ok, is blazing saddles racist, ive got a black friend who says it isnt but have white friend who says in is:loopy:

To me the film itself is not racist, but rather pokes fun at the ridiculous nature of racism etc.

It's very funny, and your friend should simply not watch it if he doesn't like it.

Sounds like he has issues. Tell him that Mel Brooks is Jewish and suggest he looks at 'The Producers' - when he watches the 'Springtime for Hitler' routine his tiny mind will explode. :D

So...what is YOUR view of Blazing Saddles?

My point exactly

I think anyone who can't understand the anti-racist message of ' Blazing Saddles ' ought to be not watching films at all -------or start all over again with Tom & Jerry.

Mel Brooks is not politically-correct at all - that's one of the main reasons his films are so funny

Your friend needs to develop a sense of humour

StarSparkle

No - because it basically takes the michael out of the redneck racists and shows how stupid they are, compared to the black sheriff.

I find it totally hilarious, especially poor Heddy (sorry, that should be Hedley) Lamarr and the Marlene Dietrich character.

Agree with all the other posters, it's poking fun at racists through the use of racist stereotypes. Somebody will be saying next it's offensive as it has farting in it.

Someone actually asked this question ?

Agree with all the other posters, it's poking fun at racists through the use of racist stereotypes. Somebody will be saying next it's offensive as it has farting in it.

Oh, I'd quite forgotten about the bean scene - classic :hihi:

Oh, I'd quite forgotten about the bean scene - classic :hihi:

That was the film's trump card.














Sorry!:hihi::hihi:

Hilarious....the scene when they lure the two KKK members into an ambush by Cleavon Little asking them "Is this where the white women are at"

And the scene when he is riding into town for the first time and the old guy is shouting "The sheriff is a..."nearing"" etc

I think anyone who can't understand the anti-racist message of ' Blazing Saddles ' ought to be not watching films at all -------or start all over again with Tom & Jerry.

I think a lot of people are very unsophisticated with film and media.

A lot of stuff on TV nowadays has 'the message' telegraphed so clearly that you'd need to be blind and deaf to miss it.

It's good to see old films where 'message' is burid in the film, rather than the other way around.

I don't think it is as clear cut as some of the posters make out. I (white, non jewish) think that is one of the funniest films ever made, and Mel Brooks is razor sharp with some of his writing/directing. However, a watched it with an ex girlfriend of mine (who was black) who just couldn't stomach what the new sheriff of Rock Ridge puts up with when he arrives.

maybe her personal experience made it difficult to laugh at it. However, although she didn't find it funny - she didn't think it racist.

how in the name of insanity can someone think it was racist

I have to admit that one of my favourite quotes is from where they're signing up with the bad guys....


Bart: Stampeding cattle.
Hedley Lamarr: That's not much of a crime.
Bart: Through the Vatican?
Hedley Lamarr: [smiling] Kinky. Sign here.


Love it. :)

Oh...and Jim's analysis of the town folk:

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.

I think a lot of people are very unsophisticated with film and media.

A lot of stuff on TV nowadays has 'the message' telegraphed so clearly that you'd need to be blind and deaf to miss it.

It's good to see old films where 'message' is burid in the film, rather than the other way around.

True.

But in these right on times, could a film like Blazzing Saddles ever be re-made or copied? I very very much doubt it.

The BBCs anti racial air brushing on it's re-mastered DVDs is a sad testament to the sanitised times we live in.

Agree with all the other posters, it's poking fun at racists through the use of racist stereotypes. Somebody will be saying next it's offensive as it has farting in it.

Actually this was one of three scenes Brooks was asked to cut by Warner Brothers and he refused. Richard Pryor wrote the screenplay and I would agree it takes the pee out of racism. Its also one of the funniest films ever made IMHO

Blazing saddles is one of my favorite films of all time. It just goes to show how completely stupid the PC brigade is. They can find racism etc whever they look because they want to find it, queue all the stupid PC stories from the Daily Mail etc.
Its makes them look like the anally retentive fools that they are that they can't see this is one of the greatest anti *ist films of all time.

"Put the guns down or the ****** gets it". Sheriff Bart holds a gun to his own head as the townsfolk surrender their guns.

"Schwarzers dey is darker dan ve is" The very jewish indian chief.

"Ok we'll share the land with the chinks and the niggers but not the Irish" The townsfolk bargaining for the help of the railroad workers.

Classic stuff and very refreshing (even after 30+ years) to see racial stereotyping held up to ridicule in such a funny way. As another poster pointed out this is a film produced and directed by a Jew and scripted by a black man both of whom are (were) well known for their strong stance on rights issues.

how in the name of insanity can someone think it was racist

Some of the lines, and some of the characters, quite clearly are. There's plenty of people who can't distinguish between that, and the idea of the film itself not being.

Take Alf Garnett. Many people, even in the time the show was being produced, lambasted Johnny Speight for being such an evil racist as to think the sort of stuff Alf came out with, was funny. :rolleyes:

As another poster pointed out this is a film produced and directed by a Jew and scripted by a black man both of whom are (were) well known for their strong stance on rights issues.
Does that not make them paleo PC do-gooders?

The sad truth is though, that films such as 'Blazing Saddles' which are brilliant satires of racism, often become idolised by people who hold the very views that the film is lampooning! I know a few people who, shall we say, are not the most enlightened people I know, who love the film because of its use of the N word. They are either too dumb to understand the underlying message, or choose to ignore it.

Another great example of this is Alf Garnett. Brilliant parody of a racist, often held up as an example by those who know/choose not to know better.

**Bugger, Heyesey beat me to it!**

"Put the guns down or the ****** gets it". Sheriff Bart holds a gun to his own head as the townsfolk surrender their guns.


"Won't somebody help that poor man?"

Terminally stupid woman resident of Rock Ridge in response to the above, when the sheriff is holding a gun to his own head... :hihi:

Excellent post, Waldersheff

StarSparkle

The sad truth is though, that films such as 'Blazing Saddles' which are brilliant satires of racism, often become idolised ...

Another great example of this is Alf Garnett. Brilliant parody of a racist, often held up as an example by those who know/choose not to know better.

**Bugger, Heyesey beat me to it!**

I did, but I was talking about the reverse idiocy, where people attack the writers for holding the very views they're actually ridiculing. What you mention - racist people applauding them for those views - happened a lot as well.

I remember an interview with .... whatsisname? The character who played Alf .... where he mentioned an incident in public, someone once came up to him and said, basically, "Good on yer, poking fun at all those ******s and chinkies." To which his response was "Actually, we poke fun at all the morons like you. You're too stupid even to realise it."

'Blazing Saddles' also had a very robust view of childhood a la W.C. Fields.
The alcoholic ex-best shot in the West is telling the sheriff why he gave up his gun and lost his reputation.
" I was walking down the street and suddenly a voice said, ' Hands up, Mister ! ' I turned around, whipped out my gun and standing there was a 7 year old kid with a toy pistol. I threw down my own gun and just walked away.
The little ******* shot me right in the ass. "

Yes it is, and that's the point of it.

Loved it, showed the real comedy genius of Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor :lol: :lol: :lol:

I remember an interview with .... whatsisname? The character who played Alf .... where he mentioned an incident in public, someone once came up to him and said, basically, "Good on yer, poking fun at all those ******s and chinkies." To which his response was "Actually, we poke fun at all the morons like you. You're too stupid even to realise it."


Warren Mitchell. IIRC it was at a Tottenham home game, when, as you correctly said, someone approached him and congratulated him for telling it how it was (to their way of thinking).

Mitchell, like Brooks is Jewish, and I think that as a race, the Jewish are very apt at sending themselves up (think Woody Allen or Jackie Mason). Perhaps that is what makes them so good at this type of humour? Unfortunatly for some, its done with a little too much subtlety :)

Take Alf Garnett. Many people, even in the time the show was being produced, lambasted Johnny Speight for being such an evil racist as to think the sort of stuff Alf came out with, was funny. :rolleyes:

it should be remade with fartfirst as alf :)

ok, is blazing saddles racist, ive got a black friend who says it isnt but have white friend who says in is:loopy:

Wasn't it written by Richard Pryor?

Wasn't it written by Richard Pryor?
you havent read the rest of the thread have you? lol

absolutely fantastic film. I howl, laughing, when it's playing.

I can't decide which scene is my favourite.

I love the scene where the sherrif holds the gun to his own throat, and then breaks the third wall, by doing the "Knowing-take" to the camera about "Oh, this TOO easy!" lol

Madeleine Kahn was fabulous as "Lili Von Schtupp" I loved the scene where Hedy Hedley Lamarr calls her a "Teutonic Tw--"

the mickey take of the racist stereotypes was just sheer genius. definitley stands the test of time.

and as for the sherriff.. Pwhoar! he was gorgeous.

P "oh, it's twue, it's twuuuue!" T

My favourite bit is Gene Wilder's speech about why the sherriff should understand the people's reaction. Something along the lines of "these people are the salt of the earth, people who live from sweat and honest toil, you know - morons".

My favourite bit is Gene Wilder's speech about why the sherriff should understand the people's reaction. Something along the lines of "these people are the salt of the earth, people who live from sweat and honest toil, you know - morons".

I think you'll find that's already been quoted... :P

StarSparkle

I just think the film is hilarious & should be appreciated as entertainment, without dissecting it. I am in total agreement with PT though - the sheriff was very easy on the eye and I always laugh at "it's twue, it's twuuue"

I like how the OP's Black friend didn't think it was racist but an over-sensitive white friend thought it was. Do yourself a favour tell your white friend to take a hike and if he objects to the word nigga/****** tell never to listen to any rap music or he'll have a fit

Blazing saddles was my introduction to Mel brooks when i was younger, I've lost count of the number of times I've watched it, So far theres a minority of the populace that no-one has mentioned i.e. gay dancers, at the big fight scene all the effeminate dancers being directed by Dom De Luise and one dancer pounding on the cowboy's chest screaming "you brute, You brute, You brute"

Now the fart scene, i was watching the film in a noisy environment once and watched on the BBC Blazing Saddles with the subtitles on its even funnier when you see and read Frrrrrrrrpt every time someone let rip :hihi:

you havent read the rest of the thread have you? lol

After I posted it yes ;)

But I couldn't be bothered to edit the post.

I must watch it again, it's been too long. Mel Brooks is a friggin genius - if only more people made films with the same sense of mischeivous delight :)

We did Young Frankenstein in English Lit at school...how cool is that...you go to school and get to watch a class comedy.

Then we got split up....the clever ones went off to do Macbeth and Jane Austin and the dullards watched more films

We did Young Frankenstein in English Lit at school...how cool is that...you go to school and get to watch a class comedy.

Then we got split up....the clever ones went off to do Macbeth and Jane Austin and the dullards watched more films

Weird, so did we. I went to school down south, but my English teacher was a Sheffielder - with good taste in films. Best homework I ever had.

I just think the film is hilarious & should be appreciated as entertainment, without dissecting it. I am in total agreement with PT though - the sheriff was very easy on the eye and I always laugh at "it's twue, it's twuuue"

I cannot believe that Sherriff Bart (Cleavon Little) is going to be 69 on 1st June (DOB 1st June 1939!) good gravy, that makes him only 5 months younger than my father (DOB jan 1939)

That's scary.

I cannot believe that Sherriff Bart (Cleavon Little) is going to be 69 on 1st June (DOB 1st June 1939!) good gravy, that makes him only 5 months younger than my father (DOB jan 1939)

That's scary.

He _would_ have been 69. Cleavon Little died in 1992.
Great shame. :(

He _would_ have been 69. Cleavon Little died in 1992.
Great shame. :(

:O crumbs I googled him and it said nothing about his passing away!

*gulp* what a shame! he was so handsome!

Glad I spotted this thread again - it reminded me to set the recorder for Monday 04 February 11:20pm, Channel Five. I'll just have to live with all the dratted commercials, but it'll be worth it.

"the sherriffs a ******" classic film and no it wasn't racist. i does surprise me that the film still gets aired now and again. this is because of the number of narrow minded people who would misunderstand the humour and complain.

just watched it. *le sigh*
It was as good as ever!

Quality comedy years ahead of its time.

When I first watched it I could not believe comedy could be that funny.