Blazing Saddles...

[Warped9]

Using a racist remark as a joke or to lampoon racism can be effective and I'm not arguing that it isn't. Yes, there is context, but that doesn't make said remark any less racist. The film does lampoon racism as well as spoof westerns. Nowhere do I disagree about that point. But the fact that I dislike or wasn't impressed with other aspects of the film in no way means that I don't get the film.

The general view of my not embracing the film as a classic or thinking it's funny through-and-through is being taken as I am somehow flawed or just don't understand the point of the film. And thats where the mistake is. I most certainly do get it, but I also think there's a lot of extraneous silliness in the film most of which has nothing to do with spoofing racism.

 

[Deckerd]

You said the film was racist. That tells everyone that you don't get the film.

 

[Mistral]

This is a hilarious film with an on-running commentary about many of the ills of society carefully woven into it. That said, and having had my soapbox moment, anyone who doesn't at least get some chuckles out of this is brain dead or so uptight they wouldn't laugh at Groucho's best. This film is just hysterical, whether its Mongo punching a horse or Slim Pickens lamenting the lack of dimes. Gene Wilder gives an understated performance that holds up today, and Cleavon Little is brilliant with his subtle facial reactions to the blunt, in your face comments made by other cast members. Its also one of the most quote-filled movies I've ever seen besides maybe Airplane! .
I watch this whenever it comes on tv, and own the DVD as well. Its twue, its twue!

 

[Roger Wilco]

Harumph, harumph, harumph.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Harumph, harumph, harumph.

Reminds me of the Roman Senators from HOTW part 1, "bullshit, bullshit, bullshit"

 

[propita]

Harumph, harumph, harumph.

I didn't get a "harrumph" out of you!

Richard Pryor pretty much co-wrote the script, but for various reasons, was not in it. Cleavon Little brought something to the role I'm not sure Pryor could do at that time.

Oh the "morons" line? Somewhat of an ad lib, which is why Little couldn't contain his laughter. This seems to have been a "problem" on the sets of many of Brooks' films.

 

[sidious618]

All those Stormtroopers getting killed in Star Wars? Why does Lucas hate white people? Racist. And not to mention all the Empire officers are white! Also racist. Brooks and Lucas must've been in cahoots back in the 70s.

If someone thinks Blazing Saddles is racist then they need to do some reading on satire.

 

[sojourner]

^Isn't it racist to assume that all the stormtroopers are white people? We never saw one out of armor.

 

[Skellington]

^ They're all clones of a white guy, aren't they?

 

[1001001]

^ They're all clones of a white guy, aren't they?

He looked to me like a native of Australia or New Zealand???

Whatever that would be in the Star Wars universe I don't know.

 

[scotpens]

Lili von Shtupp (to a cowboy with his hat in his lap): Hello, handsome. Is that a ten-gallon hat or are you just enjoying the show?

 

[od0_ital]

^ They're all clones of a white guy, aren't they?

He looked to me like a native of Australia or New Zealand???

Whatever that would be in the Star Wars universe I don't know.

Temuera Morrison is a native of New Zealand, and is a member of the tribal group from that area.

I saw him at a con in Dallas a few years back, and he did one of those chants...very cool.

And definately not a "white guy."

 

[Locutus of Bored]

You said the film was racist. That tells everyone that you don't get the film.

Just wait until he watches The Producers. That will completely baffle him.

 

[scotpens]

You said the film was racist. That tells everyone that you don't get the film.

Just wait until he watches The Producers. That will completely baffle him.

If Blazing Saddles is racist, then The Producers must be pro-Nazi!

Seriously, for anyone who hasn't seen The Producers, see the 1968 original first. The musical remake is a pale imitation. (Although I understand the stage musical was much better -- it lost a lot in the translation to film.)

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I Love blazing saddles, it turns my mind into a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

Oh and the fart jokes are funny.

 

[Mr Pointy Ears]

man,it benn ages since i lasted seen blazing saddles.

 

[Warped9]

You said the film was racist. That tells everyone that you don't get the film.

And you don't get anything. I specified later that the jokes were racist even if they're used to lampoon racism.

But I guess I'll have to be done with my own thread because no one hears anything here but their own assumptions.

 

[Harvey]

Richard Pryor pretty much co-wrote the script, but for various reasons, was not in it.

He was one of five screenwriters who wrote the film together, including Andrew Bergman, who originated the idea, and Mel Brooks. Brooks has said that Pryor mostly contributed to the scenes with Mongo, oddly enough, rather than the scenes focusing on Bart.

And you don't get anything. I specified later that the jokes were racist even if they're used to lampoon racism.

Blazing Saddles depicts racists -- or, rather, it makes heaps of fun of them -- but I don't see where many of the jokes could be construed as racist. The jokes are at the expense of racists. That's the point of the movie.

Pointing out that the film features racist characters is about as useful as pointing out that Do the Right Thing features racist characters. But, of course -- both movies are about racism! If that's what you meant to convey, Warped9, you did so rather clumsily, which explains the reactions here.

 

[Samurai8472]

Richard Pryor pretty much co-wrote the script, but for various reasons, was not in it.

He was one of five screenwriters who wrote the film together, including Andrew Bergman, who originated the idea, and Mel Brooks. Brooks has said that Pryor mostly contributed to the scenes with Mongo, oddly enough, rather than the scenes focusing on Bart.

And you don't get anything. I specified later that the jokes were racist even if they're used to lampoon racism.

Blazing Saddles depicts racists -- or, rather, it makes heaps of fun of them -- but I don't see where many of the jokes could be construed as racist. The jokes are at the expense of racists. That's the point of the movie.

Pointing out that the film features racist characters is about as useful as pointing out that Do the Right Thing features racist characters. But, of course -- both movies are about racism! If that's what you meant to convey, Warped9, you did so rather clumsily, which explains the reactions here.

It's like something Ricky Gervais said

http://www.noob.us/humor/the-office-japanese-version/


"It’s funny because it’s racist"

 

[Davros]

I think it's racist by today's standards. It couldn't be made today without thousands of protests against it.

It is a brilliant critique of racism, it isn't racist itself.