lyrics became "colored folks work on the Mississippi". Later stage productions even went to "here we all work on the Mississippi".
IIRC the original stage play used the N word. I believe Robeson fought for the change to "darkies".
Has anything ever been made better by political correctness?
For me, Mel Brooks at his best can be found on the 2000 Year Old Man albums. I purchased the complete CD collection and downloaded them. Its envelope pushing satire still holds. Carl Reiner playing the serious David Susskind-like interviewer is pitch perfect.
You are right that Brooks's movies (and Animal House and Airplane and Caddyshack) could not be made and distributed today. What people forget is that they could not have been made and distributed very many years before they were either. Another gang of fun hating dogmatists acted as the guardians of decency then, just as the politically correct do today, and limited what could be done in movies well into the 1960s. There was a window of a couple of decades or so when more things could be done, and it was fun.
I had almost forgotten about Animal House and the scene where they visit the black nightclub. “Do you mind if we dance wif your dates?” That was when the craziness started in the 70s: “What are you majoring in?” Reply: “Primitive cultures.”
I think you are talking about the Hays Code, effective from 1934 to 1968. Prior to the code, films would show an actress in a bubble bath with obviously not wearing anything. Things like that.
There also were pressure groups such as the Legion of Decency that Hollywood feared.
Another question - could novels by Mark Twain or Harper Lee be published today? They also committed major sins against contemporary standards of proper racial language, and have, in fact, been banned from a number of school libraries.
There was a documentary with Mel Brooks - I think it was American Masters. In an interview, Mel Brooks clearly acknowledged that he could not make most of the movies he made in previous years today. He said we stopped laughing at and with each other. As for the evils in the world, the best way to deal with them is to mock and make fun of those evils. Challenging those evils empowers those evils, mocking and laughing at them - not so much.
Animal rights activists today would block BS not only for the hanging of an innocent horse, but also for the blatantly anti-vegan pork 'n beans scene.
Don’t forget when Mungo punched the horse.
Greatest of all time! I met him once at New Year’s Eve 1999-2000. St Martin resort. He was very sociable (and funny) with total strangers.
I was 17-18 years old when I watched Blazing Saddles. But for me, it hasn't aged well (maybe I haven't either, but I have my health). And I feel that way about the rest of his films. I was a fan, now I'm an admirer of someone who has accomplished a lot.
I will say that he has annoyed me from time to time with his politics, but I never thought he was pushing them on me when I watched his films.