Blazing Saddles (1974) | First Time Watching | Movie Reaction 

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For those who do not yet know, the horse Mongo punched was not abused in any way at all. That one horse was better cared for than the actors. The horse was a show horse and was trained to fall like that, and every bit of that scene was supervised by animal care specialists

The band leader was Count Basie. He was one of the most famous musical performers of the day

This is the last movie I saw in the theater with my grandfather before he died. Some young reactors have called the movie racist. They didn't get that the racists in it are stupid, that it ridicules racism.

When Hedley was molesting that statue, it was the figure of Lady Justice. So he was, in effect, screwing justice. Literally.

1. Mel Brooks played the Governor and the Indian Chief and one of the thug roundup. 2. Mel Brooks doesn't just break the 4th wall he shatters, steps on and grinds it into the ground. 3. The preacher/Liam Dunn plays Mr. Hilltop in "Young Frankenstein". 4. Madeline Kahn also had a smallish role in it. 5. The line, "You know morons" was ad lib by Wilder. Little's reaction was real. 6. The guy that was supposed to play Jim showed up the first day drunk so he was let go. Wilder agreed to do this movie for Mel Brooks only if Mel would direct Young Frankenstein for him. 7. Richard Pryor was supposed to play Bart but he was going through his addictions at the time and they thought it wouldn't be a good idea. However, he did some of the writing. 8. Jim still has his popcorn from the theater. Movie suggestion "Young Frankenstein" with Gene Wilder

"Hey, where the white women at?" Insanely brilliant comedy that everyone needs to watch at least once. 😎 👍 Fun Fact: The scene in which Cleavon Little aims his gun at his own head to save himself from the townspeople's wrath was based on an incident from Mel Brooks' childhood. He said that once, to his disbelief, he stole some gum and a water pistol from a drugstore; when a store worker tried to stop him, Brooks held the worker at bay with the very water pistol he had just taken from the store. Music Enthusiast Fact: When Mel Brooks advertised in the show business trade papers for a "Frankie Laine-type" voice to sing the film's title song, he was hoping for a good imitator. Instead, Frankie Laine himself showed up at Brooks' office two days later, ready to do the job, but nobody told him the movie was a parody. Apparently, Laine did not take offense at the deception considering he reportedly was pleased with the film upon seeing it on release. Unwanted Extra Fact: At the end of the movie when the whole group is running out of the Warner Brothers studio front gates, there is a man in a sweater standing on the sidewalk, watching the action. Mel Brooks has said that the man was not part of the movie, and had simply wandered into the scene. They shooed him away and then went to film the scene. The guy came back into the shot, and is seen standing next to a light pole as the characters stream past him down the street. Brooks had asked the man to move, as they were getting ready to shoot that scene. The man, not understanding their requests, stood there. So Brooks sent out a waiver for him to sign, and left him in the movie.

Cecil B. DeMille was a legendary film director at the time, whose forte was spectacular movies like The Ten Commandments, with giant crowd scenes, and widespread death and destruction.

Believe it or not, when this movie was released the most controversial scene that got people riled up was Mongo punching the horse.

That was Count Basie and his orchestra out in the middle of the desert, he worked with Frank Sinatra at one point. Thank you and thumbs up on the video.

This is one of the absolute funniest satire movies ever.

No, that's not Carl Winslow, that's Count Basie.

"I get a kick out of champagne" was written by Cole Porter in 1934.

About quicksand: back in the 1970's, many TV shows had quicksand in them. I grew up thinking it was around the corner. They were always using the quicksand gag.

There is a story that at a crew meeting Mel Brooks said that it was ok to offend people as long as we offend everyone. An crew member spoke up and said that he was Irish and he hadn't been offended. So Brooks added a line into the movie to offend the Irish.

Cleavinglittle (Sherrif Bart) was a triple threat performer...he acted, sang and danced. Sadly taken by cancer in 1992 at the young age of 53.

At the time this movie was made, the popular western movie genre NEVER had black people in it at all (that I can remember), not even in the typical-for-time subservient roles they appeared in other movies. Occasionally Hollywood include an Asian person, but typically even the Indians were not played by Native Americans but Italian Americans. And the lead in the picture itself no matter what the subject by a black man, except for specialty movies for black audiences, was totally earth-shaking.

"To tell a family secret - my grandmother was Dutch" - love it!

Cecil B. DeMille was a film director, known for movies with big sets, big casts and big battle scenes. Here's a bit of his wiki bio: Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cinema and the most commercially successful producer-director in film history.

"A Laurel & Hearty hanshake..." A play on Laurel & Hardy, comedic film legends.

The band leader is Count Basie.

Both Richard Dix and Randolph Scott were early movie stars that specialized in Westerns. Dix played bad guys ("Remember when Richard Dix tried to take over this town?"), while Scott played good guys (*hats off* "RANDO-O-OLPH SCOTT!"). This movie is filled with things like that, references to classic films and movie stars.

A number of years ago They played this movie at Radio City Music hall in NYC. It is an i9conic Theater. I got tickets for myself and 5 friends. To see it on such a huge screen, which i had never been able to do before, was amazing. Reciting many of our favorite lines with the ret of the audience. At the end Mel Brooks came out and spoke for at least 45 minutes. This was shortly after Gene Wilder had passed away, and he told the story on how Gene was scheduled to be in Young Frankenstein (Another Brooks Classic) later that year, when the actor who was to play the Waco Kid just didn't work out in the comedic role. Brooks asked Wilder to step in, and what a job he did. Still filming Young Frankenstein later that year. LOVE this movie

I love the scene where the overseer challenges the workers to give them a work song and they go into a delicious Cole Porter arrangement.

this film did social commentary way better than most modern media from Hollywood!

Saw this as a 16 yr old at a drive-in...funniest movie i have ever seen...your right, they could not/would not make this now. Mel Brooks had a vision and some balls to pull this off!

Mel Brooks, the governor and Lakota chief, wrote the black jokes. Richard Pryor wrote the white folk jokes. This movie is a movie which rebukes racism and stereotypes. Very edgy and couldn’t be made today. Too many self righteous types that would be offended and totally miss the humor and the message.

The part where they say they don’t want the Irish is actually based on reality because the Irish were victims of discrimination.

The guy you thought was Carl Winslow is actually Count Basie. He is a famous band leader and composer.

Mel Brooks is a genius. This and Space Balls are my faves. 😂😂

Tropic Thunder is the closest movie to this. Another movie that couldn't be made today, but it's brilliant!! my two most watched movies ever!

Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cinema and the most commercially successful producer-director in film history.

Hedy Lamarr was a German-Jewish immigre who became a big actress here in the US. She was stunningly beautiful and made foundational contribution for WiFi technology. She sued and they settled out of court. Cecil B. DeMille was a director of big movies like the 10 Commandments in the 50s.

the gum thing is very funny in the States, whenever one of our teachers would catch us with gum, we'd had better have brought enough for the whole class

During the making of the movie, the white actors were very uncomfortable with saying the n word. Burton Gilliam, who played Lyle, had to be taken aside by Cleavon Little. Little told him it was okay to say it because those were just lines in the script and not his actual words.

Mel Brooks is known to take shooting his spoofs very seriously when it comes to sets, props, photography...all production values. Nothing is cheap or cheesy (at least until the late 80's) and that's why "Blazing Saddles" looks "like a real Western". What's more: the title song is sung by Frankie Laine - once a leading performer of film songs such as "3:10 to Yuma" or "Gunfight in OK Corall". The fun part is that Brooks was looking for Frankie Laine type singer through an advertisement in the trade union newsletter. And he was answered by Frankie Laine himself, who did not know that this film was a parody. He was so excited about singing a Western song again that no one had the heart to tell him and he sang it 100% serious.

I love this film so much. I saw it as a child, my dad took me, we didn't talk about it going home, now I see why. He must have been gobsmacked.

Great reaction and I'm always fascinated to see a black person's reaction to this movie as you're absolutely right, there's no way a movie like this would be made today (I think Tropic Thunder is probably the last time racism was used to give an anti-racism comedic message.) I was a kid when this movie came out and I remember watching it and just thinking it was funny, and I've always loved the friendship and chemistry between Bart and Jim. But that was the 80s, when we didn't have the media telling us what we should be offended by.

A groundbreaking accomplishment in breaking down barriers and breaking wind.

people often say "oh you couldn't make this movie today!" and I never get that. sure there's a ton of racist characters in it, but the movie is not racist. Bart is shown as brave, smart and a hero, he's never the butt of the joke, the cowboys and the towns people are, the dumb racist charcters.. The only reason you couldn't make this movie today is much of the stuff it spoofs, the white savior westerns of the 50's, are now 70 years old and not in pop culture anymore.

Side note, from a southpaw - of everyone in the movie, the hero and sidekick, Bart and Jim, are both left-handed. Which is why they are the smart ones.

The actor that played Mungo Played in the NFL as a defensive lineman for the Detroit lions Alex Karras

You glossed over the campfire scene, probably the funniest part of the movie.

This movie was political incorrect. It was absolutely brilliant

This is one of the best anti-racist movies out there. The movie tells the audience if you are racist and use racist words you are the dumbest of the dumb. I would recommend watching more Mel Brooks movie they don’t have the message this one does but are extremely hilarious. SpaceBalls, Robin Hood Men in Tights, and Young Frankenstein are three I highly recommend.

Fun facts, Richard Pryor wrote most of Mongo's dialogue. Also, Madeline Kahn was nominated for an Oscar for playing Lilly von Schtupp (Schtupp means to screw/smash in Yiddish)

For me, the funniest line is when the towns people are singing a hymn with the line, "Our town is turning into sh*t."

I'm sure someone has pointed it out, but the piano player you thought was Carl Winslow was actually Count Basie. The band was playing one of his hits: April in Paris.

This movie catches everyone off guard, no matter how much they think they know going in. Loved your reaction.

Madeline Kahn is imitating Marlena Dietrich with the r to w subtitution.

4:09 That was Slim Pickins’ idea as way for comeuppance.

Somehow People think that 'Swing Low' is a racist thing... But as someone who was in the music Club in an all black school in 69. We sang it every day and smiles all around.

Mel Brooks is amazing at parody movies! You should check out more of his. Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Spaceballs, to name a few.

That campfire scene was actually historic. Burt Gilliam playing Lyle, the bad guy foreman, became the first person ever to fart on screen in a major motion picture.

Great reactions. Your narrative is thought provoking. Blazing Saddles is a brilliant movie.Mel Brooks is a genius. Well done. I am proud to subscribe to your channel.

10:45 It's the legendary Count Basie and his band.

This movie is so funny. Mel Brooks is a comedy genius. He said in an interview that the song Lily Von Shtupp sings was the dirtiest song he’s ever written. The campfire scene was the first time fart sounds were used in a film. Mel sat in the editors room recording different fart sounds and grabbing anyone who walked by the room to contribute to the sounds. One neat fact about this movie is the actor who played the henchman Lyle didn’t like saying the “n” word. He felt bad about it and Clevon Little (Bart) sat and talked with him and told him that it wasn’t his words that he was just reading a script which made him feel better about the role. When you see Mongo coming into town on the ox and the back had “yes” on one side and “no” on the other was in reference to which side of the bus you should pass on. The scene where Gene Wilder’s character says “you know…morons” was improvised by Wilder so Clevon’s reaction was real. Mel Brooks made a remake of this film recently that’s on Paramount Plus. It’s called “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank”. It’s an animated movie with cats and dogs in it.

It's not "Carl Winslow", it's the actual COUNT BASIE and his personal orchestra. Way more famous.

This movie is about fun and bringing the races together Richard Pryor was the co-writer of the screenplay their job was to create a movie you will always want to see again.

please keep in mind this is a comedy. it is meant to elicit laughter from absurd scenarios.

I grew up watching these movies, as my parents are huge Mel Brooks fans. You may also want to check out Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein, the Producers (the 1968 version. The 2004 version is a failed adaptation of the musical adaptation of the 1968 film), and High Anxiety. 15:45 the Indians are speaking Yiddish. It's a dig at the way a lot of Jewish Actors were cast as native Americans and other ambiguously ethnic characters at the time. When my mom told me that when she first saw the film in theaters, you could tell who the Jews were in the audience by who was laughing at that scene. (we're Jewish)

My favorite part of the video is how the opinion of the town people was changed. This movie isn't only about racism, it makes fun of racism. The governor and the Indian chief were played by Mel Brooks, he produced this movie and he is Jewish.

2:26 When the guy on a horse said “what in the wide wide world of sports is going on here“ he was referencing a sports anthology that was called the Wide World of Sports.

A few more cultural references: When Slim Pickens rides up on the men dancing and asks, “What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports is going in here?” Back when there were only seven channels, there was a sports anthology show on Saturday afternoons called The Wide World of Sports. Essentially it was a sports clip show and the tag line was “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”. It ran from the ‘60’s the ‘90’s. When the mayor is practicing his speech and says, “it is my pleasure to extend a laurel and hearty welcome…” it is reference to early comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. They started in silent movies in the 1920’s and continued making movies into the ‘50’s. Their 1934 movie, “March of the Wooden Soldiers” is shown on tv every year around Thanksgiving or Christmas. The Lili Von Shtupp character is based on German born actress Marlene Dietrich who also started in silent movies in the 20’s and moved into talkies. She had some very, uhm, progressive ideas about sex for her time. She was also rumored to be a spy during WWII.

I think the main reason this movie works is that it uses racism to ridicule racism, while still being funny.

You have got to see Douglas Fairbanks in "His Majesty The American" it's a silent Batman-esque adventure. That way as you go to take your own last breath, you too can wonder: "How did he do such fantastic stunts with such little feet?" And then you can die happy.

Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) kept correcting those who called him Hedy Lamarr, a famous 40s actress.

Almost a great reaction! I do take exception to one thing. There is nothing in this incredible movie that is similar to she hulk. Trash does not compare to greatness. While I think you got the whole point of the movie (afterall, you said it several times), I'm not sure you pieced together the idea that what you thought IS the point of the movie. You noted on several occasions that a lot of the people In the movie are stupid... and you also pointed out that a lot of them are racist. The point of the movie is that racist people ARE stupid!!! They did not shy away from using slurs in order to make the racism more obvious, and also to put on full display just how stupid it makes people sound. The movie is pure genius!! It makes people understand the stupidity of bigotry, while making you roll on the floor with laughter. There are very few movies that have accomplished its goals as brilliantly as this one.

1:30 -ish The white boy cowboy *actor* didn't want to speak those lines because they're so contemptible, but Mel Brooks & Richard Pryor talked him into it.

Carl Winslow? That's Count Basie, dude, one of the greatest jazz big band leaders of all time.

Back in the 1970's, if you wanted to show who the bad guy was, you just made him racist. And the racists always lost in the end.

The absurdity of racism personified

FYI: When the guy at the church meeting says, “fought dicks” it is play on words. There is a famous army base in New Jersey named, l “Fort Dix.” Fought Dicks/Fort Dix. Get it.

When this movie came to tv surprisingly one of the few things found objectionable and edited out was the fart sounds. You just saw a shot of a group of men bouncing up and down around a campfire. Also, The governor is named after a late 1800’s comedy performer whose stage name translates to basically ‘fartomaniac’ thus continuing the joke. A truly hilarious movie that could never be made today. If you haven’t seen them, Robin Hood Men In Tights, Young Frankenstein and Dracula Dead and Loving It are good movies that will make you laugh.

Slim Pickins (that "what in the hell in the wide wide world of sports is going on" guy) is actually the inspiration for John DiMaggio's performance of Bender in Futurama.

"I have NO idea what this movie is about." Oh my Holy God

Mel Brooks' intention was to tell people how stupid racism actually is. I think he succeeded. What a great movie.

"excuse me while I whip this out!" One of the funniest lines of the movie. You KNOW that was Richard Pryor. He wrote for the movie.

Another Mel Brooks movie you would like is high anxiety. It is a parody of various Alfred Hitchcock movies but you would enjoy it even if you have never seen an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

That wasn't Carl Winslow, that it the legendary Count Basie.

If no one has mentioned it, Mongo is played by Detroit Lions and also was a wrestler. You should see him and his real life wife in a movie called Porkys. You should check that one out.

Richard Pryor also wrote on this film. Mel Brooks had to convince the singer in the beginning credits Blazing Saddles that the song was for a serious western to get thr serious intent. Most of the white actors had to be pushed into saying the racist things by Pryor and Clevon Little, for the comedy aspect. But they were uncomfortable in real life.

The piano player was Count Basie ☮️

One of the most important, and definitely the funniest movie ever made.

I have never watched anyone say so many sarcastic comments and have such a sour face towards one of the funniest movies ever made.

Count Basie did play Vegas, which is in the desert, so not a total complete weird reference.

One of the funniest movies ever made, with an important message.

The reference to Richard Dix was about Richard Nixon.

What a lot of reactors miss about the movie is that the people of Rock Ridge were ignorant racists, unlike Mr Taggert and Headley Lamar who were overt racists. At the beginning of the film, the townspeople wanted to shoot him and called him names, but at the end of the film the townspeople called him Sheriff and were sad to see him leave. Sheriff Bart saved the town from the outlaws and from the townspeople's ignorance as well.

That was the legendary Count Basie.

Don't worry about your "rant". This movie was written, directed by and also acted in my Mel Brooks, a Jew. The entire point of this "comedy" was to poke fun at how stupid being racist, or judging others by skin color or anything is. Being "edgy" as done here makes it so much more real. (the racism was stupid and ignorant more than offensive)

I'm a new subscriber. if you want to see another parody or satire, try Dr. Strangelove. It's about an imminent nuclear war with planes having nuclear warheads as a deterrent. A message goes out and then radio silence.

Blazing chrome dome!

have adults be infantilized to the point we say f-word and n-word --- whats wrong with you people

And he still has the popcorn from the movie ;)

The thing that's great about this movie is that it's about how stupid racism is. Definitely a top 5 movie for me

If you haven't already seen it, I'd recommend "JoJo Rabbit". It's a more modern comedy that I think can be in the same category as these types of lasting comedies.

You might know by now but the guy who is playing the governor Mel Brooks he wrote this movie

One of my all time favorite movies, its outrageously funny.😊😂

This guy has a great laugh! Very fun reaction